Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, but like with extra bits and that stupid twist cut out and more of the TARDIS falling apart, more things – previous companions, etc – leaking as time fractures. Also in this thing Eleven/Clara is explicitly canon (I'm going to make them kiss) so if you don't like that, sorry. But I do, I really ship them. Have fun, and thank you for reading – any reviews will be incredibly helpful and really appreciated. Also, I originally had Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways and the Runaway Bride up, but I deleted them as I wasn't happy with the chapters. They may return, they may not. xD
Younger Rose was clutching at her Doctor's hand, head on his shoulders, and it seemed that though he remained stoic and forward-facing, what he had just seen – himself, from an objective standpoint, angry and full of such visceral, vicious hate like that the Dalek's possessed – had really shaken him. Rose was there. Despite their many faults and failures, the companions the Doctor chose inevitably turned out – good, strong, and supportive. For the most part. As far as tools to stave off unending loneliness went, they were effective.
'Humans becoming Daleks.' Missy said airily. 'Humans killing Daleks. Why, they'll become the new Time Lords, if left unchecked. Power like that is so glorious to behold. And they taste nice. Almost a perfect species, if a little grubby.'
A few dirty looks were cast her way, of course, but most attention was held by Thirteen who, in her attempts to get out of her seats, was clambering over them, stepping on the backs. She wobbled and wavered, hands stuck out, before stepping on her coat and falling flat on her face like one of those ducks that trips over its own wings in its eagerness. River helped her up, not hiding her bemused grin, and Thirteen blushed like a ten-year-old, stuttered something about custard creams, and made her way out. Her wife. Her wife, touch so soft, face so blank beneath the casual concern. All of them – she could feel their watchful eyes on her as she picked her way over to the large table covered in a white cloth and a wide variety of foodstuffs.
'Oh, there's snacks! Great!' Ryan said, and he joined her, and the tension in the air shattered like a balloon popping; Thirteen, Jodie, was thankful for that as her fam joined her, offered her encouraging looks. She squared her shoulders and smiled weakly at them, Ryan barging her shoulder. They all descended, like children at a party.
'Fish custard!' Eleven grabbed the bowl, plate of fish-fingers balanced on top, whirling it around. 'Amelia!'
Plenty of wrinkled noses, but at least Amy managed to grin. That was their thing, after all, disgusting as it was. He ate it more tidily, this time, and though many people refused, Graham actually agreed to try some, a little awkwardly as Eleven beamed at him.
'Hey, I don't have forever left! Got to try these things. Where else am I going to even think of this stuff?' He proclaimed it to be bizarre, but like chips and milk-shake, almost nice.
It wasn't enough to convince anyone else, though; Thirteen stuck to her biscuits, seeming to have an almost indomitable sweet tooth, and Bill ate a bacon sandwich, as did Amy; Rory ate some kind of rice thing – sushi – and the other humans ate mostly normal stuff. Twelve ate what appeared to be blue jelly in a cube state, very quickly, and then his screwdriver was out and he was buzzing around the TV. The other doctors all joined him save Thirteen and Eleven, who scooped custard out of the bowl with his spoon. Missy appeared asleep, hat over her eyes. Probably listening.
The companions – Amy, Rory, Yaz, Ryan, Graham, Thirteen, Donna, both Roses, Martha, and Mickey – had gravitated together, sitting in a circle on the sofas, a sight that would instil fear into the Doctors more than any monster.
'I had a crush on him, that's why.' Martha said. 'I thought I had a chance. But nope! He was smitten. Both hearts totally hooked. I've moved on now, though.'
'Yeah, sorry.' Rose said. She didn't sound it. 'He blew up my job. There was all these plastic things coming alive, and I got caught by all these dummies. He grabbed my hand and told me to run, then dragged me away and made me jobless. Reckon it was all a ploy to get me to go with him. Threw him when I said no.'
'I said no at first too.' Amy said. 'He. Um. He won me over.'
'Then he said it could travel through time.' Rose looked rather embarrassed. 'And…well. My dad died, when I was a baby. I thought… yeah. I shouldn't've. He called me a stupid ape, and he was right to.'
'If we're apes, he is too.' Amy said. 'He looks like us. Yeah. I kissed him, first time he took me home after we fought weeping angels-'
'Yeah!' Martha chipped in. 'He's useless against those, got us stranded in 1969 without the TARDIS-'
'He wasn't happy about that, so he went and got Rory to travel too.'
Purple light flashed in the room again, and all their heads snapped up, and two more figures stumbled out; a petite woman with dark hair, dressed in a tartan shirt and dark blouse patterned with dark purple flowers. Beside her was another version of the Eleventh Doctor, but wearing different clothes – a waistcoat and long purple jacket, his bowtie smaller and purple too. He almost looked – well, like he had a dress sense, save the bowtie of course.
'Oh, my god.' The brunette said, crossing her arms. 'It's the legs.'
'Sorry, sorry.' Eleven dropped her hand, and tapped her shoulders. 'Give me a moment.' And then he was crossing the room, and hugging "the legs" so tightly her bones creaked, murmuring; 'Pond, Pond, Pond…' And she was hugging him back, of course she was.
'Roman!' And Rory too.
'Doctor.' Amy said. 'You. Um. Clothes. You still sort of look like a grandpa who took Willy Wonka's de-aging serum thingy, but…'
'Roman-' Eleven said, worriedly, and stepped backwards. The brunette stepped forward.
'Clara Oswald.' She said. 'Roman's a funny name.'
'It's not. I just- was a Roman- for a bit. And plastic. Long story. It's the Doctor. I'm Rory Williams. This is my wife, Amy Williams.'
Clara looked Amy up and down, and crossed her arms. 'A married couple, Doctor? Blimey, I thought domestics were beyond you.'
'Legs?' Amy said, and she punched Eleven lightly on the shoulder. 'They may be fantastic, but surely you remember more about me but that. My husband is a centurion, remember.'
'Oh, my.' River Song, come up behind them, and she pulled Eleven into a kiss. 'There's two of them! Well, five. The heart does race.'
Now Clara was absolutely doing her dangerous smirk. 'Legs and space hair, and five Doctors. I like it.'
Eleven was thankfully saved from – everything – by trumpets from the television, terrifying the Doctors gathered close to it. A message flashed on it "please sit down" and the clicking counter was back, counting from ten. Everyone scrambled to their seats once more, the new Eleven sat by Clara.
EXT. SPACE
A large ship travels through the stars. It's a working ship, not one for pleasure. On the side are the words "Van Balen Brothers".
INT. SHIP, LIVING QUARTERS
The computer screen tells us it's scanning. One of the men is sleeping on a bunk. Stuck into the screening where he can see it is a torn photo showing the two brothers and their father. The other brother is also sleeping. A third man is sitting at a table polishing equipment. He has a barcode on his throat and his eyes zoom in on his task like a computer. The computer starts to beep.
COMPUTER: Incoming salvage, please validate. Incoming salvage, please validate. Incoming salvage, please validate. Incoming salvage, please validate.
The second man stands and walks to the screen as does the third. The screen reads "Zero Salvage Value".
MAN 2: Rusty garbage. It's not worth lacing up my boots.
MAN 3: Wasting our time. There's no salvage this far out.
MAN 2: You're a lucky boy, Tricky. You're an android - you don't get bored.
TRICKY: (looks over at sleeping man) He won't turn back. Not with half a cargo.
MAN 2: He's not captain. We're equal partners.
TRICKY: Yeah, right. (takes sip of drink)
EXT. SPACE
The TARDIS spins through space
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA is walking around the console, arms crossed. The DOCTOR follows eagerly, trying to persuade her.
'You look like a puppy.' Amy ruffled Eleven's hair. 'And waaaay too needy.'
DOCTOR: You said...
CLARA: I know what I said. I was the one who said it.
DOCTOR: You said it was looking at you funny.
CLARA: I was tired. Overwrought! I didn't mean it. It's an appliance. It does a job.
DOCTOR: It's a pretty cool appliance. (taps on console) We're not talking cheese grater here!
CLARA: You're not getting me to talk to your ship. That's properly bonkers.
'Yeah…hate to bust your bubble.' Amy said. 'But we've met the TARDIS – weird story – and it absolutely is sentient.' 'I found that out the hard way.' Clara muttered apologetically, and mussed up her hair. 'She kept stealing my bedroom until I talked to her.'
DOCTOR: (strokes console) It's OK, it's OK.
CLARA: You're like one of those guys who can't go out with a girl unless his mother approves.
DOCTOR: It's important to me you get along. I could leave you alone together.
'Not the best choice of words, Doc.' Graham chuckled.
CLARA: Now you're creeping me out.
DOCTOR: Take the wheel... not the wheel. I'll make it easy - shut it down to basic mode for you. (starts working switches on the console)
CLARA: Basic! (leans on console next to him)
DOCTOR: I didn't mean- anything. But you're not a Time Lord. And it takes us years of training.
CLARA: What, like learning to drive a car? A car through time and space Do you take a test?
DOCTOR: Yes. You know when you lie awake at three am remembering embarrassing things that happened to you?
CLARA: …yes?
DOCTOR: Yeah.
CLARA: Well, those who can't do, teach.
(changed this a bit cos…the Doctor being randomly sexist is stupid and unexplained.)
'Maybe you should have worn…I don't know, whatever the Time Lord equivalent of a short skirt is, Doctor.' Amy murmured, and gave him a shit-eating grin.
INT. SHIP, LIVING QUARTERS
The TARDIS appears on the computer screen. The first man is now awake and walks over to the others.
MAN: Everyone suit up. It's good salvage. I can smell it.
MAN 2: (eats) It's just trash.
TRICKY: No, look. There's something tasty in the magno-field.
'Tasty!' Ten spluttered. 'She may be slightly battered but she is not salvage. Not yet. Never! I'd never let her be.' 'You are awful at maintenance, dear.'
The first MAN leans forward and presses a spot on the screen.
COMPUTER: Magno-grab ready. Engaging.
EXT. SPACE The large aft doors of the ship open and we see energy massing within.
INT. SHIP, LIVING QUARTERS
MAN: (to MAN 2) Move yourself. The men go to their lockers and put on heavy duty books and cover-alls. The first MAN takes a device from the shelf of a locker and presses the button on top.
EXT. SPACE
A beam shoots out from the ship and encompasses the TARDIS.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM CLARA is smiling, enjoying her lesson. She flips a switch and the TARDIS goes dark.
CLARA: What have I done? The lights start flashing red.
DOCTOR: Er... OK.
The DOCTOR moves to another section of the console and looks at the screen that displays their location. As he looks, the screen starts crackling.
CLARA walks over.
CLARA: Doctor?
DOCTOR: (flicks numerous switches) All the electrical impulses are jammed. I can't get the shields back up. (grunts as pushes on a lever) She's completely vulnerable.
CLARA: I swear I just touched it.
The DOCTOR succeeds in moving the lever. However, sparks fly and the TARDIS lurches, throwing the DOCTOR and CLARA backwards. The DOCTOR makes his way back to the console.
DOCTOR: Magnetic hobble-field. We're flying right into it. Clara, stay by me!
CLARA: (grips side console) Please tell me there's a button you can press to fix this.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes. Big friendly button.
CLARA: You're lying.
DOCTOR: Yep.
CLARA: To stop me freaking out?
DOCTOR: Is it working?
'Yeah, Doctor. That didn't work when I was seven.'
CLARA: Not so much. A device like the one the MAN had on the other ship rolls across the floor.
CLARA picks it up and it burns her hand. She drops it with a gasp. There's another explosion and the DOCTOR is thrown back from the console with a yell.
'They won't be able to keep the TARDIS for long, right?' Rose said. 'I mean, it looks tiny on the outside, not really worth the bother. And its impossible to break into, the Doctor said. And the Doctor wouldn't… well, they're just grunts. They wouldn't know what to do with it anyways.' 'I don't know.' Martha. 'I'm guessing basic mode makes it all rather easy.'
OPENING CREDITS FOR SEASON 7B OF DOCTOR WHO.
INT. SHIP, BAY
The TARDIS is brought deeper into the ship by a series of pincers.
INT. SHIP, VIEWING ROOM
The men watch the ship's progress.
TRICKY: What is it, some kind of escape pod?
'That is a surprisingly accurate description.' Eleven murmured. Clara intertwined their fingers and gave them a squeeze before letting go.
MAN: Come on.
The men leave the room.
INT. SHIP, HOLD
The TARDIS is lying on an angle atop a pile of wires and other pieces of salvage.
'No, no, no!' The distress of the Doctors, seeing their beloved vessel wounded and treated like garbage, was palpable, and it rather upset the companions, too. They were used to the TARDIS as – a home, a safe vessel, something they could run to and rely on to keep them safe. Stoic and always standing, and infallible, even when the Doctor was not. It sort of was an escape pod, carrying him out of the Time War and into the arms of the companions that had helped save him.
MAN 2 is holding a large sledgehammer and the first MAN seems to have a saw of some type.
MAN: Crack it open.
'This'll be interesting.' Donna leaned back in her chair, folded her arms; 'I can't wait to see them fail. Stealing a ship from the sky like that, it's just bad manners.' Ten blinked fondly at her, because of course her manners were perfect.
MAN 2 climbs up to the TARDIS and stomps on the door. He then moves on to the sledgehammer. When that doesn't work, he uses the laser.
MAN 2: It's doing nothing.
MAN: Use the thermo-charge and blast it. (throws device at MAN 2)
MAN 2 sets the device on the TARDIS.
TRICKY: (runs over) No! No! No! Wait... (puts a hand on the TARDIS) It's like she's alive. She's...she's suffering. I can feel it. I can feel it.
'Oh, not him too!' Clara flung out her arms. 'One machine to another, I guess. Seems like everyone knew but me.'
MAN: That's just robot-rant.
MAN 2: No, Gregor, he's right. Looks like there's a broken fuel line.
Ten looked like he would have an aneurysm any moment.
GREGOR: All right. All right, put it back. No salvage today, boys. Open the bay doors.
'You can't just chuck it back like a fish!'
They scramble back down to the floor beside GREGOR. TRICKY spots something.
TRICKY: Wait!
TRICKY walks toward the pile of wires and waves the others over. His eyes zoom in on a pair of legs sticking out.
TRICKY: Somebody's under that thing. The crew were still on board when we dragged her in.
GREGOR: (ushers the others out) We did nothing. If anyone asks, that ship was already busted. You got that? (to TRICKY) And you, make sure you keep your oily-mouth shut.
'Bastards!' Donna. 'Of course they're shirking responsibility – I'd sue the beating hearts from their chests-'
DOCTOR: (sneaks up and whispers) It's rude to whisper. Hi. I'm the Doctor. (shakes MAN 2's hand) And you are...? (reads nametag) Van Baalen and... (shakes GREGOR'S hand) Van Baalen. Van Baalen and Van Baalen. That's going to get confusing later.
GREGOR: We found you drifting.
MAN 2: Your ship was junked-up pretty bad.
'He was in the ship!' Amy yelled. 'The idiocy of some people is astounding. They better not be humans. I'm ashamed.'
DOCTOR: (whispers) What broke my ship was a magno-grab. (holds up device) Found this remote in your pocket. Eh? What are the chances? Outlawed in most galaxies. This little beastie can disable whole vessels unless you have shield oscillators, (slaps forehead) …which I turned off so that Clara could fly (throws remote back and forth in his hands) Damn it! Clara! Where is she? Girl. (spins around) About so high. Feisty. (looks back at TARDIS) She's still on board!
The DOCTOR starts to run for the TARDIS but TRICKY holds him back.
Clara punched the Doctor in the shoulder, and he cringed away. 'Feisty?! Do you have any idea how patronising that is, you stupid alien.' She punched him again.
TRICKY: No, wait, your pod is leaking fuel. If she's still in there, she's dead.
The DOCTOR turns around and looks into the lockers.
DOCTOR: Ah. Respirators. (heads for the lockers)
GREGOR: We can open the doors for a split second, reach in and grab her.
DOCTOR: (grabs respirators and heads back to the TARDIS) Trust me, we can't. Now, please, help me get her out.
TRICKY: I'm telling you, she fried...
GREGOR: Shut it, tin-mouth! (to DOCTOR) What sort of fee are we talking?
DOCTOR: (stands by TARDIS) If you help me get her out, you get the machine, all the scrap, eh?
Stunned silence. Eyes on Eleven. 'You were going to…give up the TARDIS…' Amy said faintly. 'You were going to what?' 'Oh, you lovesick idiot.' Eleven was avoiding the eyes of the other Doctors, staring flabbergasted daggers at him, but caught River's as she spoke. 'Always so sentimental.' 'I obviously wasn't going to actually let them have it.' He said awkwardly. 'As if she would ever let me. I'd have got her back. She knew that.'
MAN 2: It's not worth the risk. Four feet of metal? Nah.
DOCTOR: What if I can guarantee you the best haul you've ever had?
GREGOR: How?
DOCTOR: You trawl through space. Boring work. But you hear things.
GREGOR: We might do. Sometimes.
DOCTOR: Then you must have heard of it. It's mentioned throughout the universe. You must know the stories. The blue box. This blue box. The salvage of a lifetime.
'Really, really seems like you were willing to give it up.' 'I lie all the time, Pond. You know that better than anyone.'
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
The corridor is littered with debris. It is glowing red under emergency lights. Wires are hanging from the ceiling. Some are live and sparking. CLARA is lying under a large piece of metal.
CLARA: (looks around) Doctor? (pushes the piece off her and sits up) Doctor?
CLARA stands and takes a few steps. We can hear the cloister bell in the background. She looks at her hand from where she burned it on the device and sees marks. She blows on it to cool it. She walks down the corridor to a closed door with a red light flashing above it.
CLARA: Red flashing light...means something bad. Get out of here fast? Or possibly, whatever you do, don't open this door.
CLARA ponders a moment before pressing the button to the right of the door. The door opens and there is an explosion.
Rory. 'She's almost worse than you.'
CLARA: Bad decision.
CLARA runs down the corridor to escape the fire. She finds herself in another corridor that was clear of debris. She ducks through another doorway and closes it behind her. Something on the wall catches her eye. It is long scratch marks. She puts her hand up to it and the marks line up with her fingers.
'What the hell do you keep in your TARDIS? Is there a prison in there?' Rose's eyes were wide. 'That would be just like you. Some monster you can't kill or reason with, so you trap it instead. And now it's free.' Eleven didn't answer. The truth, of course, was far worse.
INT. SHIP, HOLD
The men are putting on gear for going within the TARDIS. The DOCTOR and TRICKY are at the lockers while GREGOR and BRAM walk away.
BRAM: Hey, are we really going to risk it? That thing is spewing poison. We should blow it back into space.
GREGOR: Get your gear.
BRAM: Hey! I don't take orders from my kid brother.
GREGOR: Don't try and form sentences, all right? Stick to what you do best. (taps BRAM on the cheek before leaving) BRAM walks back to the lockers, past the DOCTOR who had witnessed the exchange. The DOCTOR watches as TRICKY gets his gear.
DOCTOR: Tell me, since when does an android need a blast suit and a respirator?
BRAM: Flesh coating, same as us. He'd burn up.
TRICKY: No fear, no hate, no pain.
TRICKY puts the respirator over his nose and mouth and follows BRAM.
The DOCTOR puts on his respirator and goes over to the TARDIS. He stands on the ledge and inserts the key.
'Wow.' Amy said abruptly, and Clara glanced back at her, jumping, and then back at the screen, getting it. Eleven looked…surprisingly hot in the respirator, a black mask that covered the lower half of his face. Something about it…that, and the look on his face, one of grim determination, but also the way he looked up, eyes lowered, screamed…well. It was hot. 'Sweetie.' River's voice was sugared. 'Do you still have that thing?'
GREGOR: "Salvage of a lifetime?"
DOCTOR: I feel pretty confident I can deliver on that. There we go.
The DOCTOR pulls the door open, outwards for once. The men slip on their goggles and switch on their torches.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR enters first. Even though the TARDIS is lying on its side, it is not reflected inside.
GREGOR: I don't get it. I thought she was lying on her side.
DOCTOR: The TARDIS is special. She has her own gravity. I'd explain if I had some charts and a board pen. (heads to console)
TRICKY: It's... it's bigger...
DOCTOR: On the inside. Do you know, I get that a lot.
BRAM: Whoa. Awesome!
DOCTOR: Well put. Whoa and awesome. (flicks a switch and the smoke is pulled through the vents) Safe to breathe.
Everyone removes their respirators.
River, Amy and Clara looked vaguely disappointed as they all did that.
DOCTOR: OK. Now. The last thing I remember, you were right here. (moves to where CLARA had been standing and scans with the sonic) Come on, Clara, talk to me.
BRAM: How big is this baby?
DOCTOR: Picture the biggest ship you've ever seen. Are you picturing it?
BRAM: Yeah.
DOCTOR: Good. Now forget it. This ship is infinite. (walks to console and uses controls)
GREGOR: It could take you hours to find the girl.
DOCTOR: Days! Plus the whole place is toxic. She could be dead by the time I reach her. So. Here's the mission. We're going to find her in one hour.
GREGOR: We? DOCTOR: You're my guys for this.
GREGOR: That wasn't the deal.
DOCTOR: 'Tis now.
GREGOR: What makes you think we'll help? The DOCTOR flips two levers and a countdown starts on the screen.
DOCTOR: I just activated the TARDIS self-destruct system. One hour until this ship blows. BRAM runs for the door but it slams shut.
'The TARDIS does not have a self-destruct button.' Amy chuckled. 'Blowing it up would cancel the universe, and the Time Lords are stupid, but not that brain-dead.' 'Yeah, but, they didn't know that. It's a clever ruse.' Rory poked her. 'Anything to get her back.' He knew the feeling, of course.
DOCTOR: Don't try to leave. The TARDIS is in lockdown. I'll open those doors when Clara's by my side.
BRAM: You crazy lunatic!
DOCTOR: (turns on BRAM) My ship, my rules!
GREGOR: You'll kill us all. And the girl.
DOCTOR: She's going to die if you don't help me. Don't get into a spaceship with a madman.
'And you're doing a worryingly good job at selling lunacy. Remind me never to leave your side for more than ten minutes.' Amy had a bitter taste in her mouth; they all did. Of course, when the Doctor had rescued her from Demon's Run – an experience she really hoped they wouldn't see – she had been proud, had taken comfort, in the knowledge that the Doctor and the Last Centurion were coming for her, that both would go to impressive and unpredictable lengths to get her back. But seeing his desperation, his fear, objectively, not being dependant of it to save her soul…it was terrifying. In that moment the somewhat whimsical declaration that he was just a "madman in a box" had twisted, had made him dangerous. Crazy. Believing he was right, that anything was justified if it returned Clara to his side. But worst of all, a tiny part of her knew that she would do it for Rory, would do her level best to tear the universe asunder if it meant she could get him back, and if not – out of pure spite. After all – and her stomach lurched as she realised exactly what she had done – she had been prepared to kill the Doctor and herself before she lived without her husband, selfish as that was. He had climbed willingly into that bus, but if he hadn't, she might have run him down in a haze of grief. The memory was blurred, but one thing stuck out – the broken, devastated look on the Doctor's face when she'd spat at him "then what is the point of you?" Rationally, she knew the Doctor was part of something far greater than simply keeping her and Rory safe, and hell, she'd signed up for danger when she ran away with him, but she hadn't been at her most lucid.
And then a minute later he had willingly let her kill them both. Apparently, he took things hard. Horror washed over her, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. 'Pond?' Eleven was beside her, hands on her shoulder, and his face was open, and full of concern. She pulled him into a hug, and he made a noise of surprise, but hugged her back.
The men run to the door to try and force it open.
DOCTOR: Didn't anyone ever teach you that? OK. A little gentle persuasion. Say 30 minutes.
The DOCTOR flicks some switches and presses a button. The countdown changes to 30 minutes.
BRAM: She'll die even quicker now!
DOCTOR: We all perform better under pressure. Anybody want to go for 15 minutes? (his finger hovers over the button)
BRAM: Whoa!
GREGOR: Whoa!
DOCTOR: It's your own time you're wasting. Salvage of a lifetime. You meant the ship. I meant Clara.
'That is disgustingly sweet.' Clara wrinkled her nose. 'I don't know whether I should feel flattered or worried you'll attach reins to me.'
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA hears growling, spots a door and opens it.
INT. TARDIS, STORAGE ROOM
CLARA closes the door behind her. Immediately to her right is the cradle that had been River's, and the Doctor's. She touches the mobile and runs a hand along the edge. Further in the room, she sees a toy TARDIS Amy made as a child.
'You kept it!' Amy squeaked, and a wave of emotion washed over her.
CLARA spins it in the air before putting it down on a table. She picks up a magnifying glass and an umbrella. She is not alone in the room. There is a shadowy figure with glowing red eyes. CLARA sees it and runs from the room.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
The DOCTOR is leading the way with the sonic screwdriver. GREGOR lags in the back with his hand-held scanner.
GREGOR: Report. What's on board this thing?
COMPUTER: 'Dynomorphic generators, conceptual geometer, beam synthesiser, orthogonal engine filters.'
GREGOR: (catches up to the others) Guys, guys, look. I think we should split up. It's our best chance of finding the girl. You know it is.
DOCTOR: (checks watch) Don't touch a thing. The TARDIS will get huffy if you mess.
GREGOR: (to TRICKY) Keep in radio contact, all right?
TRICKY nods and leaves with the DOCTOR.
GREGOR: (to BRAM) Get back to the console. Strip it apart. All right? The brothers split up.
'They can't!' Rose said. 'If they break the console, you're all stuck. Don't they know that! I hope the TARDIS stops them.'
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA runs through the corridors followed by the same creature. We see a little more of it this time. It is ossified, one of its hands stuck to its face. As she runs from it, she passes the observatory with large telescope and the swimming pool. She runs through an open door.
'There it is! I'd been looking and looking. Of course it appears the one time…' Eleven trails off, looking disgruntled. 'At least it's not in the library anymore.' Amy said teasingly.
INT. TARDIS, LIBRARY
CLARA ducks behind a shelf bearing some small bottles. She looks at her burned hand and can see letters forming. She blows on it and looks up distractedly. She steps forward, stunned.
CLARA: Now that's just showing off.
She sees she is in a large library consisting of five ornate levels. It's actually looks more impressive – at least more fancy – than the library planet from Forest of the Dead/Silence in the Library, but somewhat smaller.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
BRAM re-enters the room. He walks straight up to the console and tries to open one of the panels. He finally succeeds, setting it on the floor.
'That was easy. ' Rose said grumpily. 'The amount of time you spend playing around with it, you think you'd have added some sort of defence mechanism. But of course, you'd never imagine someone would dare try and pull apart the TARDIS.'
We hear voices from the past as he walks around the console.
SUSAN: (V.O.) I made up the name TARDIS from the initials. Time and Relative Dimension in Space.
THIRD DOCTOR: (V.O.) The TARDIS is dimensionally transcendental.
JO: (V.O.) What does that mean?
ELEVENTH DOCTOR: (V.O.) You sexy thing!
IDRIS: (V.O.) See, you do call me that! Is it my name?
ELEVENTH DOCTOR: (V.O.) You bet it's your name!
Clara turned her snicker into a cough, and the tips of Eleven's ears turned pink. 'I'd be jealous but…I can share.' She looked at River.
FOURTH DOCTOR: (V.O.) That's trans-dimensional engineering. A key Time Lord discovery.
NINTH DOCTOR: (V.O.) The assembled hordes of Genghis Khan couldn't get through that door. Believe me, they've tried.
'Apparently, three salvage workers…'
BRAM makes his way to the level underneath the console.
MARTHA: (V.O.) It's just a box with that room crammed in!
AMY: (V.O.) We are in space!
'Hey! That's me! That's so cool- wait. Does the TARDIS…Raggedy Man, does the TARDIS record things?!' She looked almost scandalised by the idea. Almost.
IAN: (V.O.) It can move anywhere in time and space?
FIFTH DOCTOR: (V.O.) You've changed the desktop theme, haven't you?
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
GREGOR is still scanning as he slowly walks the corridors.
COMPUTER: Everything.
GREGOR: What? Report. (stops)
COMPUTER: Everything. Behind that door.
GREGOR: (faces door) "Everything?"
COMPUTER: Sensor detects everything you could possibly want.
GREGOR pushes the button to the side of the door and it slides open.
INT. TARDIS, ROOM
GREGOR enters the room. In front of him, hanging from the centre, were tendrils that look to be both organic and metallic. On some of them were glowing crystals. It looks almost like a tree. GREGOR'S eyes widen.
COMPUTER: Everything.
GREGOR: I don't understand. Give me a price tag.
COMPUTER: Incalculable.
GREGOR: What?
COMPUTER: More valuable than the total sum of any currency. Living metal. Bespoke engineering. Whatever machine you require, this system will build it.
'So…theoretically,' Rose asked. 'You could make another TARDIS?' 'Yes, I could, but what would be the point? I have one, and it's fine.' Ten seemed very put out by the idea of it not being. 'I was just saying.'
GREGOR puts the computer away. He looks around carefully and edges his way towards one of the crystals. He puts his hands on it and it goes dark. He picks up his laser and begins to cut away at the tendrils. The DOCTOR runs in followed by TRICKY. GREGOR lowers the laser.
DOCTOR: No! No, no. Stop! Please! Don't! Don't touch it. Please. She won't let you touch it. I can feel a TARDIS tantrum coming on. (strokes one of the crystals)
'I think she's been throwing a tantrum for a while, spaceman.'
GREGOR: What the hell is this place?
DOCTOR: Architectural Reconfiguration System. It reconstructs particles according to your needs.
GREGOR: A machine that makes machines?
DOCTOR: Yes. Basically.
GREGOR picks up the laser once again.
TRICKY: What are you doing?
DOCTOR: No, no, don't! Don't! If you walk out of here with that circuit, the TARDIS will try to stop you! Now listen to me. Look, the clock is ticking. We must find Clara!
The DOCTOR reaches out a hand slowly. GREGOR yanks the crystal free. The others go dark for a moment before flickering back on. A high-pitch whine causes the DOCTOR and TRICKY to cover their ears. GREGOR puts the crystal into his pack and heads for the door – or where the door had been.
TRICKY: What the...? (walks over) Where's the door gone?
DOCTOR: Ever see a spaceship get ugly?
'I am actively excited to see them get their comeuppance.' Rose leaned back. 'I hope the TARDIS teaches them a lesson in a really creative and satisfying way. You did warn them.'
TRICKY: This isn't happening. (tries to find a way out)
DOCTOR: She won't relinquish it. Her basic genetic material.
GREGOR: Torch it.
GREGOR throws a device at TRICKY. TRICKY catches it but hesitates.
GREGOR: I said torch it!
TRICKY: Can't you feel it, Gregor? The ship's in torment, like it's a living thing. You can't hurt it.
Amy and Rory knew this; they had seen it. It was easy to forget, but imagining the TARDIS in her human form, suffering like this, as she had before she died – pity stirred within them. The TARDIS was truly an impressive thing, and to see it laid low, and suffering, the cloister bells it's desperate cries for help, or of pain, was just plain wrong. If the salvage team weren't humans, they were horribly similar to them, eager to casually exploit anything they came across with little regard for morality.
GREGOR activates the device and approaches the wall. The door appears and slides open.
GREGOR: What's the matter, TARDIS? Scared to fight me?
And suddenly they were all excited to see the TARDIS fight him. Win. Make him show some respect to the old girl. Oh, that would be positively enjoyable to watch.
GREGOR strides out followed by TRICKY.
The Doctor lingers, and stumbles, bracing a hand against the wall, letting pain overshadow his features. His hearts thunder in his ears, vision fogging for a moment, and then he picks himself up and leaves the room.
'Oh, my god.' Rose's voice was full of concern. 'You're linked to the TARDIS, aren't you? You feel what it feels. So when it suffers…'
INT. TARDIS, LIBRARY
A book on a stand, right out in the open, catches CLARA'S attention and she walks towards it. It is a very ornate, golden book, with the title "The History of the Time War". She opens it and turns to almost the back, then leans in as she finds something interesting .
CLARA: So that's who...
'No!' Eleven said sharply. 'You won't find that book. If you try, you won't even find the library. That book is hidden, and the only if its kind in existence. The TARDIS is forbidden from showing it to anyone, even me. It's only out now because she's injured.' Hopeful eyes turned to Clara, but she shook her head. 'Not telling.'
CLARA hears the growling again and ducks behind a bookshelf. The creature enters the room. CLARA crawls over to another row of shelves. On one of the shelves above her are bottles containing the Encyclopedia Gallifreyae. She peeks out and sees the creature getting closer. She pulls back, knocking one of the bottles loose. Whispers arise from the spilled bottle, sounding like music, and she hastily fans it away. The creature comes closer but then runs past her. Quickly, CLARA runs back out the way she came in.
(making things up now as I like that headcannon where Gallifreyan sounds like music to us, and the Doctor's name is the DW theme song)
'Was that your language?' Donna gasped. 'It's beautiful. Sounds like singing. Music.' 'I suppose. But it isn't music. It's just too complex and layered for your human brains to truly understand, so it just makes it sound musical.' 'Mood. You just killed it.' 'My name is the sum of my life.' Ten said hesitantly. 'It's unpronounceable by human tongue, but there is a shortened version of it – that's what I would be known as by other Gallifreyans. A true name is powerful, and hidden, and sung by the stars. My Gallifreyan name – well, it's like the name of a song. Like Fur Elise is taken to mean a much longer, much more beautiful piece. I suppose that's a way of explaining it. Well, it's nothing like that, really, but still. To understand it, to truly understand me – you'd have to hear the whole thing. And no one will, because that's very dangerous.' 'And what was your Gallifreyan name?' Amy asked. She wasn't really expecting an answer. But. 'Theta Sigma.' Nine said sadly. 'Very loosely. Obviously we don't have Greek letters – but that's the translation. Ish. Really, really ish.'
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
The DOCTOR leads GREGOR and TRICKY through the corridors. They soon end up in the same intersection.
TRICKY: It's the same. It's just the same.
DOCTOR: It's diverting us, spinning a maze around us. We will never reach Clara in time.
GREGOR glares at the DOCTOR and takes the right corridor.
DOCTOR: Hey! Hey!
The DOCTOR and TRICKY follow GREGOR and enter the same spot from the left.
TRICKY: It's just the same, again.
DOCTOR: No point in building walls. You'll just know how to smash them down. She's found other ways of controlling you. Smart bunch, Time Lords. No dress sense, dreadful hats, but smart. If you want to get out of here, let that circuit go. She is creating a labyrinth.
'Just hats?' Amy teased. 'I've seen some of your old outfits.'
TRICKY: (into radio) Bram? Bram? Can you hear me?
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
BRAM opens a section under the console to reveal a shaft with a ladder down one side. Running down the center are glowing wires.
TRICKY: (over radio) Bram, the ship is alive. Get out of there. Bram, don't touch anything.
'See!' Eleven spluttered. 'He gets it and he's been there twenty minutes.'
BRAM: You're just the sweetest thing ever. (enters the shaft)
'Ah, I do so love it when greed leads people to their doom.' Rose caught Nine's eyes. 'He should have listened! Greedy bastard.'
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA finds herself in the console room and smiles. This does not look like the one BRAM was in as its panels are intact.
CLARA: Oh, thank you. (spins around and clasps her hands) Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you! (laughs, runs up to the console and kisses it) Ah! Mwah! (looks around) No! The door? (runs to where the door should be) Where's the door gone now? You can't do this! (yells at TARDIS)
'See!' Clara declared proudly. 'I learned.'
INT. TARDIS, UNDER CONSOLE ROOM
BRAM climbs down the ladder.
TRICKY: (over radio) Bram? You've got to get out of there fast.
BRAM'S back touches the wires and he grunts in pain. He falls to the floor below. He slowly stands up and brushes himself off. He looks up and sees a creature in the corridor. The creature rushes towards him with a growl. It knocks him to the floor.
BRAM screams as he struggles. He soon falls silent and still. Steam rises from the body.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
TRICKY is listening for a response from BRAM. The DOCTOR pulls out the sonic and begins to scan ahead.
TRICKY: Channel's dead. We've got to help him. Gregor, do something. Do something!
GREGOR: It's too late. He's gone! Let's just worry about the salvage!
TRICKY: (shoves GREGOR) You care more about the circuit than you do about him!
The DOCTOR comes back and pulls them apart.
DOCTOR: Your concern for your brother is really touching. The android is more cut up about it than you. Now will you two stop bickering and listen! There is something else down there.
The DOCTOR starts scanning again.
TRICKY: We've got to get out of here! Gregor, give it back. Give it back to her. (reaches for the pack)
GREGOR: What are you doing? (pushes TRICKY against the wall) You're always on the side of the machines!
DOCTOR: Fellas! Multiple life forms on board the TARDIS with us. (backs up until he's level with the others) I am getting a massive signal.
'You mean you didn't know they were there?' Amy. 'What on earth are they then? Things don't just get on the TARDIS.'
TRICKY: Where are they?
DOCTOR: Oh, you're not going to like the answer. About two steps away. One step.
They slowly turn around and yell as they see the creature. This one seems to be two fused together. It reaches for them and growls.
DOCTOR: Gregor, look out! Careful! Gregor! (GREGOR runs down the hall opposite) No! We have to stay together. Come on. Tricky, run! (TRICKY runs) I'm sorry. (runs after TRICKY)
'Apparently no one has ever watched a horror movie!' Rose cried out. 'You don't split up. You especially don't let yourself get separated from the Doctor, the person who knows the ship better than anyone.' Amy snickered. Because, of course, none of the companions had ever wandered off when the Doctor wasn't looking and gotten themselves in danger.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA makes her way down a red-lit corridor until she finds herself in…
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
…the same console room as before. She points at the entrance and then at the console before leaving again, puzzled.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA walks away from the console room entrance and down another corridor. She turns a corner and she's in…
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
…the console room again. She runs back out.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA stops and scratches her head before running down another corridor.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA runs into the room and up the steps.
CLARA: Why are you doing this?
'It seems obvious now.' Clara muttered. 'Course. If you get lost somewhere, the smart thing to do is go to the place you got lost from, and wait to be found. Go TARDIS.'
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
TRICKY and the DOCTOR enter the console room. It is not the one BRAM was in and it is not the one CLARA is in.
TRICKY: Back where we started.
DOCTOR: No. It's an echo. (runs up to the console) The console room is the safest place on the ship. (circles the console) It can replicate itself any number of times. It's trying to protect us.
TRICKY: Because I tried to give back the circuit?
DOCTOR: Team TARDIS. (pats him on the face)
The DOCTOR starts fiddling with the controls, but his legs almost go, and knocks a piece loose. The clatter is overly loud to him, and he clenches his knuckles.
'She's still suffering.' Rose said pityingly.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA is sitting disconsolate as a piece falls from the console.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
TRICKY: Where did... where did that go?
DOCTOR: There's more than one echo room. (sees a shadow move and points) Hey, look, look!
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA walks slowly around the console.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
DOCTOR: The TARDIS has got Clara safe. That was her. That was her there. (kisses his fingers and presses them against the column) Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
'Do you two wanna be alone?' Rose teased.
TRICKY: Why can't we see her?
DOCTOR: It's like a light switch. Two positions. Flickering at super-infinite speeds. We're only together for a brief second.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA backs away slowly. INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
DOCTOR: Shh! INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA gasps.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR walks slowly around the console.
DOCTOR: I can hear her.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA backs away towards the stairs.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR listens for CLARA.
'Come on!' Donna urged. 'She's right there, come on-'
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA opens the door and there is another creature there. It runs in and CLARA screams as she runs up to the console.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR hears the scream.
DOCTOR: She's let it in. She's let it in! (works the controls)
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA keeps the console between herself and the creature. The creature seems to mimic her movements.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM The DOCTOR works different controls.
DOCTOR: Ah... if I can just isolate her position, I can nudge the alternation - reach in and grab her.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA tilts her head and the creature tilts its head.
CLARA: Who are you?
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
COMPUTER: Console room, echo imprint of the original.
The DOCTOR and TRICKY turn around to see GREGOR directly behind them, the computer in his hand.
GREGOR: You're coming with me. I need you to get me out of here. The DOCTOR uses the sonic on the computer.
COMPUTER: Scanning for female human.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The creature charges at CLARA and she finds herself backed against the wall where the external door would be. She grabs some loose piece of something and lobs it at the creature, to no effect.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
GREGOR walks around with the scanner.
COMPUTER: Scanning for female human.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The creature slowly approaches CLARA, steam rising from its hand.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
GREGOR walks around with the scanner.
COMPUTER: Unidentified human.
The DOCTOR takes the computer from GREGOR.
DOCTOR: It doesn't know Lancashire.
TRICKY: What?
DOCTOR: It doesn't know sass. Yes! It's found Clara! It's found her. She's right there.
The DOCTOR uses the sonic and an image of CLARA pressed against the wall starts to come through. INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
CLARA screams as the creature comes towards her, shielding her face.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR puts the sonic into his other hand and pulls CLARA free. She screams as he holds her. She pulls away and spins around, taking deep breaths.
DOCTOR: It's all right. Clara, I'm so, so sorry. Please, please forgive me...
CLARA punches him in the shoulder and walks away.
Giggles at that. Almost all of them had smacked the Doctor at some point. He was just so unbearably frustrating sometimes.
DOCTOR: Ow! (rubs shoulder) OK, so we're not doing hugging, I get that now.
CLARA: What do you keep in here?! Why have you got zombie creatures? Good guys do not have zombie creatures. Rule one. (hits him again) Basic storytelling.
DOCTOR: Not in front of the guests. CLARA looks over and TRICKY gives a little wave.
CLARA: Who are they?
DOCTOR: Friends. Well, people who aren't trying to kill us, so I don't need punching again!
CLARA glares at him and walks off to lean against the rail.
GREGOR: All right, all right - a deal's a deal. You got the girl back. Now cancel the self-destruct.
DOCTOR: Ah. Ah. You know, (claps a hand on GREGOR'S shoulder) I've got to tell you, I won't be needing you in my quiz team. GREGOR: What? DOCTOR: There is no self-destruct. (joke-punches GREGOR) Hey! Hey! Hey! Had you going, though, boys, didn't I? (rubs GREGOR'S head) I just wiggled a few buttons. The old wiggly-button trick. And the face. You've got to do the face. "Save her or we all die." I thought I rushed it a bit, but...
'Told you!' Eleven announced proudly. Clara raised an eyebrow. Totally unimpressed, of course.
TRICKY: So you're telling us we're safe?
DOCTOR: Ish. Apart from the monsters and the TARDIS reinventing the architecture every five minutes. Guys, don't worry, the countdown's a fake. Look, just give me just a second. I'll turn it off. (flicks switches) I only made it look as though the engine was actually exploding. (alarm goes off) Ah. (screen reads Engine Overload) That's not good. OK, don't panic, or maybe panic.
CLARA: Something you want to share with the rest of us?
DOCTOR: It appears the engine is damaged. We're in trouble, Clara. Proper trouble. It needs fixing or we're toast. (runs to the lower level)
CLARA: So now would be a good time to use that big friendly button, right?
CLARA, TRICKY and GREGOR run after him.
DOCTOR: Yeah, sorry, I should have had one built in.
He uses the sonic on one of the panels.
TRICKY: Where are we going? The panel falls inward.
DOCTOR: Detour. (kneels) The centre of the TARDIS.
'Roll credits, kinda.' Bill interrupted. 'When they say the name of the…oh, never mind.'
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
The DOCTOR leads the way with the sonic down a green-lit corridor.
CLARA walks closely behind him followed by GREGOR and TRICKY. A shadow passes the corridor in front of them.
CLARA: Shush! Something's in here.
TRICKY: Those... things. They've followed us.
CLARA: Doctor, what are they? What aren't you telling me?
DOCTOR: Trust me. Some things you don't want to know.
'Yeah, no, Doctor.' Amy poked him. 'That's always a problem with you. Not telling us things, important things, and it always ends badly. We deserve to know things!' But Eleven simply looked at her with such a haunted look, she lost track of what she was about to say. 'Amelia, I'm a Time Lord. I have a certain amount of…foreknowledge. Any amount is dangerous, but as Time Lords are supposedly forbidden to interfere, it doesn't matter. But everything else…if you see or read or know something…you are basically guaranteeing that thing will happen. And if it's bad…Shoot me. I don't tell you everything.'
One of the creatures passes behind them.
GREGOR: They're on the move again!
DOCTOR: Run! Move, move!
They run.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA runs and stops when she realizes she's lost the others.
CLARA: Doctor? (retraces her steps) Doctor? Again!
CLARA continues on and stops at an intersection.
She spins around, unable to decide which way to go. She looks down at her burned hand and the letters seem a little clearer. She looks up and sees herself stride down the corridor in front of her. CLARA 2: I know what I said. I was the one who said it.
DOCTOR: (V.O.) You said it was looking at you funny.
CLARA turns around to go the other way and sees herself.
CLARA 2: Now you're creeping me out.
CLARA can only stare.
CLARA 2: Please tell me there's a button you can press to fix this?
CLARA 2 is coming towards her. CLARA ducks into a door that slides open, and then dives out a second or so later, hand clamping over her eyes. It's comical.
'What did you see?' Amy said eagerly. 'It was a bedroom. I'm not saying who was in it.'
CLARA backs away and heads down another corridor. She gasps when she sees the DOCTOR.
CLARA: Oh, thank God. Doctor, what's going on? (waves her hand when he doesn't acknowledge her) Say something.
But something is clearly wrong. He is pacing back and forth, and he looks a mess; hair longer and unkempt. As she watches he flickers, and is replaced by another DOCTOR. This one smacks his fist into the wall, again and again, and she cringes at the crack of bone; then the wall goes soft beneath his fist, and he gives up. He looks emptily at shaking hands, and then puts his head in them. CLARA rushes forward, obviously wanting to comfort him, but pauses as he slides down the wall and begins to sob into his hands, his whole body shaking. CLARA backs away, and almost trips over another DOCTOR. This one is in bad shape, shirt torn, covered in burns and cuts. RIVER is with him, talking, but making no sound. He isn't looking at her, but down the hall. She turns down another hallway and there are AMY and RORY, kissing against a wall. CLARA begins to walk towards them, stretching out a hand as if to touch Amy on the shoulder.
'Oh, Doctor.' Rose touched his hand. 'What- what happened?' People died. They all knew that. The Doctor, most of all – he'd lived the longest. But he always seemed to hold himself together, to maintain a strength that meant no one thought about it that much. But he wasn't invincible, and he felt every loss. And there it was, the ugly truth, the side the companions carefully weren't shown. The Doctor, curling in on himself. And of course, River was there. He trusted her. But mostly he didn't have too face her all the time. If she saw the façade crack, no matter; she wasn't totally relying on him to keep her safe. 'Manhatten.' River murmured, and Amy felt her heart twist.
DOCTOR: Clara, stop. (points) Don't touch them. There's a rupture in time somewhere onboard the ship. A small tear in the fabric of the continuum. It must have happened when the TARDIS was pulled in by the salvage vessel. (takes her hand and pulls her to him) The TARDIS is leaking.
CLARA: Leaking what?
DOCTOR: The past. Everything I've done, everything I've said. My history. It's not real, it's a memory.
CLARA looks at him, pity on her face. They stop when they see a creature in front of them.
CLARA: (whispers) What about this?
DOCTOR: (whispers) If you're giving me the option, I'd say, "This one's real."
The DOCTOR pushes CLARA ahead of him as they run away. The creature chases them.
DOCTOR: She's right onto us.
CLARA: (stops) She?
DOCTOR: Clara, don't ask me anymore.
The DOCTOR yanks her by the hand and pulls her into a small niche to the side. They press themselves against the wall behind a girder as the creature pauses.
On the opposite side, PAST DOCTOR and PAST CLARA walk down the corridor.
PAST DOCTOR: But you don't run out on the people you care about. Wish I was more like that. You know, the thing about a time machine, you can run away all you like and still be home in time for tea, so what do you say? Anywhere. All of time and space, right outside those doors.
'Doctor.' Amy said calmly. 'When in the hell have you ever walked out on someone you cared about? That is not like you at all. You stick around until you win, or die. Sometimes both.
PAST CLARA: Does this work?
PAST DOCTOR: Eh?
PAST CLARA: Is this actually what you do? Do you just crook your finger and people just jump in your snog box and fly away?
PAST DOCTOR: It is not a snog box.
PAST CLARA: I'll be the judge of that.
There were a few laughs at that, given that most of the audience had either kissed the Doctor, or was the Doctor. He was just…snoggable.
The creature follows the past selves. The DOCTOR and CLARA step out from their hiding place. There is a groaning sound and the DOCTOR looks up at the ceiling.
CLARA: What's that noise?
DOCTOR: We're right under the primary fuel cells.
CLARA: So? So? So what?
DOCTOR: So... so the fuel has spilled out. So the rods will be exposed. Means they'll cool...
CLARA: And start to warp.
DOCTOR: And start to warp. Maybe even...
CLARA: No. You don't say it. Don't you dare say it.
DOCTOR: Maybe even break apart.
A large rod shoots down at an angle directly in front of them. They back away.
CLARA: Run?
DOCTOR: I'm liking how you're thinking.
CLARA: Yeah. They turn and run down the corridor behind them, ducking and dodging rods as they shoot through the walls.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR We hear a groan of pain and see that one of the monsters has been impaled through the shoulder by one of the rods. It is writhing and struggling. GREGOR is scanning it with his COMPUTER.
DOCTOR: No, wait! Stop that-
A growl behind them. CLARA takes his hand, and they all run down the corridor.
TRICKY: It was in pain. We should've…
DOCTOR: I know. But we can't go back there.
CLARA: Where are we?
DOCTOR: Power source. Right, you lot, wait here. I'll check it's safe. We can only survive for a minute or two in there.
CLARA: (taps the DOCTOR on the shoulder) Um...what happens if we stay longer?
DOCTOR: Our cells will liquefy and our skin will start to burn.
CLARA: I always feel so good after we've spoken.
Snickers at that. The Doctor's beside manner was notoriously awful.
DOCTOR: Marvellous. Keep this door shut. (opens door)
CLARA: That will not be a problem. The door closes behind him.
INT. TARDIS, POWER ROOM
The DOCTOR looks around and takes a few breaths as he gets his bearings in the heat-filled room.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
CLARA leans against the wall by the door. GREGOR is diagonally across the corridor from her and TRICKY is leaning against the wall and little ways down from CLARA. GREGOR holds the computer up and it scans CLARA. COMPUTER: Lancashire. Sass.
GREGOR: Intelligent sensor.
The howling of the creature can still be heard. TRICKY winces.
TRICKY: I have to go back. I have to do something.
GREGOR: Don't be stupid.
TRICKY: You might be able to watch things suffer, but I can't.
GREGOR: It's a…thing! It tried to kill us. It hasn't suffered enough.
The howling stops.
CLARA: Blissful silence. Either it died…or freed itself and is now creeping towards us.
INT. TARDIS, POWER ROOM
The DOCTOR runs across the catwalk to the far door while using his sonic. It unlocks and the DOCTOR tugs on it and it finally opens. He looks up.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR.
They have bunched together at the door, eyes on the corridors around them.
CLARA: Probably dead. Right?
It's not. A single, glowing eye can be seen; it is the monster with one hand covering its face, indeed free. It walks slowly, as if injured, which of course it is.
CLARA pounds on the door.
CLARA: Doctor!
INT. TARDIS, POWER ROOM
The DOCTOR runs across the catwalk and opens the door for them.
DOCTOR: OK, move, move, move.
The others stop and look up as the DOCTOR moves along the rail. We see what powers the TARDIS.
DOCTOR: The Eye of Harmony. Exploding star in the act of becoming a black hole. Time Lord engineering - you rip the star from its orbit, suspend it in a permanent state of decay. This way. (motions with his arm) Quickly.
TRICKY and GREGOR follow the DOCTOR. GREGOR is helping his brother across. CLARA stares at the Eye of Harmony a little longer. The DOCTOR opens the far door and a creature is there waiting for them. GREGOR helps him close it. The DOCTOR runs back to the other side and CLARA and TRICKY opens the door – but the creature is there. They slam it shut.
GREGOR: There's no way out. We're trapped.
The DOCTOR pauses in the middle and CLARA confronts him.
CLARA: You're going to tell me now! If we're going to die in here, tell me what they are. (grabs his arm)
DOCTOR: I can't.
CLARA: Tell me! What's the use in secrets now?
DOCTOR: (grips her head) Secrets protect us. Secrets make us safe.
CLARA: (pushes his hands away) We're not safe!
GREGOR uses the scanner on one of the creatures as it pounds on the door.
COMPUTER: Sensor detects animal DNA, human core element. Calculating data. Calculating data.
The DOCTOR hears and runs over.
DOCTOR: No, no. Turn it off!
COMPUTER: Lancashire. Sass. Identifiable substance. Clara.
The DOCTOR turns slowly to look at CLARA. GREGOR and TRICKY head back to the other door.
CLARA: That's me. (takes a few steps towards the DOCTOR)
DOCTOR: I'm so sorry.
CLARA: (looks through the window) It's me. I burn in here.
'Oh, my god.' Amy murmured. 'And…now you know about it…'
DOCTOR: It isn't just the past leaking out through the time rift. It's the future. Listen, (holds her face) I brought you here to keep you safe, but it happened again. You died again.
CLARA: What do you mean, again?
The DOCTOR runs a hand over his face and hair, and makes a connection between the movement and the creature that has his hand fused to his face. The DOCTOR takes his hand from his face and stares at it. TRICKY and GREGOR stand side-by-side at the door. One of the creatures is made of two joined together at the side.
DOCTOR: Hang on. As long as we interrupt the timeline, this can't happen. (runs to the other door and pushes the brother apart) Don't touch each other, otherwise the future will reassert itself.
Of course. Of course the Doctor would die, cells liquifying and body burning, with one hand on his face – of course he would die full of shame.
The DOCTOR pulls them to the centre of the catwalk as the CLARA creature pushes through the door. One grabs GREGOR'S pack. The DOCTOR helps TRICKY.
DOCTOR: Gregor! Gregor, let go of the circuit.
TRICKY: Just let it go!
DOCTOR: Gregor!
TRICKY: Gregor!
GREGOR slips out of the pack and backs away to the others.
TRICKY takes a swing at the creature and it falls over the rail. They rush towards the door and pull away when the "double" creature appears at the door. They run towards the other and the last creature punches a hand through the window. They group in the middle of the catwalk.
'Yes!' Donna cheered. 'Honestly I think we could all benefit from punching aliens more often. They deserve it.'
DOCTOR: OK. Er... er...
TRICKY goes at the creature with a crowbar, When it's down low, he kicks it off the rail. It falls and TRICKY nearly falls off himself, holding onto the ledge. GREGOR goes to help him.
GREGOR: Tricky!
The DOCTOR and CLARA look back.
DOCTOR: Don't touch him, or time will reassert itself.
The DOCTOR is pale and shaking.
CLARA: Doctor? What's wrong?
DOCTOR: I'm changing time. That's not allowed. They want to kill us to prevent themselves being created – it's a paradox waiting to happen. Paradoxes are poison to Time Lords.
GREGOR helps TRICKY back onto the catwalk but they soon become fused together and turn into the creature. They come after the DOCTOR and CLARA who run out the other door and close it behind them.
INT. TARDIS, CORRIDOR
The DOCTOR sonics the lock on the door.
DOCTOR: The engine room. The heart of the TARDIS. The DOCTOR takes CLARA by the hand and leads her through another door.
INT. TARDIS, ENGINE ROOM They go through the door and nearly fall off a cliff ledge.
CLARA: We're outside.
DOCTOR: No, we're still in the TARDIS.
CLARA: There's no way across.
DOCTOR: No. OK, you're right.
CLARA: So what do we do? Time for a plan. Do you have a plan?
DOCTOR: Well, no. No plan, sorry.
CLARA: If you don't have a plan, we're dead!
DOCTOR: Yes, we are. So just tell me.
CLARA: Tell you what? DOCTOR: Well, there's no point now, we're about to die, so just tell me who you are.
CLARA: You know who I am.
DOCTOR: No, I don't! I look at you every single day, and I don't understand a thing about you. Why do I keep running into you? (heads for the door)
CLARA: Doctor, you invited me - you said...
DOCTOR: (walks back) Before that. I met you in the Dalek Asylum. There was a girl in a shipwreck, and she died saving my life. And she was you.
CLARA: She really wasn't.
DOCTOR: Victorian London. There was a governess who was a barmaid, and we fought the Great Intelligence together, she died - and she was you.
CLARA: You're scaring me.
DOCTOR: What are you, eh? Are you a trick, a trap?
There it was. The damage. The paranoia. After all, the last time he'd picked a companion, she'd been used – against her will, sure, but still used – been manipulated into a mystery to lure him to a trap that would keep him for all eternity, that officially marked him as "the most dangerous thing in the universe". Only dangerous if you were intending to destroy, enslave and burn planets, but all the same. He'd been played for a fool, been embarrassed, and led to believe he was a detriment to the universe, and worse of all they'd all been taken in by it. The human race. Easy for them to focus on the negative, the people he couldn't save, than the millions he did. Easy for him to be taken in by it. But…Clara. With Clara it was different. She was real. She held him to a standard based on what she had seen him do and she was there to have fun, not fulfil a childhood dream; she'd have a life before him and if he could possibly manage it, she'd have a life after him. With River, with Amy, two people who'd had their entire lives evolving around him, they'd both had years to build him up to an impossible status in their minds, and the real him had crumbled under the pressure of it. Clara would never be taken in by that. She knew him better. Knew him as just a man, different from human but not really more than, and all she expected from him was that he tried. And he was afraid – so afraid that she would turn out like Amy. A mystery sprinkled throughout his timeline, cherry-picked for him, with his death or eternal imprisonment or heartbreak waiting at the end.
CLARA: I don't know what you're talking about.
CLARA backs away from the DOCTOR and almost falls off the ledge. The DOCTOR grips her in a huge hug. She grips him back and gasps.
DOCTOR: All right. All right. (ends the hug) You really don't, do you?
CLARA: I think I'm more scared of you right now than anything else on that TARDIS.
DOCTOR: You're just Clara, aren't you?
The DOCTOR laughs as he touches CLARA'S face and pinches her cheeks. He takes her in another hug.
CLARA: OK. I don't know what the hell this is about, but the hug is really nice.
DOCTOR: (ends hug) We're not going to die here. This isn't real! It's a snarl. (throws a rock over the edge)
CLARA: What?
DOCTOR: What does a wounded animal do? It tries to scare everyone away. We're close to the engine. The TARDIS is snarling at us, trying to frighten us off. We need to jump.
CLARA: You're insane.
'It took you that long to realise that.' Donna scoffed playfully.
DOCTOR: We'll cross a portal to the engine.
The DOCTOR claps his hands and he and CLARA back up to the door.
CLARA: How can you be so sure?
DOCTOR: Well, I can't.
CLARA: OK, well, that's watertight.
DOCTOR: (wags his finger at her) Hey, now, Clara, I've piloted this ship for over 900 years. Trust me this one time, please. (she arches an eyebrow at him) OK. OK. As well as all the other times. Ready? Geronimo!
They run and leap off the cliff only to land in a white room. Suspended throughout the room are pieces of machinery.
Grief marks the faces of the Doctors, save Twelve, of course – he knew it was going to be okay. But the companions were uneasy. The Doctor and the TARDIS were a package deal. What was one without the other? Amy had once remarked that after they were all long gone, at least he'd still have her. But now…it wasn't his fault, he wasn't to know, but still. There had to be a way of fixing it. The pain one would feel to see a dragon, a whale, a dinosaur, die – a great and majestic beast bought low by the greed of man.
DOCTOR: The heart of the TARDIS. The engine - it's already exploded. It must have been the collision with the salvage ship.
CLARA: We're not dead.
DOCTOR: She wrapped her hands around the force. Froze it.
CLARA: So... so it's safe?
DOCTOR: Temporary fix. Eventually, this whole place will erupt. There's no way I can save her now. She's just always been there for me, taken care of me. And now it's my turn and I don't know what to do. It... it just...
CLARA comes up and takes the DOCTOR'S hand in hers. The DOCTOR feels the burns and looks at her palm.
DOCTOR: (smiles) Oh, Clara. Oh. You are beautiful.
The letters on CLARA'S hand spell out "Big Friendly Button".
DOCTOR: (cups her face) Beautiful fragile human skin. (kisses her palm) Like parchment. Thank you. (takes out sonic) The rift in time. All the memories leaking out. I need to find the moment we crashed. I need to find... the music. (music fills the room)
The DOCTOR takes CLARA by the hand and runs from the room.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR and CLARA enter the console room using the sonic screwdriver to guide them. He spots a crack in the wall under the console and walks over to it.
DOCTOR: The time rift. Recent past. Possible future.
CLARA: What are you going to do?
The DOCTOR has the remote for the magno-grab and uses the sonic to write on it.
DOCTOR: Rewrite today, I hope. I've thrown this through the rift before. I need to make sure this time. Going to take it in there myself. There might be a certain amount of yelling.
CLARA: It's going to hurt?
DOCTOR: Things that end your life often do that. (heads for the rift)
CLARA: Wait! All those things you said. How we've met before. How I died...
DOCTOR: (walks back to CLARA) Clara, don't worry. You'll forget. Time mends us. It can mend anything.
CLARA: I don't want to forget. Not all of it. The library. I saw it. You were mentioned in a book.
DOCTOR: (pulls back a little) I'm mentioned in a lot of books. (starts back to the rift)
CLARA: You call yourself Doctor. (he points at her) Why do you do that? You have a name. I've seen it. In one corner of that tiny...
The DOCTOR hurries back and presses a finger to her lips.
DOCTOR: If I rewrite today, you won't remember. You won't go looking for my name.
CLARA: You'll still have secrets.
DOCTOR: (gently pats her cheek) Better that way.
'No, it's not!' Clara looked rather put out. 'Secrets kill people. You'd think one would know after 1200 years that communication is really important. I suppose it doesn't matter. I remembered it anyways.'
The DOCTOR psychs himself up and then steps into the rift. He screams in agony before disappearing for CLARA'S view.
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
Sparks fly and the TARDIS lurches, throwing the DOCTOR and CLARA backwards. The DOCTOR makes his way back to the console.
DOCTOR: Magnetic hobble-field. We're flying right into it. Clara, stay by me!
CLARA: (grips side console) Please tell me there's a button you can press to fix this.
DOCTOR: Oh, yes. Big friendly button.
CLARA: You're lying.
DOCTOR: Yep.
CLARA: To stop me freaking out?
DOCTOR: Is it working?
CLARA: Not so much.
The DOCTOR reaches through the rift and calls to his past self who has been knocked against the rail.
DOCTOR: Doctor. Doctor. I'm from your future. We haven't got long. It's a reset dial.
Amy snorted. 'Sorry, it's just reminded me of that joke about a decision can't being too bad if your future self doesn't come in to stop it. Guess teaching Clara to fly is a really bad idea.' 'That's not fair!' Eleven protested. 'It wasn't her fault. I thought we were in deep enough space, but apparently not.'
The DOCTOR dissipates into air and the device falls from his hand and rolls across the floor. CLARA picks it up and it burns her hand.
DOCTOR: No! No!
CLARA lets go of the device and the DOCTOR dives to catch it. He looks at the device and laughs as he reads it.
DOCTOR: Big friendly button.
The DOCTOR laughs and presses the button. The screen goes white.
'So…that's it?' Rose said. 'You erased the day?' 'That's really irresponsible.' Ten turned to glare. 'Messing with the space-time continuum. What if that day was important to someone? It could be a day that ended a generation-spanning inter-planetary war! And now it's been erased, negotiations could fail and-' Donna shushed him. 'The TARDIS is safe. That's what matters.' 'Especially as I've personally seen what happens if the TARDIS is messed with.' Amy screwed up her face. 'Ka-boom. The whole universe. Anyway, I'm sure someone really embarrassed themselves that day, and then it got erased. Pile of good and bad things.' 'It seems so…why is the TARDIS so tied into the fate of the universe? It just seems like you're asking for something to happen.' Rory asked. 'No wonder he stole it. They'd never let something that important near the Doctor. 'Hey!'
EXT. SPACE
The TARDIS spins through space
INT. TARDIS, CONSOLE ROOM
The DOCTOR is polishing the centre column as CLARA enters having changed and showered. She leans against the console.
CLARA: I feel exhausted. I feel...
DOCTOR: Like we've had two days crammed into the space of one?
CLARA: Why would you say that?
DOCTOR: (works controls) I don't know. I say stuff. Ignore me. (pauses) Do you feel safe?
CLARA: Of course.
DOCTOR: (spins to face her) Give me a number out of ten. Ten being whoo-hoo, one being aarrrggh!
CLARA: You're being weird.
'When is he not.' Donna said.
DOCTOR: I need to know if you feel safe. I need to know... you're not afraid.
CLARA: Of?
DOCTOR: The future. Running away with a spaceman in a box. Anything could happen to you.
CLARA: That's what I'm counting on. Push the button. (leaves)
The DOCTOR smiles and tosses the cloth onto the console with a hook shot. He then pulls the dematerialization lever.
END CREDITS