Before we get started, I'd like to talk to you about this story. I know we tend to associate that sentence with dread, but I have every intention of continuing and finishing this. But I will, for a while at least, be doing updates only once a week. I just don't have the time to keep updating twice a week at the moment.
THWA: Yep.
After finishing breakfast, the group had walked out into the hall, where they found Jack leaning against the wall, waiting for them. The look on Jack's face had quelled any questions and so the group silently returned to the viewing room. They retook their seats just before the TV started the next recording.
In France, 1890, wails come from inside Vincent Van Gogh's home. The finished Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers is sitting on Vincent's easel as he thrashes in his bed. His doctor tries to help him but it has no affect. Vincent's landlady, Madame Vernet complains about his screaming and his doctor says Vincent is very ill.
"So Vincent is having some kind of fit then," Martha noted.
"But why are we seeing this? What's the relevance?" Jack wondered as he narrowed his eyes.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a tight smile.
Madame Vernet then looks at a newly complained painting, which she calls 'worse than his usual rubbish'. Vincent's doctor stands up to look at it as Madame Vernet wonders what the painting is supposed to be while Vincent continues to scream. The scene changes to the Cabinet War rooms in 1941. Edwin Bracewell walks down a corridor, holding a wrapped package under his arm. In the war room, Bracewell now displays the unwrapped package, which is a painting.
"It seems the relevance is the painting," Wilf noted.
"And it's probably not a good sign that we haven't seen it yet," Jack noted.
"It must be really bad then," Donna said uncomfortably as they wondered what the painting could be.
Bracewell explains the painting was found in an attic in France and has been determined to be a genuine Van Gogh painting. Winton Churchill asks why he brought it to him. "Because it's obviously a message and you can see who it's for," Bracewell points out. Churchill says he can't understand it and Bracewell points out he's not supposed to understand it, just deliver it.
"And we all know who the message is for," Mickey muttered.
"The Doctor," Martha agreed. "But what's the message?"
"We'll probably find out soon," Jack said, interested in what could be in the painting.
At Stormcage Containment Facility in the year 5145, a phone is ringing. A guard answers it as River Song listens from her cell, writing in her diary.
"It's River," Donna said happily.
"Looks like she's going to play a part here," Jack said interested.
"She plays a part in quite a few of these, especially the second set," Jane informed him.
"Well looking forward to that. She's a blast," Mickey said with a grin.
"The Doctor? You mean Dr. Song?" the guard asks and River's head whips up. She runs up to the bars, telling him to give it to her, as she's entitled to phone calls. Wearily, he hands it to her and she answers, thinking it's the Doctor. But it's Churchill, who thought he'd been calling The Doctor. River explains he's phoning the time vortex, which doesn't always work but the TARDIS has rerouted the call to her. She tells him to talk fast and listens as Churchill tells her the message. The guard walks up to her cell, asking if she's finished. River hangs up and reaches inside her shirt before turning around to face the guard. She hands him the phone and asks if he's new here. The guard says it's his first day. "Then I'm very sorry," River says before she grabs his shirt and pulls the surprised guard into a kiss.
"She has hallucinogenic lipstick. Oh she is good," Donna said with a grin.
"How did she even get it in there though?" Wilf wondered.
"It's River. I stopped asking those questions a long time ago Wilf," Jane said with a grin.
"It's not luck though, its skill, I can tell that much. She's had training of some kind. River Song, you continue to be a mystery," Jack said intrigued.
"Look out, I think Jack's in love," Mickey joked.
"Just don't let Dad know. He'll probably drop you in the nearest black hole," Jane added jokingly and Jack shrugged.
"I've come back from worse."
Alarms blare as several other guards rush towards River's cell. The guard is now in the cell, his weapon seemingly trained on River as he explains River tried to use her lipstick on him. "Your tricks don't work in here Dr. Song," the guard said smugly to who he believed was River. But it's just a drawing of River with the word 'bye' in a speech bubble.
"Only River would do that," Martha said as they all laughed.
"Dr. Song, if only your heart didn't belong to The Doctor," Jack said flirtatiously.
River, now changed into a set of black clothes, is at the Royal Collections, using a flashlight to look through the art gallery. Finding what she's looking for, River yanks a painting out of its frame and rolls it up. She begins heading up the stairs when the lights suddenly flicker on. Liz 10 is standing at the stop of the stairwell, aiming a pistol at her.
"And Liz is back to. At this point, I'm expecting to see Ood Sigma show up," Donna noted.
"Sorry, he doesn't really make any more appearances, although you will recognize at least one more familiar face," Jane said with a grin, wondering how they would react.
Liz demands to know what River is doing there and River explains it's about The Doctor. Liz lowers her pistol in shock as River says The Doctor is in trouble and she needs to find him. Liz asks why River is stealing a painting and River tells her to look at it. River hands her the painting and Liz unrolls it as River explains she needs to show it to The Doctor. Liz looks up with a face of dread.
"Well that's not a good sign," Mickey muttered as the past viewers eyed the screen uneasily.
"Whatever that painting is, it's not good news for The Doctor," Jack said darkly, wondering what it could be.
"Spaceman," Donna muttered, worried for her friend.
The scene changes to the Maldovarium sometime later. River sits at a booth with a blue alien creature. The alien says there are rumors that River is looking for time travel. River asks if he's selling and he snaps his fingers. A servant, a red alien, brings in a wooden box. The blue alien takes it, explaining its a vortex manipulator which he took from a 'handsome time agent'.
"Of course you'd profit from the eradication of the Time Agency," Jack said darkly and the past viewers looked at him in surprise.
"You know this bloke?" Mickey asked.
"Dorium Maldovar. If you want information or something of value on the black market in the 51st century, he's your guy. I did business with me as a Time Agent," Jack said darkly.
"Can he be trusted?" Martha asked uneasily and Jack smiled unpleasantly.
"He's a coward, has no real moral compass, and his loyalty is to the highest bidder or whoever he thinks will win. He'd sell you out in a heartbeat if it saved his own skin, unless he was more scared of you. If River's gone to him for help, she must be desperate," Jack noted grimly.
"I hope River knows what she's doing," Donna muttered and Jane smirked.
"I'd be more worried about him than her," she said, confusing the others.
"Excuse me, but what is a Vortex Manipulator?" Wilf wondered.
"It allows you to teleport and travel through time," Martha explained.
"Not as glamorous as the TARDIS but handy if you need a way to travel though time or teleport quickly," Jack added before frowning. "Used to have one just like it."
Opening it, the alien sighs before closing the box, complaining he wanted it off the wrist.
If looks could kill, the TV would be ash from how Jack was glaring at it. That very well could have been a friend of his. Dorium was lucky he was very far from Jack.
The servant takes the box away as Dorium says it's not cheap. "Have you brought me a pretty toy?" he asks. River pulled out her earing, explaining its Calisto Pulse, which can disarm micro-explosives within a 20 foot range. Dorium ask what kind as he takes a drink of wine. "The kind I just put in your wine," River explains calmly. Dorium looks down at his drink before glaring at River.
"Oh she is good," Donna said impressed as Jack laughed.
"Or maybe she just knows exactly who she's dealing with," Jack amended, also impressed.
"I'm liking her more and more," Martha said with a grin.
"Tell me about," Mickey said interested.
On the TARDIS, Amy is sitting on the swing below the console, examining her engagement ring. She starts to put it on her finger when The Doctor's head pops down from the console. "Vavoom," he says cheerfully as she quickly hides her hand.
"She's drawn to the ring," Martha noted.
"On some level, she recognizes it. It triggers a feeling, although she doesn't understand why just yet," Jane explained. "Sort of like that nagging feeling in the back of your mind that you've forgotten something."
"I know that feeling," Donna muttered.
Amy is confused as she heads up to the console. The Doctor claims he's gotten a 'genius' idea as he sets a course. The TARDIS lands and he tells her to come along as he heads for the door. Amy asks where they are. "Planet One. The oldest planet in the universe, and there's a cliff of pure diamond, and, according to legend, on the cliff there's writing. Letters from 50 feet high, a message from the dawn of time, and no one knows what it says because no one's ever translated it. 'Til today." Amy asks what happens today and he says they do, as the TARDIS can translate anything. "All we have to do is open the doors and read the very first words in recorded history," The Doctor says gleefully. He offers Amy his hand and she takes it before they head outside. As they step out of the TARDIS, the smile leaves The Doctor's face. Carved into the cliff are the words 'Hello Sweetie' with a set of coordinates carved below. "Vavoom," Amy says with a laugh as The Doctor smiles.
"Well that's one way to get his attention," Jack said amused as the past viewers all laughed.
"She really knew Boss to figure out he'd go there eventually," Mickey noted.
"You have no idea," Jane said, her smile becoming a little strained as she remembered how exactly River knew so much about The Doctor.
The TARDIS materializes in a clearing and The Doctor and Amy step out. Amy asks if they're in the right place. "Just followed the coordinates: Earth, Britain, 1: 02 A.M. No, P.M. No, AD," The Doctor says in disbelief. A short distance away, Roman soldiers are gathered around a tent.
"They're in the time of the Roman Legion," Wilf said in surprise.
"Romans, a strange painting, all these pieces coming together. Something's about to happen," Jack said, unable to shake the feeling of dread in his stomach.
"Something big," Donna agreed. "Something that will shape the future of the universe."
"Just wish we knew what that was," Martha muttered.
Amy notes it's a Roman legion and The Doctor explains the Romans invaded Britain several times during this era. Amy gleefully says she knows. "My favorite topic at school, invasion of the hot Italians," Amy quips before admitting she got a mark down for the title.
"I can see that," Donna said as Jack and Mickey snickered.
"I can definitely imagine a younger Amy doing just that," Martha said with a laugh.
"Can't imagine the teacher took that well," Jack said, laughing at the picture.
A Roman soldier walks up to them, declaring 'Hail Caesura' before kneeling to The Doctor. The Doctor eyes him oddly as the soldier says they are honored by his presence. The Doctor awkwardly tells him to rise as Amy asks why he thinks The Doctor is Caesar before the soldier rises, revealing a lipstick mark on his cheek, declaring Cleopatra will see them now.
"Cleopatra. Right," Martha said dryly.
The Doctor and Amy exchange an amused glance before they are led into the tent. Upon entering, The Doctor finds River, dressed like Cleopatra, being attended to by servants. "Hello Sweetie," she greets before taking a drink of wine. Amy greets River happily as she looks around. The Doctor scolds her about graffiti-ing the cliff but she counters he wouldn't answer his phone.
"Gives new meaning to 'I will not be ignored'," Jack noted with a grin.
"Hate to see what a spat between them would like," Donna said and all the past viewers shuttered at the thought.
"Not pretty I'd imagine," Mickey said.
River then claps and the painting is brought to her. The Doctor asks what it is and River explains it was painted by Vincent. The Doctor takes it from her and unrolls it. As he puts it on a nearby table, River says Vincent had visions and she'd thought he'd want to know about this one. Amy asks what it is as The Doctor stares at it. The painting is of the TARDIS exploding.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered as the past viewers all stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Well, its prophecy now," Jack said grimly. "The TARDIS is going to explode."
"Then how are we sitting here then?" Wilf wondered.
"Long, complicated story that you'll know by the end of this set," Jane assured him.
"What could make the TARDIS explode though?" Martha wondered.
"Another complicated story. I'll explain once we finish these," Jane promised.
"I'll hold you to that," Mickey grumbled, still not satisfied with her vague answers.
Sometime later, The Doctor, Amy and River ride on horses. Back at the tent earlier, Amy asks why the TARDIS is exploding and River thinks it's a warning of some kind. The Doctor sits down as River and Amy debate the meaning of the explosion as River points to where Vincent had painted the date and map reference. The Doctor asks if it has a title. "The Pandorica opens," River says.
"The Pandorica. It can't be, it's absurd," Jack said in denial, refusing to believe it.
"Like blue boxes that can travel through time, a man who comes back from the dead over and over again, cracks that suck things out of existence?" Jane asked pointedly and Jack had no answer. "The universe is a lot bigger than even you know Jack."
The trio continues to ride as back in the tent, Amy asks what the Pandorica is. River explains it's a prison, built to contain the most feared thing in the universe. The Doctor dismisses it as a legend, refusing to believe it's real. "If it is real, it's here and it's opening," River snaps. "And it's got something to do with your TARDIS exploding." The Doctor picks up several maps, placing them on the table and River snaps he won't find it on a map. "No, but if you buried the most dangerous thing in the universe, you'd want to remember where you put it," The Doctor pointed out. In the present, the trio arrives at Stonehenge.
"Stonehenge. Of course. Because why not?" Jack asked, staring at the screen with an unreadable look on his face.
"Jack? Are you okay?" Martha asked as she eyed her friend in concern.
"He's just having trouble believing some fairytales are real. Give him a minute," Jane said with a smile.
The three of them run up into the center, River already on her scanner. Amy wonders why Stonehenge isn't new and River explains it was already thousands of years old by this time and no one knows how old it really is. Amy brings up that River warned them about the Pandorica. "Spoilers," River quips. Amy points out River said she'd see The Doctor when the Pandorica opened but River says that she hasn't yet.
"Time travel is confusing," Mickey muttered.
"Oh bloody tell me about it Mickey," Donna grumbled.
"Imagine how it must feel for them," Martha pointed out.
"I do not envy them," Wilf said and no one disagreed.
River tells The Doctor she's picking up fry particles, meaning energy weapons have been fired. The Doctor notes if the Pandorica contains the greatest warrior in history, half the galaxy would want them, even fight over them. The Doctor puts his ear to a rock before declaring they need to get down there. That night, River places several devices on one of the stones. The trio stands back as she activates them. The stone moves aside, revealing a secret underground stairwell.
"Okay, what is this, an Indiana Jones movie?" Mickey asked in disbelief.
"Apparently," Jack said dryly, still in a bit of denial.
River shines a light down and The Doctor cracks a joke before pulling out his screwdriver, which he uses as a light. The three of them head down, none of them noticing a Cybermen head. It twitches.
"Cybermen," Mickey said darkly, glaring at the screen hatefully.
"What's a Cyberman doing there though?" Wilf wondered.
"Well, if hypothetically speaking the Pandorica does exist, then someone had to hide it," Jack said, although he still wasn't ready to admit the Pandorica was real.
"But Cybermen?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"There's a lot we still don't know. Let's not rule anything out just yet," Martha pointed out.
Once the trio reaches the bottom of the stairwell, The Doctor uses his screwdriver to light a torch before picking it up. River picks up an unlit one and The Doctor uses the flames from his to light it. They discover a door, locked with a wooden stick. The Doctor removes the stick, exchanges a nod with River and a smile with Amy before he and River open the door. They step into a chamber, finding a large cube in the center. "The Pandorica," The Doctor breathes in amazement. "More than just a fairytale," River notes with a smile.
"Son of a bitch. It's real," Jack said as he stared at the screen in a state of shock.
"What's this story again?" Martha asked, unnerved by Jack's reaction, as she had never seen him so shaken.
"The most horrible thing in the universe was locked away inside it. The Pandorica is allegedly a prison for the most evil creature in the universe," Jack explained, his face full of dread.
"And so if opens and lets it out…" Donna trailed off uncertainly.
"May God help us all," Wilf said, not seeing the grimace on Jane's face.
In disbelief, The Doctor approaches it before he steps on something. Looking down, he sees a robotic arm on the floor before continuing to approach the Pandorica and placing his hand on it in disbelief. "There was a goblin, or a trickster or a warrior. A nameless, terrible thing soaked in the blood of a billion galaxies. The most feared being in all of the Cosmos. And nothing could stop it, or hold it, or reason with it. One day it would just drop out of the sky and tear down your world," The Doctor explains to Amy.
"And now that thing might get out," Donna shuttered.
"Hopefully The Doctor can stop it before it comes to that," Jack said, although his voice wasn't optimistic.
Amy asks how it ended up in there. "You know fairytales. A good wizard tricked it," The Doctor says. The Doctor then smiles before walking around to the other side of the Pandorica. "I hate good wizards in fairytales," Rives says as she hands Amy her torch. "They always turn out to be him." Amy looks around the chamber, noting the similarities to Pandora's Box, saying it was her favorite book when she was a kid. The Doctor looks at her sharply and she asks what's wrong. The Doctor points out first it was her favorite subject in school, now her favorite story. "Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy, in which case always ignore a coincidence," The Doctor says as he walks back to the Pandorica.
"He's got a point though," Mickey noted.
"Her favorite book and subject, the cracks starting with her wall. Amy's connected to the Pandorica somehow," Jack agreed as he narrowed his eyes.
"But how?" Martha wondered.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a tight smile.
Amy asks if he can open it and he says easily but he'd like to know what he'll find first. River's scanner goes off and she says it's already opening. "There are layers and layers of security protocol in there, and they're all being disabled, one by one," River reveals, to The Doctor's alarm. "Like its being unlocked, from the inside."
"It's already started," Jack said as all the blood drained from his face.
"Is this thing really that bad?" Mickey wondered.
"I'd rather face the Daleks, The Master and the 456 all again before I face whatever is inside that box," Jack said grimly, staring at the screen with a look no one had ever seen on his face before.
It was a look of pure terror.
River puts her scanner on the Pandorica and The Doctor asks how long they have. She estimates hours and The Doctor asks what kind of security it has. She lists all kinds and The Doctor wonders what could need all that. "What could get passed all that?" River notes. "Think of the fear that went into making this box," The Doctor says hears a noise behind her, turning around and using the torch to see. The Doctor wonders what could inspire such fear as Amy, not finding anything, turns back to The Pandorica. The Doctor continues to examine it as River wonders why it would start to open now but The Doctor has no idea. Amy wonders how Vincent could know about it when he won't be born for centuries and The Doctor points to the stones around the chamber, explaining they're broadcasting a warning to everyone in every time zone that the Pandorica is opening. "Poor Vincent heard it in his dreams. But what's in there? What could justify all this?" The Doctor wonders.
"That's what we'd like to know Boss," Mickey muttered as Jane grimaced.
River asks if he means everyone as The Doctor, caught up in his musings on the Pandorica, fails to grasp the obvious. "Doctor, you said everyone could hear it. So who else is coming?" River asks.
"Damn it, of course," Jack swore as the realization hit them all.
"If that thing holds the most evil thing in all of creation, then there's no telling who might want to get their hands on it," Martha realized in horror.
"There are all sorts of people in the universe who would want to use it as a weapon. And that broadcast drew them a bloody map," Donna groaned.
"Oh," The Doctor says as it hit him. Amy is confused as River suggests falling back the signal. The Doctor agrees, getting on it as Amy gets more confused. "Stonehenge is transmitting; it's been transmitting for a while. So who heard?" River asks as The Doctor uses his screwdriver to send the signal to River's scanner. After a few moments, River gets the signal. "Around this planet, there are at least 10, 000 starships," River announces.
"10,000 ships?" Mickey repeated weakly.
"At least," Jack said grimly. "The invasion has already started."
"But who's invasion?" Donna wondered uneasily.
Amy questions 'at least' and River says she doesn't know how many, as there are too many readings. The Doctor asks what kind before they hear the voice of a Dalek.
"Daleks, of course. Of course they'd want the Pandorica," Jack said darkly as the past viewers looked horrified.
"So they could use it as a weapon in the latest attack on The Doctor," Martha said grimly.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey breathed horrified.
Jane grimaced. They were all on the right track. The Daleks did end up using the Pandorica against The Doctor after all.
The Doctor begins rambling, noting the Daleks will have, at minimum, 12,000 battle ships but they have surprise on their side. "Because they'll never expect three people to attack 12,000 battle ships…because we'd be killed instantly," The Doctor realizes.
"He's panicking," Donna realized. "Calm down Spaceman, calm down and think. There's a way out of this."
"How?" Martha asked dryly.
"I don't know, let him figure it out!" Donna snapped.
The Doctor dismisses this plan as River announces there are Cyber ships as well. The Doctor is in disbelief before suggesting they turn the Daleks on the Cybermen. River then announces there are Sontaran, and multiple other ships orbiting the earth. The Doctor becomes overwhelmed as they realize they're all here for the Pandorica. "What are you?" The Doctor asks as he turns to the Pandorica. "What could you possibly be?"
"It's like every enemy he's ever faced has come for the Pandorica," Martha said in horror.
Not every enemy, but pretty close," Jack said darkly.
"And they all want that box. How can The Doctor possibly find a way out of this?" Wilf asked horrified but no one had an answer.
The Doctor places a hand on the Pandorica when the chamber begins trembling. The Doctor quickly runs out of the chamber, Amy and River following him. They head back up the stairwell and emerge above ground in time to see various ships in the sky.
"They're getting ready to attack," Mickey realized in horror.
"Not yet. It's a scouting mission," Jack said, recognizing the patterns. "They're looking for something. The Pandorica."
"And once they realize it's there, there'll be no stopping them," Donna realized horrified.
"Only an act of God can save them now," Wilf said lowly.
"Doctor, listen to me. Everything that's ever hated you is coming here tonight. You can't win this, you can't even fight this. Doctor, this once, just this one time, please, you have to run," River says passionately. The Doctor asks where and she snaps fight how. Getting an idea, The Doctor takes out his binoculars. "The greatest military machine in the history of the universe," The Doctor says. Amy thinks he means the Daleks but he's actually talking about the Romans.
"I'm not sure how much help against the Daleks, Cybermen and everything else the Romans will be," Jack said uncertainly.
"It's better than The Doctor having only River and Amy for backup," Martha pointed out as Jane fought a grimace.
"If only," Jane muttered.
River rides back to the camp on her horse. As she gets off, two Roman soldiers raise their swords towards her. In the tent of the Roman commander, the commander says he knows River isn't Cleopatra, as she's already dead. "Funny how things work on," River says dryly.
"And River's cover was blown at the worst possible time," Jack said as Mickey, Martha and Donna all groaned. "This could not get worse."
The tent vibrates as a ship flies overhead. The commander demands to know who River is. "When you fight barbarians, what must they think of you?" River asks and he laughs. "Where must they think you come from?" "A place more deadly and more powerful and more impatient than their tiny minds can imagine," the commander sneers as he draws his sword. River then uses her blaster to disintegrate a cabinet. The Romans step back, startled as River asks where she comes from, declaring their world has visitors. "You're all barbarians now," River declares. The commander asks what her blaster is. "A fool would say the work of the gods. But you've been a soldier too long to believe there are gods watching over us," River says coolly. "There is however a man and tonight he's going to need your help."
"That was awesome and everything, but I don't think that's going to convince them," Mickey pointed out.
"No, they're going to need more," Jack agreed. "Knowing Romans, they'll only agree when it's too late."
"Not quite," Jane said, flashing a mysterious smile that only confused the others.
A Roman soldier enters the tent, calling for the commander. He puts his sword back in his sheath before walking over to the soldier. The two have a hushed discussion before the commander looks back at River, declaring she has a volunteer. She looks at the soldier oddly, his face hidden by shadows.
"Huh. That was unexpected," Martha muttered as the others stared at the screen in surprise.
"Why would a Roman volunteer for an assignment after River impersonated Cleopatra?" Jack asked confused. "It doesn't make sense."
"Spoilers," Jane said with a grin.
"Would you stop enjoying that so much?" Donna snapped and Jane laughed.
Back with the Pandorica, Amy asks what the Pandorica has to do with the TARDIS, pointing out it was exploding in Vincent's painting. "One problem at a time," The Doctor as he examines the Pandorica. Determining there's force field technology inside the Pandorica, The Doctor muses he could buy them half an hour if he extends it over Stonehenge. Amy asks what good that will do. "There are fruit flies on Hoppledom 6 that live for 20 minutes and don't even mate for life," The Doctor says and she turns away in annoyance. "There was going to be a point to that. I'll get back to you."
"He says the most random things sometimes," Martha said, not sure whether to be amused or not.
"That probably sounded a lot better in his head," Jane mused.
Amy pulls out her engagement ring, asking if he's proposing to someone. She says she found it in his pocket as he looks up and sees it. The Doctor explains it's a memory from a friend, someone he lost. "It's weird; I feel…I don't know. Something," Amy says as she looks down at the ring. "When people fall out of the world, sometimes they leave traces. Little things we can't quiet account for. Faces in photographs, luggage, half eaten meals…rings," The Doctor says pointedly and Amy looks back at the ring curiously. "Nothing is ever forgotten, not completely. And if something can be remembered, it can come back." Shakily, Amy closes the box and hands The Doctor the ring, asking if his friend was nice, assuming it was a girl.
"Well, she clearly missed the point he was trying to make," Donna said disappointed.
"Maybe," Jack said as he eyed the screen thoughtfully. "Or maybe subconsciously, it's too painful a road for Amy to go down."
"Maybe. The human mind can only handle so much," Martha noted.
Silently, The Doctor walks back over to the Pandorica before asking if Amy remembers the night she came with him. She confirms he does and he reminds her he said there wasn't a reason he took her before admitting he lied. Amy asks if he had a reason and he says it was her house, too big with too many empty rooms. The Doctor asks her if it bothers her that her life doesn't make any sense.
"He's right," Jack frowned, his unease from the first few recordings returning. "The house had too many rooms for just a woman and her niece."
"She never mentions her parents," Donna noted. "I mean, she might have just been young when she lost them."
"Still, you'd think the aunt would have moved her to a more affordable house after they died," Martha pointed.
"Too many things don't add up," Wilf said and no one disagreed.
"I'm not sure who's a bigger mystery, River or Amy," Jack mused.
Amy is confused until a laser blast suddenly strikes near her. The Cybermen arm fires again.
"Bloody Hell!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers looked started.
"Expected that might happen," Mickey said grimly.
"You mean Cybermen can still attack even disassembled?" Wilf asked startled.
"With enough power. Guess this one has enough," Mickey said grimly.
Amy and The Doctor take cover behind the Pandorica as Amy asks what that was. The Doctor says he'll need to give it a target. The Doctor reminds her of times when he has really brilliant ideas before jumping out from behind the Pandorica. "Look at me I'm a target!" He shouts before dodging a laser blast.
"Spaceman, sometimes your plans are so mad that they're just mad," Donna said as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Blimey Boss. There's a limit," Mickey muttered.
"The Doctor was never known for accepting limits," Jack noted.
The Doctor takes cover behind a corner, explaining it's a Cyberarm and giving Amy a brief rundown of the Cybermen. The Doctor then says Amy needs to draw its fire so he can get behind it.
"She could get herself killed!" Wilf exclaimed in alarm.
"Might be the only way to get them out of there alive," Jack pointed out.
"Sometimes there are no good options," Jane said darkly, thinking of Appalachia. "But you still have to do it."
Amy is incredulous as he assures her she'll be fine if she's quick. "It's got one arm, literally," he points out. With a yell, Amy runs out from behind the Pandorica, drawing the fire of the Cyberarm. The Doctor rushes towards it, jumping on it and trying to disarm it. It fires off several more shots as Amy takes cover behind a corner. The Doctor uses his screwdriver to shut it down. Amy begins to move towards him as The Doctor explains he scrambled its circuits before warning her to stay where she is, as it could be bluffing. "It's an arm!" Amy snaps. The Doctor snaps at her to stay where she is. With a huff, she moves back, crossing her arms. Behind her, a cable moves towards her legs.
"It's not just an arm. The head is there to," Jack realized in horror.
"It must have been a scout that was left behind as a guard," Mickey realized.
"And now it's going to kill The Doctor and Amy," Martha said uneasily.
"Don't be so sure," Jane said, smiling mysteriously again.
"Really hate when you say things like that," Donna grumbled.
It wraps around Amy's leg and she looks down. She calls out to The Doctor before she is pulled down. The Doctor is shocked by the Cyberarm before he can try and help her. The Doctor falls on his back and Amy looks over her shoulder, seeing the cable is coming out of the Cybermen head. Two cables wrap around Arm's wrists, restraining her as the head inches closer. Amy struggles, trying to get away but can't. Amy screams as the head lungs for her.
"Somebody bloody help her!" Donna snapped worriedly.
"How? River's with the Romans, The Doctor is down, there's no one else," Jack pointed out as they all watched the screen, worried for Amy.
Amy catches the head with her hands, trying to hold it back. A crack between the head becomes visible before opening up. A human skull is inside and Amy screams as the skull falls out.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered as they all looked disgusted.
"Has no use for the skull, now it's gonna try and take Amy," Martha said worriedly.
"Someone get her out of there," Donna worried.
The Cybermen head snaps closed as he it tries to get closer to Amy. She smashes it against the side of the wall desperately, managing to free herself. As it lands on the ground, the Cybermen head spits out a tranq dart, which gets Amy in the neck. Amy pulls it out as the drug begins to take effect. "You will be assimilated," the Cybermen head says. "Yeah? You and whose body?" Amy asks. Hearing footsteps, Amy looks up as a Cybermen body minus a head and an arm enters the chamber.
"And now she's drugged as the rest of the body comes in, brilliant," Mickey groaned. "This literally cannot get worse."
"For once, it actually gets better now," Jane mused, smiling when the others looked at her in disbelief. "Just watch."
Amy backs away as the Cybermen body picks up the head and places it on its neck. The Cybermen begins to approach her, reaching a hand out towards her. Amy picks up a flaming torch and tries to use it to fight off the Cyberman, despite her blurring vision. She backs up against the door, which opens. She cries out in surprise as she walks through it, the door closing behind her. It begins banging on the door as Amy calls out for The Doctor. The banging suddenly stops. Wearily, Amy approaches the door, putting her ear to it. "Doctor?" A sword suddenly pieces the door a few feet away and Amy yelps. She jumps back as the door opens, a sword impaled through the chest of the Cyberman.
"Looks like the Romans came just in time," Jack said as Martha and Donna breathed a sigh of relief. "And if they can do that to a Cyberman, it might not be hopeless after all."
"There's a difference between a still assembling Cybermen and the real thing Jack," Mickey said darkly. "I should know. And that's only one problem."
"He's right," Martha sighed heavily.
The Roman soldier is standing a few feet away and Amy asks who he is. He removes his helmet, revealing the face of Rory. "Hello Amy."
"It's Rory!" Wilf exclaimed as the past viewers stared in shock.
"I told you he'd be back, and sooner than you expected," Jane reminded them with a grin.
"Seeing is different than hearing," Martha muttered.
"How is with the Romans though?" Donna asked in confusion.
"That is very complicated," Jane said, not even sure how to explain it.
"Getting tired of complicated," Donna grumbled.
"Something tells me you better get used to," Jack said as he eyed the screen wearily. "Rory coming back while all this is happening can't be a coincidence."
"Because it's not Jack," Jane said, the smile leaving her face. "Nothing in this is a coincidence."
Amy finally passes out but Rory catches her before she falls. Rory places Amy on a nearby table, staring at her lovingly as another soldier approaches, telling Rory The Doctor's coming around.
"Well at least they're all alright," Wilf said optimistically.
"For how long Gramps?" Donna muttered, for which Wilf had no answer.
The Doctor calls out for Amy and Rory assures him she's fine, just unconscious. The Doctor quickly rushes over to Amy, using his screwdriver and finds that Amy is merely sedated and will wake in half an hour. The Doctor then turns around, clapping the other soldier on the shoulder and asking how many there are of them. Rory tells him they have fifty volunteers upstairs, to The Doctor's dismay.
"Fifty is not a whole lot," Martha muttered.
"Better than nothing. And Boss has pulled off miracles with way fewer," Mickey pointed out.
"Against these kinds of odds?" Jack asked dryly and Mickey paused, realizing they had a point.
Rory points out this was tough for River to sell. "Yes, I know that Rory, I'm not exactly one to miss the obvious," The Doctor says, missing the irony.
"You sure about that Spaceman?" Donna asked amused.
"In his defense, he does have a lot more on his mind," Jack noted. "And he does tend to miss obvious details when he's hyper focusing like this."
Rory tries to say something but The Doctor is in mission mode, taking the Cyberman's weapons. The Doctor notes the Cybermen Rory killed was a Sentry who likely had a cross encounter with the Celts. The Doctor shushes Rory, wondering why the Cybermen would leave a guard, quickly concluding that they wouldn't lock up a Cybermen. "I'm missing something obvious Rory. Something big, something right slap me in front of me, I can feel it," The Doctor says as he stops in front of Rory. Rory dryly agrees.
Mickey and Jack snickered while Donna and Martha laughed. Even Wilf and Jane couldn't help letting out a laugh at the irony.
"Oh Spaceman," Donna said with a giggle.
The Doctor says he'll get it in a minute before walking out. Seconds later, the sounds of The Doctor dropping the weapons are heard before he walks back into the room, staring at Rory in disbelief. The Doctor pushes Rory lightly with one finger before they greet each other. The Doctor asks how he's been and Rory notes he's been Roman, but good. "Rory, I'm not trying to be rude, but you died," The Doctor points out. "Yeah. I know, I was there," Rory reminds him. The Doctor explains Rory was also erased from time, so he never existed. Rory is confused by what that means as The Doctor asks how Rory can be here.
"That's what we'd like to know," Jack muttered, his mind racing.
"Any ideas?" Martha asked and Jack shook his head.
"None that would explain Rory surviving the crack," Jack said, wondering how this was even possible.
Rory admits he doesn't know, as its 'fuzzy'. "Fuzzy?" The Doctor repeats, a thoughtful look on his face. Rory says he died and turned into a Roman, which is 'very distracting'. Rory walks over to Amy, putting a hand on her face. She stirs and Rory asks if she missed him.
"More than you know Rory, even without memory," Martha said gently.
"Can't imagine Rory will take it well when he realizes Amy doesn't remember him," Mickey noted.
"Not so sure about that," Jack mused, noting Amy's odd reactions. "Buried yes, but not completely forgotten."
"Like The Doctor said, sometimes things can come back," Martha said, willing to believe it.
The chamber rocks as they hear the sound of ships descending from the sky. The Doctor and Rory rush out to see The Pandorica is glowing as the Romans surround it. The Doctor uses his screwdriver on it as Rory asks what's happening. The Doctor explains it's the final phase. "It's opening."
"Here we go," Jack muttered as the past viewers all tensed.
"The most evil thing in the universe," Donna muttered uneasily.
"Looks like we're about to find out what it is," Mickey muttered grimly.
The Doctor puts a hand to the Pandorica before Rory leads the rest of the group outside. As they emerge from the stairwell onto Stonehenge, they see various ships are swarming in the sky.
"And the enemy is about to attack. This really can't get any worse," Jack muttered and Jane grimaced.
"It can always get worse Jack. Haven't you figured that out by now?" Jane asked grimly.
River, sitting on her horse, talks to The Doctor on the phone, asking if he has a plan. He assures her he does but he needs her to get the TARDIS and hangs up. River heads off as The Doctor wonders what the Pandorica is to get all these ships to come here. He turns away from the Pandorica. Up above, Rory and The Romans look around in bewilderment as a strange sound, like a microphone buzzing, echoes through the air. "Sorry, sorry dropped it. Hello Stonehenge!" The Doctor's voice spoke up. "Who takes the Pandorica, takes the universe! But, bad news everyone, cause guess who!?" The Doctor jumps up from the stairwell. "HA! Listen you lot, you're all whizzing about, it's really distracting. Could you all just stay still for a minute, BECAUSE I AM TALKING!"
"What in blazes is he doing?" Wilf asked in disbelief.
"If I had to guess, I'd say he's about to egg them on," Jack said, curious as to how that would help this situation.
A shot of the ships in space is shown and, slowly, they all stop turning. "Now, the question of the hour is who's got the Pandorica? Answer, I do. Next question, who's coming to take it from me?" The Doctor spreads his arms wide. "Come on, look at me! No plan. No back up. No weapons worth a damn. And something else, I don't have anything to lose. So, if you're sitting up there in your silly little spaceship with all your silly little guns and you've got any plans on taking the Pandorica tonight, just remember who's standing in your way. Remember every black day I've ever stopped you. And then, and then, do the smart thing. Let somebody else try first." To the disbelief of Rory and the Romans, the ships all turn around and leave. The Doctor smiles at Rory, who sighs in relief. The Doctor notes that'll keep them busy for half an hour before he walks back down the stairwell.
"Not bad. Psychological warfare only he could pull off," Jack said impressed.
"He took advantage of their fear and turned t against them. Just when I think you can't surprise me anymore Doctor," Martha said with a smile.
"Still only bought them half an hour," Donna noted.
"Which might give them enough time to figure a way out of this mess," Mickey said hopefully.
No one saw the dark look on Jane's face. Once more, the fear her father instilled would come back to bite him. And it sadly wouldn't be the last time either.
River walks into the TARDIS before heading over to the console. She begins taking off but the TARDIS suddenly stops, to her confusion.
"Huh?" Donna asked in confusion as the past viewers looked at the screen in confusion.
"Just wait," Jane said, fighting a grimace.
Back in the chamber, Rory asks The Doctor what to do. The Doctor believes if he can stop whatever is in the Pandorica form getting out, the aliens will leave. The Doctor then tells Rory he'll have to be very brave. Rory is confused until Amy walks right passed him, complaining about her head.
"Well Rory won't take this well," Martha said with a grimace.
"Poor Rory," Donna summed up what they were all thinking.
"I'm not sure The Doctor's plan is any better. Stopping the Pandorica from opening won't make them leave," Jack said certainly.
"He's trying to convince himself as much as he's trying to convince them," Jane noted.
The Doctor quickly examines Amy before determining it was just basic knockout gas. Rory stands behind Amy expectantly as she and The Doctor briefly talk about the Pandorica before she turns to face Rory. She doesn't recognize him but knows Rory killed the Cyberman. Rory's face falls as she thanks him. Tapping him on the shoulder before walking out of the chamber. "No problem," Rory says devastated.
"Ouch," Martha said grimaced.
"This is worse than me with Rose," Mickey said, his heart going out to Rory.
"Well Amy loved Rory back, so yeah," Donna agreed, feeling sad for Rory.
"Hope might not be lost. She seems to have some memories of Rory buried deep down. Rory might just need to jog her memory," Wilf noted.
"And how's he going to do that?" Jack asked sarcastically and Wilf didn't have an answer.
The Doctor examines the Pandorica with the screwdriver as Rory tells Amy his men are up there, lamely saying they'll look after her. Amy notes she loves a Roman as she walks upstairs. Once she's gone, Rory asks The Doctor why Amy can't remember him and The Doctor explains Rory never existed.
"Which again raises the question about how Rory is here," Jack noted as he narrowed his eyes. "This shouldn't be possible."
"Well somehow it is," Donna said, as confused as Jack.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a tight smile.
"That is very annoying," Martha grumbled and Jane smiled slightly.
"I know."
River wonders what's wrong with the TARDIS as it continues to have trouble. The TARDIS flies through the time vortex.
"And the TARDIS is acting up," Mickey noted uneasily.
"And given Vincent's painting, that's not a good sign," Jack said as the past viewers eyed the screen uneasily.
As he examines the Pandorica, The Doctor explains to Rory about the explosion in time causing the cracks. Rory wonders what exploded and The Doctor remembers the date being Amy's time and pulling the piece of the TARDIS out of the crack. But he lies, telling Rory it doesn't matter.
"Considering that painting, I'd say it does matter Spaceman," Donna muttered.
"Rule one: The Doctor lies," Jane said with a tight smile.
Rory asks if he fell through a crack and was never born and The Doctor says basically. Rory wonders how he can be here and The Doctor doesn't know. The Doctor then asks Rory to describe what happened to him. "I was with you and Amy in a cave, I was dying, and then I was just here, a Roman soldier. A proper Roman, a head full of Roman…stuff, a whole other life," Rory explains. Rory explains he'd started to think it was all a dream until he'd heard the men in the camp talking about Amy, thinking they'd come back for him. "But she can't even remember me!" Rory despairs. The Doctor tells him to shut up before tossing the ring to him. Rory catches it, opening the box as The Doctor tells him to go get Amy. Rory still doesn't understand why he's here. "Because you are. The universe is big. It's vast and complicated and ridiculous, and sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles, and that's the theory. Nine hundred years, never seen one yet. But this one will do. Now get upstairs, she's Amy and she's surrounded by Romans. I'm not sure history can take it," The Doctor says. Rory nods before heading upstairs.
"If there's any justice in the universe, Rory can help Amy remember," Donna said, trying to be optimistic.
"I don't think it'll be that easy Donna," Jack said doubtfully.
"Nothing ever is," Martha pointed out.
"Amy and Rory defy the odds. They always do," Jane said with a smile.
The TARDIS stops and River puts the lever down, asking if it's okay. The scanner is static-y and River walks out. As she does, the screen focuses. The location is earth on 26 June, 2010. Suddenly, a crack forms in the glass. "Silence will fall," a sinister voice says.
"Silence will fall. That's what Prisoner Zero and Rosanna said," Martha remembered as the past viewers stared at the screen startled.
"This Silence, that's what's responsible for the TARDIS exploding," Jack realized and Jane nodded.
"Yeah, it is," Jane confirmed.
"But how? And why?" Donna asked in confusion.
"It's a complicated story you won't understand until we finish all these. But I promise, I will explain everything," Jane promised.
"I'll hold you to that," Mickey said grimly.
Outside, River has stepped into Amy's backyard, staring at Amy's house as she wonders why the TARDIS brought her here. Walking up to the backdoors, River's scanner goes off. Using her light, she sees the mark of an alien craft burned into the grass and realizes something's been here.
"That's not the TARDIS is it?" Wilf realized.
"No, the TARDIS usually doesn't leave behind scorch marks. Someone's been to Amy's house since The Doctor took her," Jack realized.
"Question is who and why," Mickey mused uneasily.
"Whatever their reasons, it can't be good," Martha muttered.
Turning towards the door, River sees it's been busted open and walks in. River walks up the stairs, following the readings on her scanner to Amy's room. Opening the door, River walks inside, shining the light as she looks around. "Oh Doctor, why do I let you out?" River wonders as she sees Amy's dolls on her dresser.
"We ask ourselves that same question all the time," Martha muttered.
"Like we could keep somewhere if we tried," Mickey joked, not seeing Jane's grimace.
As she continues looking around, River's scanner picks up a strong reading. Looking down, she sees a book on Roman Britain. River remembers the commander's warning before seeing Amy's Pandora's Box book and remembers Amy saying it was her favorite book as a child. "Oh no," River says as she realizes the truth.
"Damn it!" Jack snapped as he caught on.
"What? Jack, what is it?" Martha asked as the other past viewers looked at him startled.
"You remember how I said there wasn't a coincidence, that Amy had some connection to the Pandorica? I think I just figured it out," Jack said darkly. "And if I'm right, The Doctor is in big trouble."
Back in Roman Britain, Rory sees Amy sitting on a log, wrapped in a blanket. He walks up to her, asking if she's okay. Amy, annoyed by thinking The Doctor sent him to check on her, assures him she's fine. Rory asks about her blanket and she says one of the Romans gave it to her. Rory jealously asks which one and she asks why it matters. Rory says forget it before sitting down next to her. She asks him his name and after a moment, he tells her. Amy looks away, the name clearly striking a cord. Rory asks what's wrong and she notes it's not what you'd expect a Roman to be called. "What's it short for? Roranicus?
' Amy joked. Rory then notices Amy is crying and she feels her face, surprised.
"She's starting to remember," Wilf said hopefully.
"Her emotions are a lot quicker than her mind. Subconsciously she remembers, but it hasn't all caught up yet," Jane explained.
The Doctor calls River, asking her to hurry up. She tells him not to raise his voice or react, merely to listen. Outside, Rory asks what's wrong as Amy continues to cry. Amy, confused, notes she's happy as she laughs. Rory smiles as she asks why she's happy.
"I swear I want to yell 'just kiss already'," Martha noted, only half joking.
"Tell me about it. I feel like one of those shippers in a show," Donna agreed.
"This is almost painful to watch," Jack added absently, still thinking about his realization.
River explains that none of the Romans are real, flipping through Amy's book to find those exact Romans on the artworks. The Doctor wonders why she's at Amy's house but she snaps it doesn't matter, asking how this is possible. The Doctor realizes something is using Amy's memories.
"Really hoped I was wrong," Jack said darkly as the others looked startled.
"It's a trap," Martha realized. "This whole thing is a trap for The Doctor."
"Yeah," Jack agreed darkly.
"But who would go to all the trouble just to get The Doctor there?" Wilf wondered.
"The Doctor has no shortage of enemies Gramps. Could be any one of those aliens in the ships to someone else," Donna said as her mind race. "Get out of there Spaceman."
River wonders how and The Doctor asks her about something being there. She tells him about the marks in the grass and The Doctor points out something could have used the psychic residue, as structures hold memories that can result in ghosts. The Doctor wonders why they're using Amy's memories as River asks what the Romans are. The Doctor suggests duplicates or projections but River argues they were helping them and her lipstick worked on them. "They might think they're real. The perfect disguise, they actually believe their own cover story, right until they're activated," The Doctor. At Amy's house, River finds a picture of Amy and Rory, Rory dressed in his Centurion costume.
"Bloody Hell, that's how Rory back. They took the picture and thought he was one of the Centurions," Donna realized in horror.
"No, it's more than that. Rory has his memories of traveling with The Doctor and Amy. If he was just taken from that picture, he would have been just like the others," Jack noted as he narrowed his eyes. "Not that it matters. Like The Doctor said, once they're activated, they'll reverted to their original programing."
"Amy and The Doctor need to get out of there," Martha said worriedly.
"It might be too late for that," Jack said grimly.
Rory asks Amy what's wrong and she says nothing as she places a hand on the side of his face, not understanding why as she continues to cry. "It's me," Rory said as he takes her hand in his. "Amy, please. It's me." In the TARDIS, River says it's a trap, made using Amy's memories to construct a scenario The Doctor would believe. The Doctor wonders who would do that and why as The TARDIS suddenly rocks, a burst of sparks coming down.
"It's starting. The TARDIS is going to explode," Donna realized in horror.
"And there's nothing The Doctor can do to stop it from where he's at now," Martha realized as horror spread throughout the room.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey summed up what they were all thinking.
The Doctor frantically calls out to River, asking her what's happening. She says she doesn't know. "It's the engines. Doctor, there's something wrong with the TARDIS, like something else is controlling it," River says.
"The Silence," Donna muttered, wondering who they were.
The Doctor says she's flying it wrong and she snaps she's flying it perfectly, pointing out he taught her. The Doctor asks where she is and she reads the date off the scanner, to his horror. "You need to get out of there now. Any other time zone, just go," The Doctor orders. But River is trapped, unable to break free. The Doctor orders her to shut down the TARDIS but she's unable to do so. "Silence will fall," the voice from earlier suddenly says and River looks around in bewilderment.
Idly, Jane wondered if River had remembered in that moment before dismissing it. Kovarian had messed with River's mind so much it was honestly doubtful.
"There's nothing anyone can do to stop it," Wilf whispered softly.
"Well something had to happen Gramps, otherwise we wouldn't be sitting here," Donna noted as she looked around at the room.
"Dad did find a way, but it took him a long time," Jane explained.
Amy stands up, declaring she's never seen Rory in her life. Rory tries to convince her as she wonders why she's crying. "Because you remember me! I came back. You're crying because you remember me," Rory says pleadingly.
"Oh Rory," Martha said softly as they all felt bad for him.
"If he's taking this badly, I can't imagine he'll take finding out the truth any better," Jack mused.
River tells The Doctor someone else is controlling the TARDIS. The Doctor wonders how when he suddenly hears a piercing noise. The Romans near him drop their weapons and bend over lifelessly. Up above, the Romans, including Rory, have also done so before rising to their full heights, a robotic noise heard in their movements.
"Autons. They're Autons," Mickey realized as the blood drained from his face.
"Yeah, but they're a lot more advanced than the ones that abducted you," Jane told him.
"Bloody brilliant," Mickey groaned.
The Doctor orders River to land the TARDIS, explaining the TARDIS exploding is what causes the cracks but they can stop it if she makes an emergency landing. Behind him, the Romans are standing to attention as River says it's not safe. The Pandorica begins to open and The Doctor freezes.
"And on top of everything else, it's finally opening," Jack said in dismay as they all watched, wondering what was inside.
"Well now. Ready to come out, are we?" he asks lowly. The Romans turn towards him, holding their hands out towards him. Above, as the other Romans are moving towards the stairwell, Rory is on his knees, groaning in pain as he declares he's not going. "I'M RORY!" He wails as Amy watches in bewilderment. In the TARDIS, River pulls a level and tells The Doctors she's landed. He tells her all she needs to do is walk out the doors, as the TARDIS shuts down automatically if no one is inside. The Doctor tells River to run as the hands of the Romans open, revealing mechanical guns. They advance on The Doctor as he uses his screwdriver on the Pandorica.
"Turn around Spaceman!" Donna snapped as they all stared at the screen worriedly.
"He's too focused on the Pandorica. Wrong time to hyper focus Doctor," Jack said in dismay.
"If River can get out of the TARDIS, can she really stop this?" Wilf wondered.
'Very big if Wilf," Martha muttered, not believing it would be that easy.
River tries to open the TARDIS doors but, to her shock, the doors won't budge. She tells The Doctor she can't open the doors as he turns around, seeing the Autons. He calls out for Amy.
"And of course it's not that easy," Mickey said as he, Martha and Donna all groaned.
"When are things ever?" Jack said darkly.
Rory pleads with Amy to run and get as far away from here as possible, otherwise he'll kill her. "Just go!" He roars and she steps back in shock. "Please, no, I don't want to go." Rory sobs, repeating his name. "Williams," Amy suddenly says and he looks at her sharply. "Rory Williams from Leadworth. My boyfriend." She walks over, putting her arms around his neck. "How could I ever forget you?"
"And of course now she chooses to remember," Donna said in exasperation and worry.
"When he's about to lose himself," Martha agreed in dismay.
"He's fighting it though. He shouldn't be able to fight it if he's just programing," Jack said in surprise.
"So maybe Rory's in there after all," Wilf said hopefully.
"Maybe. Not sure what good that does anyone though," Jack said with a sigh.
Rory pleads with Amy to run, claiming he's going. "You are Rory Williams and you aren't going anywhere ever again," Amy says firmly as she continues to hold onto him tightly.
"Just get out of there Amy," Martha pleaded.
"Would you be able to leave the man you loved?" Jack asked softly, thinking of Ianto. "I wouldn't."
"Maybe not," Martha agreed with a sigh as Mickey wrapped an arm around her.
River pleads for The Doctor's help but he's been restrained by the Autons. The Doctor wonders what the point of it all is as they stop. The Doctor asks what's coming out of the Pandorica but receives no answer. River attaches a cable from the console to the TARDIS as an Autons declares the Pandorica is ready. The Doctor asks if that means it's open. "You have been scanned."
"Oh please tell me that was not what I think it was," Donna said as the past viewers all paled.
"Would you like the truth or a lie?" Jane asked with a sigh.
"Bloody brilliant. As if things weren't bad enough," Martha groaned.
"Daleks," Jack said darkly.
"Assessed. Understood. Doctor," The Doctor looks over his shoulder to see Dalek Supreme. Eternal and Drone soon appear behind him. Amy reminds Rory of her engagement ring and how he never let her wear it in case she lost it. Rory says The Doctor gave it to him and she pleads with him to show it to her. Fighting for control, Rory pulls out the box and opens it.
"While I understand, this is not the time Amy. Rory is not himself," Jack noted, worried about what might happen.
The Doctor is confused as a three Cybermen teleport into the chamber, explaining the Pandorica was scanning him to test his limits and capacities. A Judoon then teleports into view followed by a Sontaran, who declares the Pandorica is ready." Ready for what?" The Doctor asks. "Ready for you," Dalek Supreme explains. The Pandorica, now open, reveals a chair with restraints inside.
"Shit," Jack said, paling as the realization hit them. "The most evil thing in all the universe. Soaked in the blood of a thousand galaxies."
"The Pandorica…it was about The Doctor all along," Wilf said his voice no more than a whisper.
"The story was told by his enemies. And it stuck," Jane said darkly.
"There it is," Amy tells Rory. "You remember. This is you. And you are staying." Unnoticed by Amy, one of Rory's hands popped open and the gun inside is deployed. A laser shots out and Amy gasps as she's hit.
"NO!" Donna screamed in horror as the past viewers all stared in shock.
"Amy," Martha breathed in shock.
"After all they went through together," Jack said horrified.
Wilf and Mickey were too shocked to respond, staring at the screen in horror. Jane simply stared sadly. After being forced apart, Amy and Rory were brought back together only to be forced apart again.
Amy clings to the horrified Rory as he cries out in grief and guilt. On the TARDIS, River attaches two cables as Silurians are seen among the aliens in the chamber. The Autons drag The Doctor towards the Pandorica even as he struggles. River pulls a lever and there is a small explosion. Rory cries as Amy falls back into his arms, dead.
"Amy," Donna said as she began to cry.
Wilf bowed his head as Martha buried hers into Mickey's chest. Mickey himself had tears in his eyes but he refused to let them fall. Jack simply stared at the screen; another person The Doctor had loved had been lost to him.
The Doctor is placed into the Pandorica as his enemies all surround him. The Doctor wonders why they're all working together. They explain the cracks in the universe threatens all reality. The Doctor asks if they've come to him for help. "No! We will save the universe from you!" The Sontaran declares.
"What?" Mickey said, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"They're bloody insane," Donna said darkly, angry at them for what happened to Amy.
"Maybe not," Jack mused, a thought occurring to him.
The Doctor is confused as a Cybermen explains that their data has concluded The Doctor will destroy the universe. The Doctor tries to explain as the Cyberman reveals they constructed the Pandorica to ensure the safety of the alliance. Dalek Supreme adds that they devised the scenario from Amy's memories with the Sontaran revealing it was a trap for him. "The cracks in time are the work of The Doctor," Dalek Supreme declares. "It is confirmed."
"They have the right data, but they reached the wrong conclusion. And their fear of The Doctor made them desperate enough to create the Pandorica," Jack realized.
"So the monsters tried saving the world and ended up destroying the universe. There's a bad joke in there somewhere," Martha muttered as she lifted her head.
"That sounds about right. This whole thing is a sick, cosmic joke," Donna grumbled.
The Doctor tries to explain it's the TARDIS but Dalek Supreme notes only he can pilot the TARDIS. The Doctor pleads for them to listen but they will not. "Total event collapse! Every sun will supernova at every moment in history! The whole universe will never have existed! Please listen to me!" The Doctor pleads.
"They won't, they're too afraid, of The Doctor and the cracks," Jack realized in horror.
"There's nothing anyone could do to stop it then," Martha came to the same conclusion as Jack.
"Well something had to happen," Donna grumbled.
"Something did. You'll see in the next recording," Jane promised.
The Cybermen declare the Pandorica to be sealed. "Please, listen to me! The TARDIS is exploding right now and I'm the only one who can stop it!" The Doctor shouts. They ignore him, closing the doors of the Pandorica as he shouts one last time for them to listen. The Pandorica doors close with a snap. River opens the TARDIS doors, stunned to see a wall of stone behind it, blocking her exit. "I'm sorry my love," River says. She looks back as the console lights up before the TARDIS begins to explode.
"River," Donna said horrified. "She gone, caught in the heart of the explosion."
"Yes and no," Jane said and Donna looked at her in disbelief. "Everyone dies in these recordings at least once. But you know River survives."
"Because I met her at the Library," Donna realized and Jane nodded.
"It seems pretty hopeless right now, but it'll all be alright. Just watch," Jane promised.
"I hope you're right. For everyone's sake," Jack muttered as they watched the screen uneasily.
Rory is holding Amy before a shot of the Earth is shown and the stars all fade around it, leaving the Earth in total blackness.
"And there goes the universe," Jack said grimly as they all watched uneasily.
"I don't see how things can be okay after that," Martha admitted.
"They will though. Trust me," Jane assured them.
"Going an awful lot on faith here," Mickey grumbled.
"And I'll learn it. Just watch," Jane said as the next recording started.
And so ends one of my favorite episodes of Series five. Honestly, this episode was so insane that you almost barely noticed Rory coming back LOL!