Tw: Glad to hear it, I think.
The group returned to the viewing room after finishing lunch, retaking their seats before the TV started up once again.
A man dressed in 17th century clothes storms into a room followed by two other men, all wielding swords. Pushing aside a man, he walks over to a door and begins banging on it, demanding The Doctor. Inside the room is a nude painting of The Doctor and The Doctor's clothes are on the floor.
"Oh tell me he was not doing what I think he was," Donna pleaded as Jack grinned.
"I really hope he was," Jack said as everyone else looked uncomfortable.
"You would," Martha said with a sigh.
Charles II bursts into the room, finding a woman standing behind the painting. He demands to know where The Doctor is and she innocently asks 'doctor who'. A sneeze then comes from under her skirt. Charles approaches her and lifts up her skirt slightly with his sword. The Doctor is underneath, naked.
"Oh Boss," Mickey said as he put a hand to his face.
"It this a usual occurrence?" Wilf asked uncomfortably.
"No, The Doctor usually isn't so careless," Jack noted, worried.
"So something has to be wrong," Donna realized.
"There is. You'll understand later," Jane said with a sigh, knowing they wouldn't take it well.
They wouldn't take what happened in this recording well at all.
The Doctor says this isn't as bad as it looks before the scene suddenly shifts to Amy and Rory's house in present day Leadworth. Rory is putting a few bags of groceries on the counter as Amy reads from a book, revealing The Doctor was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Rory is skeptical that this is The Doctor and Amy reads aloud that a magical sphere was seen floating away from the tower with The Doctor. Rory admits it's The Doctor and Amy says there's more.
"Okay, now he's just looking for attention," Martha said, not sure whether to be amused or worried.
"But why though?" Wilf wondered.
"It's complicated. Like I said, you'll understand later," Jane said.
"Everything is complicated when it comes to The Doctor," Jack noted, worried for his friend.
The scene changes to a prison camp. A man is crawling underground when The Doctor's head pops down. He asks the man if the commandant's office is painted green with a flag on the wall when alarms begin going off. The Doctor notes the answer is yes before he's pulled up. Amy and Rory are sitting in a chair as Amy closes the book, wondering if The Doctor is being deliberately ridiculous to attract their attention. Amy is annoyed at seeing another Laurel and Hardy film when their doorbell rings. She goes to answer it, finding a postman on the other side. Rory looks at the book, wondering if The Doctor is trying to get their attention. Rory doesn't notice The Doctor in the film, waving at Rory before walking back to dance with the characters.
"Okay, so The Doctor is trying to get Amy and Rory's attention then," Martha noted.
"I still don't understand why though," Donna muttered, bewildered by The Doctor's actions.
"Something tells me we will soon enough," Jack said, not able to shake the sudden feeling of unease that came over him.
Amy points out it's something The Doctor would do and Rory asks why he would do it. Amy points out The Doctor said he'd be in touch and Rory reveals that it's been two months since they've seen The Doctor. Amy believes The Doctor is up to something as she opens the envelope she got from the postman. Rory asks what it is and she says a date, a time and a map reference, thinking it's an invitation. Rory asks who from and she says that it's unsigned but the envelope is TARDIS blue.
"The envelope, it's exactly like the ones you sent us," Donna realized with a start and Jane nodded.
"I decided to take a leaf out of his book, as you say," Jane said with a slight smile. "I was told he'd approve."
The past viewers were silent, staring at the screen uneasily. Considering why Jane had sent them the envelopes, they were very worried about why The Doctor may have sent out his own. The feeling of unease that had come over Jack grew stronger.
She tosses the envelope to Rory and the scene changes to Stormcage. River Song picks up a near identical envelope off her bed, except this one has a 2 on it while Amy and Rory's had a 3, opening it. She pulls the contents out and smiles. Alarms blare as various guards rush towards River's cell. One guard is on the phone, informing his superior that River is packing, having claimed she's going to America.
"And he called River to," Donna muttered.
"Doctor," Wilf muttered, beginning to grow worried.
No one else said a word, eying the screen uneasily as they worried about what this meant for The Doctor.
A bus is seen on a road before stopping. The doors open up and Rory and Amy step off, both having backpacks. As the bus departs, Amy wonders if this is the right place. Rory gives a sarcastic response when The Doctor lifts his head. "Howdy." They turn to see him lying on a car hood, wearing a new hat.
"And now he's wearing a Stepson," Martha muttered.
"I'm not sure which is worse, that or the fez," Mickey mentioned.
"Don't knock the fez. It's cool," Jane said with a grin.
"Of course you'd say that. You're his daughter," Donna dismissed and Jane laughed.
Jack remained silent, staring at the screen intensely. The Doctor clearly didn't call them there for nothing. So what was so important that The Doctor had to summon them this way?
The Doctor laughs before jumping down and he and Amy hug, jokingly calling each other stalker and flirt respectively. Rory walks over, saying he's the husband and The Doctor greets him happily with a hug, calling him Rory the Roman. Rory compliments The Doctor's hat. "I wear Stetsons now. Stetsons are cool," The Doctor says. Suddenly, his hat is shot off his head and three turn to see River aiming a pistol before she blows on the barrel. "Hello Sweetie."
"Blimey," Mickey said as the past viewers started at this.
"River hates his hats. Dad joked once that she has a murderous vendetta against his hats," Jane said with a grin.
"My kind of girl," Jack said with a grin.
"Remind me never to wear a hat in front of you," Martha said as she eyed him oddly.
The scene changes to a diner. Amy and Rory are getting drinks as The Doctor and River sit at a booth, comparing diaries. They talk about Easter Island, River asking about someone called Jim the fish and The Doctor says still building his dams as Amy and Rory sit down.
"That sounds like a story I want to hear," Jack said interested.
"Certainly sounds like an interesting tale," Wilf noted as all the past viewers looked intrigued.
"Probably was. I kind of wish I knew," Jane shrugged.
"You don't?" Martha asked surprised and Jane shook her head.
"No, a lot of Dad's adventures with River were excluded from the recordings. Something about how it was private," Jane grumbled.
Rory asks what they're doing and Amy explains about the diaries before asking The Doctor what's happening. "I've been running, faster than I've ever run, and I've been running my whole life. Now it's time for me to stop," The Doctor says. "And tonight, I'm going to need you all with me." The three of them realize something is wrong and Amy assures him they're here, asking what's up. The Doctor says a picnic and a trip, wanting to go somewhere different and new. Amy asks where. "Space. 1969," The Doctor says with a smile.
"So they're going to space in 1969," Mickey noted, confused by what The Doctor was after.
"The moon landing. It's the year Neil Armstrong landed on the moon," Martha realized, remembering seeing it with The Doctor while trapped in the past.
"So The Doctor wants to go see the moon landing?" Wilf asked in confusion.
"Nothing is ever that simple with him," Donna said certainly.
"I'm more concerned about the why than the where," Jack said and the past viewers looked at him in bewilderment. "The way he's acting, it's just like when I last saw him. Like he's…saying goodbye."
The other past viewers paused, thinking back on their last encounter with The Doctor and realized Jack was right, his demeanor in the recording was exactly like their last encounter.
"Spaceman," Donna said softly as they all stared at the screen, a hollow feeling filling them.
No one else said a word, sensing something was about to happen and none of them feeling prepared for it, whatever it was.
At a lake, the four of them sit around a picnic basket, clicking glasses of wine before taking a drink. Rory asks when they're going to 1969 and Amy asks when The Doctor drinks win. The Doctor says he must have drunken it sometime, revealing he's 1103 before taking a swig straight out of the bottle. He gags and immediately spits it out, causing Amy to laugh. The Doctor complains about the taste as Amy notes he was 908 when they last saw him. The Doctor counters she's put on a couple pounds and Amy smiles.
"You don't tell a woman she's put on a few pounds Doctor," Martha said in exasperation, the scene offering a brief break from the feelings of fear and uncertainty they were experiencing.
"You dumbo," Donna deadpanned.
"Amy doesn't seem that upset," Wilf noted
"Can we get back to the fact that The Doctor hasn't seen them in 200 years," Jack interjected, narrowing his eyes.
"Is that important?" Donna asked bewildered.
"Maybe not, but it is unusual. After all this time, it's very strange that he reached out to them. It's not his style," Jack said, the hollow feeling returning to them all. "And he mentioned about it being time for him to stop running."
"He mentioned once that he never stopped running," Martha realized, she and Jack exchanging a look as they remembered The Doctor telling them so while they were on the run from The Master.
"So what's changed that now he wants to stop?" Mickey wondered as the feelings of unease returned to them.
Hearing a sound, Amy looks up, seeing a figure standing on a nearby rock formation. Amy asks who that is and Rory asks what she's talking about. Amy turns to look at him and seems to forget what she was talking about, not remembering seeing anything.
"Wait, what was that?" Martha asked as the past viewers looked at the screen in bewilderment.
"She just…forgot whatever it was when she looked away," Donna said in disbelief.
"How is that even possible?" Mickey wondered.
"Could be a Perception Filter," Jack mused although he didn't sound very convinced. "Or some kind of device that manipulates the mind."
"It'll make sense later, sooner than you think," Jane promised.
"Really hope so," Martha muttered.
The Doctor then points to the moon, rambling about it and Rory notes the moon landing happens in 1969, asking if that's where they're going. "Oh, a lot more happens in 1969 than anyone remembers. Human beings. I thought I'd never get done saving you," The Doctor says ominously.
"So he's already traveled back there?" Wilf asked confused.
"So isn't going back crossing his own timeline?" Mickey wondered.
"The Doctor isn't stupid. He wouldn't take such a big risk," Jack said certainly.
"Jack's right, Dad has a plan," Jane paused. "Whatever you see, whatever happens next…just remember, he lives through this."
"What does that mean?" Donna asked, filled with dread and Jane smiled weakly.
"Spoilers."
The past viewers stared at Jane, who looked at them awkwardly. One by one, they turned back to the screen, filled with dread as they wondered what could be so bad.
A short distance away, a car rolls up. They all look as a man gets out. The Doctor gets to his feet and he and the man wave at each other. The Doctor seems sad upon seeing him.
"That's…strange," Mickey muttered, the room tense as the wondered who that was.
Amy asks who is when River looks towards the lake. "Oh my God," she exclaims as they all get to their feet. They turn to see an astronaut walk out of the lake.
"That's stranger," Donna muttered.
"An astronaut coming out of the lake? Seems pretty ordinary to me," Jack said dryly, although he sensed something very off about the entire situation. "At least when it comes to The Doctor."
Jane grimaced, knowing what was coming. And even knowing he survived, it wasn't any easier to see, knowing what came later. Seeing any version of her father die was hard after having it actually happen.
The Doctor tells them to stay back and not to interfere, whatever happens. Amy, Rory and River watch confused as The Doctor walks to the astronaut as they walks up to shore. Rory is confused about why there's an Apollo astronaut here as The Doctor reaches the astronaut, standing a few feet away. The Doctor greets the astronaut, claiming to know who it is.
"The Doctor knew they were coming," Martha realized, his actions now making sense to her.
"But how? And who are they?" Donna wondered.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a smile that looked more like a grimace.
The astronaut opens the visor but their face isn't shown. The others watch from the picnic basket, unable to hear what The Doctor is saying. The astronaut raised their hand as Amy wonders what he's doing. Suddenly, there's a loud bang and The Doctor stumbles back, having been shot by an energy weapon.
"NO!" Donna wailed as the past viewers all stared at the screen in horror.
"Doctor!" Martha shouted.
"What the Bloody Hell!?" Mickey exclaimed in shock.
"What is going on?" Jack demanded as he whirled on Jane, Wilf appearing to be in a state of shock as he stared at the screen, unable to really comprehend what he was seeing.
"You'll understand soon," Jane said, holding up her hand before Jack or anyone else could say anything. "I know this is hard for you to see, it's hard for me to. But it'll make sense soon. And like I said, he survives. Just trust me."
"The problem is I don't trust you. I don't know you," Jack almost snarled as he stared at her stonily.
"I know. And I haven't done much to earn it; I'm just asking you give me the benefit of the doubt for a few more minutes. Please," Jane pleaded.
The room was silent, Jack staring at her stonily for a few moments before nodding.
"Fine," Jack grumbled, although he didn't like it.
Jane let the breath she didn't know she'd been holding as Jack turned back to the screen, knowing it wasn't going to get any easier. She might have to start giving them some answers soon.
Amy rushes forward but Rory and River grab her, River remaindering her of The Doctor's warning as he is shot twice more. Amy stops struggling as The Doctor falls to his knees, his hands beginning to glow with regeneration energy. The Doctor stands up, looking back at the others and apologizes. The Doctor begins to regenerate before the astronaut fires again. The energy fades and The Doctor falls on his back.
"No. Spaceman no," Donna whispered, tears falling her eyes.
Mickey stared at the screen in a bit of disbelief, not feeling like this was real. Martha clutched his arm tightly, not sure if it was too support him or herself as tears fell down her cheeks. Wilf put a hand to his mouth, quietly sobbing as Jack stared at the screen blankly, his true emotions impossible for any of them to decipherer.
Jane merely winced, every bit of the scene bringing her pain, remembering the day her father truly did die. It wasn't any easier seeing this than it was having him die in her arms.
The Ponds and River rush towards The Doctor as the Astronaut turns and heads back into the lake. They surround The Doctor as River quickly scans him. River then looks at Amy with a look of despair. Amy begins to sob as River gets to her feet. Pulling out her pistol, River fires at the astronaut as it submerges in water, failing to get a hit. After her pistol is empty, River lowers her gun, the man from the truck standing a few feet away from them. Amy is curled up into a ball as she sobs; not wanting to believe The Doctor is dead. River kneels down and gently explains to Amy that the astronaut killed The Doctor mid regeneration, so his body was already dead. Amy tearfully suggests he could be a duplicate or clone when the man approaches, saying he can save them some time. "That most certainly is The Doctor. And he is most certainly dead," the man says as he takes off his hat. "He said you'd need this." The man places a canister of gasoline on the ground.
"He knew. He knew this was going to happen," Donna realized tearfully. "Why didn't he stop it?"
It was clear Donna didn't really expect an answer. Not that any of them were in a condition to give her an answer. Seeing the state of them, Jane winced. Was this what it had been like for her father, to make Amy and Rory witness his 'death'? Did he hate himself just a little bit, the way she did now?
Jane supposed she'd never get an answer now.
Rory is confused as River explains there are empires in the galaxy that would tear the earth apart just to get their hands on a cell from The Doctor. River stands, explaining they can't leave his body here or anywhere. Amy tearfully begs The Doctor to wake up before collapsing over his body in sobs, asking Rory what to do. "We're his friends. We do what The Doctor's friends always do," River says as she picks up the canister. "As we're told."
No one said a word, the past viewers knowing all too well what that was like. It was why they were here, because The Doctor needed them.
Rory spots a boat near the lake and says they have to do this properly as Amy continues to sob. The scene then flashes to later that night. Rory stands in the water as Amy, River and the unknown man stand by the shore, watching the boat float away, set ablaze with The Doctor's body inside. Rory walks out of the lake and over to Amy, nodding silently.
"A Viking style funeral," Jack noted. "Something Rory must have picked up in those 2,000 years he spent waiting."
"Vikings believed that burning the body would help the spirit reach the afterlife," Jane said with a sigh. "It's a more honorable burial than he ended up getting."
"He's not dead. You're sure?" Donna pleaded and Jane paused. "Please."
"Like I said, he lived through this. But it was also very real," Jane said vaguely. "It's hard to explain. I know how hard this is, it was hard for me to. But you need to watch to understand."
River asks the man who he is and why he came here. He says the same reason as they did, pulling out an envelope identical to the ones River and the Ponds had received. River pulls hers out in shock, comparing them and seeing hers has a 2 while the man's has a 4. The man calls them all by name, even knowing River is a doctor. He introduces himself as Canton Everett Delaware III, saying he won't be seeing them again but they will see him. Canton then puts on his hat and walks back to his truck, grabbing the now empty canister on his way.
"Well that was ominous," Mickey muttered the first words he'd uttered since seeing The Doctor shot.
"Who is he? Did The Doctor ever mention him before?" Wilf asked and the other past viewers shook their heads.
"The Doctor doesn't really like to talk about his past," Martha explained.
"He does love his secrets. Did," Donna said with a sigh.
"Four," River says and Amy and Rory look at her in confusion. River explains The Doctor numbered the envelopes as the three of them are shown reentering the diner. Amy and Rory were 3, River was 2 and Canton was 4, which leaves 1. Rory wonders if that means The Doctor invited someone else and River points out The Doctor planned this.
"He sent them to witness his own murder. He better have a good explanation," Donna muttered, knowing how she would have felt about this.
"He always has an explanation. It's just not always good," Jack said grimly, remembering The Doctor's reason for leaving him behind.
Amy tells them to shut up, as it doesn't matter. Rory and River ignore her, trying to figure out what The Doctor was planning and Amy repeats for them to shut up, saying it doesn't matter as The Doctor is dead. Rory and River argue it mattered to The Doctor, so it matters to them. Amy argues that he's dead. "But he still needs up," River argues. "I know. Amy, I know. But we have to focus." Rory turns his head and sees an empty table, a half drunken soda and another envelope on top.
"He invited someone else," Donna realized.
"Someone who missed the show," Mickey muttered.
"Which I doubt is an accident. The Doctor doesn't do anything by accident," Jack noted.
"We know it wasn't any of us, Rose is in the other dimension, it wasn't Sarah-Jane, so who else did he call?" Martha wondered.
"Who else does The Doctor trust more than them?" Jack wondered, narrowing his eyes.
River walks over, seeing it has a 1 on it as Rory asks a server who was sitting there. The server says some bloke as River realizes The Doctor knew he was going to his death, which is why he sent out messages. "When you know it's the end, who do you call?" River asks. "Your friends, people you trust," Rory realizes. River points to the 1, asking who The Doctor trusted most. The door to the backroom opens and the three of them look on in shock as The Doctor walks out, a straw in his mouth.
"What the bloody Hell?" Mickey exclaimed as he stared at the screen in disbelief.
"SPACEMAN! WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" Donna snarled as she glared at the screen angrily.
"Donna, calm down sweetheart," Wilf tried to calm her down.
"No, she's right. This was a set up. The Doctor planned this so they could see him die. Why?" Martha wondered, as angry as Donna.
"Dad had his reason. Don't judge him too harshly yet," Jane tried to caution them.
"They better be good," Jack said, his eyes cool.
River says this is cold even for him as The Doctor takes out the straw out of his mouth, saying he just went to get his special straw. In shock, Amy walks up to him, inspecting him as she wonders how he can be okay. The Doctor hugs her, assuring her he is the 'king of okay' before disregarding the title, which he finds rubbish. The Doctor then happily greets 'Rory the Roman', hugging the stunned Rory. The Doctor lets Rory go and turns to River, starting to flirt with her. River slaps him.
"That a girl," Jack said with a grin.
"He absolutely deserved that," Donna said darkly as she glared at the screen angrily.
"He did," Martha agreed coolly.
Jane shrugged, not really able to disagree. She understood why he had done what he did, but it was still below the belt, as Jack would say.
The Doctor asks if that's for something he hasn't done yet and she confirms it is. The Doctor says he's looking forward to it as Rory pokes The Doctor in the chest, wondering how he can be there. The Doctor says he was invited, pointing to his envelope, realizing they were as well. Amy asks River what's going on and River tells Amy to ask him what age he is. The Doctor notes that's a big personal but, at River's command, he says he's 909.
"So The Doctor who died was a future version from around 200 years further in his time stream," Jack mused.
"I guess that makes sense but why would he do all this? Why set up his own death, why not stop it?" Martha wondered, The Doctor's actions not making sense to her.
"The Doctor did say he was running from something that he couldn't anymore," Wilf pointed out. "Maybe he tried to stop it but found her couldn't."
"He even knew who killed him," Donna remembered. "Spaceman, what did you get yourself into?"
Amy is confused as River demands if they've done Jim the fish yet but The Doctor has no idea who she is talking about. Amy doesn't understand but Rory points out she does. The Doctor says he doesn't, demanding to know what they're doing there. There's a moment of silence before River tells him they've been recruited for something having to do with space in 1969 and Canton. The Doctor asks recruited by who as he walks away, putting the straw back in his mouth. "Someone who trusts you more than anybody else in the universe," River says vaguely. The Doctor asks who that is and she says spoilers.
"Do they really think they can keep this a secret from him?' Wilf asked in surprise.
"And tell him what? That a future version of him invited them before he was murdered?" Mickey asked dryly and Wilf paused, realizing Mickey had a point.
"Hell of a position you've put them in Doctor," Jack noted, not understanding why The Doctor would do this.
The scene then changes to the TARDIS. Amy is leaning over the railing of the console as The Doctor rambles about how easy 1969 is and trying to find Canton. Amy turns and walks away from the console and River quickly follows after her. Sensing something off, The Doctor asks if everyone is cross with him.
"Well you did make them see you die Boss," Mickey said sarcastically, a bit cross with The Doctor himself.
"He better have one bloody good reason for that," Donna grumbled crossly.
Rory lies, saying he doesn't know but he'll find out before following Amy and River. Away from The Doctor, River explains to Amy as Rory comes down that The Doctor who died was a future version, 200 years older than the one with them. Amy asks if he's still going to die and River points out they all will. Rory argues they're not all going to arrange their own wake and invite everyone.
"Only you Spaceman," Donna said crossly.
"I know you're angry with him, for good reason, but just…try to give him the benefit of the doubt. Hasn't he earned that by now?" Jane asked and the room was silent for a moment.
"Fine," Donna grumbled although she looked mutinous.
"Donna, I'm sure he had a good reason for doing what he did," Wilf assured her as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He better," Martha muttered, wondering what could make The Doctor do this.
Rory asks if The Doctor's future self recruited them to avenge him but River points out that's not his style. Amy wonders if they're supposed to save him but Rory points out that's not his style either. Amy suggests they tell The Doctor but River argues interacting with his own past could tear a hole in the universe. Amy argues he's done it before and Rory reminds her the universe blew up. Amy argues he'd want to know. "Would he? Would anyone?" River asks.
"It's a fair point. Would you really want to know how you died?" Jack mused.
"Says the man who can't die," Martha pointed out.
"When the rest of the world turned immortal, I turned mortal. There was a time that I could die and it terrified me," Jack revealed to their surprise. "But my point is, what would you do if you found out you were going to die? The how and the way? Would you try and change it? Would you honestly want to know?"
For a long moment, the past viewers were silent, Jack's words settling over the room. Seeing their uncertain face, Jack smiled tightly.
"Not an easy question to answer is it?" he asked dryly.
"No, no it's not," Donna admitted with a sigh.
The Doctor then pokes his head down. "I'm up here being extremely clever and there's no one to stand around looking impressed. What's the point in having you all here?" The Doctor asks before pulling himself back up. River grumbles about wanting to slap him as she and Rory move towards the stairs. Amy argues they can't let him die, wondering how River can be okay with this. River says she's not frightened by either The Doctor's death or her own, as there is a far worse day coming for her.
Jane grimaced, knowing she was right as the others looked surprised by this.
"Worse than either her or The Doctor's death?" Martha questioned, seeming horrified at the thought.
"There are worse things than dying," Jack said grimly as he thought of Steven.
They rejoin The Doctor at the console and he rambles about how time isn't a straight line, as it's bumpy with boring stuff, comparing them to weekdays before calling 1969 a Saturday, a big temporal tipping point where anything is possible that the TARDIS can't resist. The Doctor explains that he's searched for NASA in the 60's and Canton; bring up where the TARDIS is pointing them towards on the scanner. Amy notes its Washington, DC, April 8th, 1969. Amy asks why they haven't landed and The Doctor says they're not going, as he's going to drop Amy and Rory at home and River back at Stormcage while he's going to go off elsewhere before sitting down in a chair. They walk towards him as he scoffs at going to a mysterious summons. He asks who sent those messages, having figured out they know and warning them not to play games with him.
"Did they really think they could fool The Doctor?" Jack asked, almost amused at the thought.
"They had to try, but given what just happened, they weren't at their best," Jane pointed out.
"We probably wouldn't be either, in their shoes," Martha noted with a sigh.
River says he'll have to trust them and he gets to his feet. "Trust you? Sure. But first of all Dr. Song, just one thing. Who are you?" he asks. "You're someone from my future, getting that, but who?"
"He hasn't figured out she's his wife yet?" Jack asked in surprise.
"He's figured it out. But you know Dad; he doesn't like not knowing things. Add in the fact that River seems to know more about him than he does about her, well," Jane shrugged helplessly.
"And knowing she was going to die probably doesn't help," Donna noted sadly and Jane grimaced.
"Probably not."
River doesn't answer and so The Doctor asks why she's in prison and who she killed instead. River again doesn't answer. "Now, I love a bad girl, me, but trust you? Seriously?" he scoffs. Amy then tells him to trust her and he walks to her. She tells him he has to do it but can't asks why. He asks if she's being threatened and Amy assures him she's not. The Doctor accuses her of lying which she denies. The Doctor tells her to swear to him on something that matters. After a beat, she says fish fingers and custard. There's a moment of tense silence before The Doctor says his life is in Amy's hands. He heads back to the console and River thanks Amy for not saying anything. The Doctor wonders who Canton is.
"How long do they think they can keep this from him?" Mickey asked.
"As long as they have to," Jane said simply.
"The Doctor doesn't like secrets. He'll either put it together eventually or one of them will slip up," Jack noted and Jane grimaced.
"Wish I could say you were wrong," Jane sighed, thinking of Amy accidently revealing the truth to her father.
"So now they're going to look for this Canton," Wilf noted.
"Who is he that The Doctor trusted him enough to bring him in on this?" Martha wondered.
"You're about to find out," Jane promised as the recording continued.
The scene changes to a bar. A younger Canton is sitting down, two men in trench coats behind him. He asks them who wants to know and one of the men says his boss. Canton says he doesn't have a boss before taking a drink. "Maybe you wanna tell that to the President of the United States?" one of the men says he takes the glass out of Canton's hands.
"So Canton works for the American government then," Wilf noted.
"Or at least he used to. Seems like he left," Jack noted, wondering how The Doctor could have come into contact with Canton.
On the TARDIS, River reads off the scanner than Canton was ex-FBI before getting kicked out. The Doctor asks why as the scene shifts to Canton in the backseat of a car, the two men in the front seat. Canton is on the phone and the man on the other end notes Canton has a problem with authority. Canton thanks him and the man says it wasn't a compliment.
"I like this guy," Mickey said with a grin.
"He has no regard for authority, seems just up The Doctor's alley," Martha agreed.
River says six weeks after leaving, Canton was contacted by the President for a private meeting. The Doctor asks who the President was in 1969. The scene then shifts to the Oval Office. Richard Nixon is on the phone with Canton, saying he needs someone on the outside with FBI training. Canton gives a sarcastic response and Nixon says Canton was his second choice. Canton says he was his second choice for President, looking out to see they were approaching the White House. Nixon hangs up as River tells The Doctor about Nixon's presidency, noting there's some good stuff to. "Not enough," The Doctor says grimly. "Hippie." "Archeologist."
"Richard Nixon, America's most infamous President," Martha said dryly.
"Of this time," Jane muttered, wondering how they would have reacted to the last two Presidents before the world went to Hell.
"The fact that Canton was recruited by Nixon in the year the future Doctor told them to go can't be a coincidence," Jack noted suspiciously.
"What has The Doctor gotten them into?" Wilf worried but no one had an answer.
In the Oval Office, Nixon tells Canton he gets a phone call every day, no matter where he is. Canton points out someone can't just call him but Nixon says it a direct call, every day for two weeks, usually late at night. Canton asks if it's a man or woman but Nixon says neither. Nixon then tells Canton to listen before playing the message. On the TARDIS, The Doctor says he's being discreet since he doesn't know what he's getting into and putting the engines on silent. He flips a switch, walking away as a screech is heard, hurting Amy and Rory's ears. River flips the switch back and it stops. The Doctor asks if she did something and River mockingly says she's just watching. The Doctor says he's turning the outside of the TARDIS invisible, which is a big drain on the power as he flips a switch. Various lights come on in the TARDIS as Rory asks if he can really turn it invisible. "Nearly," River says as she flips a switch and the lights go out. The Doctor asks if she did something and she says she was just admiring his skills. Not suspecting anything, The Doctor says she might learn something.
"Okay, how does she know more about the TARDIS than him?" Martha asked, not sure whether to be amused or suspicious.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a slight smile.
"Which is code for 'we'll find out later', right?" Donna asked annoyed and Jane smiled innocently. "You are definitely his daughter."
The Doctor walks over to the scanner as River exchanges a smirk with Amy and Rory. The Doctor says the scanner doesn't work while they're cloaked and heads towards the doors. As the others move to follow him, The Doctor holds up a hand, reminding them they are in the most powerful city in the most powerful country on the planet. "Might want to take it slow," The Doctor points out. The Doctor walks out, freezing as he finds himself standing in the Oval Office as Nixon plays the call for Canton.
"Taking it slow, huh Spaceman?" Donna asked in exasperation, face palming.
"Doctor," Martha said as Mickey groaned.
"Honestly, I'm just surprised that the whole Secret Service isn't on him," Jack noted and Jane smiled slightly.
"Not yet anyway," she said innocently.
The Doctor quietly moves towards the desk as Nixon's voice comes over the recording, asking who the caller is. "Mr. President?" a child's voice says. Canton is stunned the caller is a child as the child say they're scared. "I'm scared of the spaceman," the child says. Canton asks if the child is a girl but Nixon is sure it's a boy. Canton asks how he can be sure as in the voice recording; Nixon asks where the child is. The Doctor pulls out a piece of paper and begins taking notes. Nixon asks who the child is and they say Jefferson Adams Hamilton before abruptly hanging up.
"How on earth does a child manage to get a hold of the President of the United States?" Martha asked in bewilderment.
"I'm more interested in this Spaceman they're so scared of," Jack said as he narrowed his eyes. "Whoever they are, they're probably why the future Doctor sent them to 1969."
"You don't think it's a boy?" Wilf inquired, noting Jack never said 'he' or 'him'.
"I had a daughter. Trust me, I know what a young girl sounds like," Jack said in a tone that left no room for argument.
"So the question is who are the girl and the 'spaceman' and why did The Doctor send his younger self after them," Donna muttered but no one had an answer.
Canton asks if the bureau couldn't handle this but Nixon argues the calls happen wherever he is, not sure they're not involved. Nixon turns around, saying he can't trust anyone and spots The Doctor taking notes. Canton gets out of his seat and faces The Doctor. He gestures for them to continue until he realizes he's been caught. The Doctor begins backing towards the TARDIS, saying he'll leave as he turns around. However, he bumps into it and falls onto the floor, the TARDIS rocking inside. The Doctor assures the other it always does that before he's pinned to the floor by Canton.
"Oh Spaceman," Donna groaned as Martha and Mickey each put a hand to their face.
"Well, this is off to a brilliant start," Martha muttered.
"It's not any worse than usual," Jack pointed out.
"Which, in this situation, is not a good thing," Mickey argued and Jack shrugged, not able to disagree.
Secret Service agents rush into the room as, inside, River gets the scanner to work. They see The Doctor surrounded by Secret Service agents and he asks if River has the scanner working. River says she hates him. "Oh no you don't!" The Doctor shouts. Canton orders the agents to get Nixon out as The Doctor orders River to make the TARDIS blue again. The TARDIS then appears in the room, shocking the Americans. They all stop, staring at it as The Doctor smiles in relief. "What the hell is that?" Nixon wonders.
"Is exposing the TARDIS really such a good idea? Especially to Nixon?" Wilf asked uncertainly.
"I'm really not sure The Doctor had any other options. Desperate times and all that," Jack shrugged. "Besides, they're all working the same case."
"It might be better to work together than to have the American government perceive them as a threat. Nixon is the devil they know after all," Martha muttered in agreement and Jack nodded.
"I hope you're right," Donna muttered, unable to shake the feeling things were going to go wrong.
Sometime later, The Doctor is sitting in the oval chair, reading from a book. He closes the book as the agents aim various guns at him. The Doctor says the child told them everything they need to know and he'll take the case. He then points out he walked into the Oval Office and parked the TARDIS on their rug. "You think you can just shoot me?" he asks. River, Amy and Rory then rush out, River shouting they're Americans. The Doctor jumps to his feet, the four of them putting their hands up as the agents take aim at them. Nixon demands to know who they are and what the TARDIS is. "It's a police box, can't you read?" The Doctor asks. The Doctor claims to be an undercover agent from Scotland Yard sent here to help with Amy, Rory and River being his agents, codenames The Legs, The Nose and Mrs. Robinson. "I hate you," River grumbles. "No you don't," The Doctor says confidently.
"Not the time to flirt Spaceman," Donna said in exasperation.
Jane fought a giggle, thinking of the next recording and imagining Donna's reaction to her father and River flirting in front of the Silence.
An agent asks who The Doctor is and The Doctor dismisses this as a boring question, more interested in who's phoning Nixon. The Doctor says Canton was right; it's a girl calling, which means there's only one place she could be calling from. Canton asks where only for an agent to tell him to not engage. The Doctor promises he'll explain if they give him five minutes. "On the other hand," The Doctor says as he sits down, laying his feet on the Oval Desk. "Lay a finger on me, or my friends, and you'll never, ever know." Canton wonders how The Doctor got the TARDIS in here and The Doctor says it was clever. Canton agrees and an agent snaps at him not to compliment The Doctor. Canton asks if he needs five minutes and The Doctor confirms. The agent tries to tell Nixon The Doctor is dangerous but Canton cuts him off. "Mr. President, that man walked in here with a big blue box and three of his friend and that's the man he walked passed," Canton says as he points to the agent. "One of them is worth listening to. I say we give him five minutes, see if he delivers."
"Well, if nothing else, Canton is reasonable," Martha said impressed.
The Doctor thanks him and Canton promises to shoot him if he doesn't.
"Or maybe not," Martha said as he scowled.
"In these kinds of situations, better not to take any chances. And sometimes people work better under pressure," Jack said with a shrug, Canton reminding him of some people he had worked with at Torchwood over the years.
"Let's just hope Boss can deliver," Mickey muttered.
"Doesn't he always?" Jane pointed out and Mickey nodded, conceding her point.
Despite the agent's protests, Nixon agrees to hear The Doctor out. The Doctor takes his feet off the desk, sitting up straight as the agents lower their guns. Amy, Rory and River lower their hands as The Doctor says he needs a SWAT team, street level maps of Florida, a pot of coffee, 12 Jammie Dodgers and a fez. Canton tells the agents to get him the maps.
"Him and fezzes," Donna said in exasperation as Jack smiled in amusement.
Sometime later, the Oval Office is full of maps as The Doctor places a map on the Oval Desk, pointing out the caller said she was afraid of the spaceman and Florida is where they live, revealing there's another lead he's following. Amy points out to River the spaceman could be like the one they saw at the lake and River agrees. As River walks away, Amy sees an alien in a suit standing in the doorway.
"What the bloody Hell?!" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers stared at the screen startled.
"I think we've figured out what 'Spaceman' the girl was talking about," Jack muttered.
"That's what Amy saw at the lake," Donna realized with a start.
"So are these aliens following them? Or is this a different group?" Martha wondered.
"Not exactly. Let's just say they've been after Dad for a very long time," Jane said, knowing explaining it now would not do any good.
Amy stares at it in shock, remembering seeing that same alien by the lake. "I remember," she mutters. Rory walks up to her, blocking her view and asking what she remembers. Amy once again forgets.
"She forgot again," Wilf said in disbelief as Jack narrowed his eyes.
"So you forget about these aliens as soon as you look away," Jack mused.
"Then how can we remember them?" Mickey wondered as they realized they could in fact remember it.
"This room," Jane explained. "The TARDIS is putting out a pulse that allows you to remember it as long as you're in this room. Once you leave, you'll forget it again."
"Bloody brilliant," Donna grumbled.
"What are they?" Jack wondered, a strange sense of déjà vu coming over him.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a tight smile.
Amy then lets out a gasp of pain and Rory, River and The Doctor look at her, asking if she's alright. She says she's feeling sick, asking if there's a toilet she can use. An agent tells her she has to remain here but Canton tells him to take her to the restroom.
"What's wrong with Amy?" Donna asked as the past viewers looked concerned and a dark look crossed Jane's face.
"Spoilers," Jane said in a tone that said it would be unwise to ask questions.
Jack eyed her carefully as the others looked as each other bewildered. Remembering what she had said about this set of recordings, Jack wondered if this had something to do with why Jane thought it was 'the most brutal' out of the three sets. But only time would tell, Jack mused as he looked back at the screen, hoping to get some answers.
Annoyed, the agent gestures to another agent, who begins escorting her out. Rory moves to follow but is stopped by the other agent. Canton tells The Doctor his five minutes are up and The Doctor asks where his Fez is as he looks at a map. The agent escorts Amy to the ladies' room. He moves to follow her in but she says she can do it alone. Reluctantly, he stands guard outside as Amy heads inside. Walking inside, Amy is startled to see the alien again.
"It's following Amy," Jack realized as the other past viewers started. "Why?"
"Who bloody cares why? Just get her away from it!" Donna snapped as they looked at screen worried.
Jane grimaced. Unfortunately, it was too late for that. Far too late. By this point, The Silence already had Amy. The damage was already done.
Realizing she's forgotten the alien twice now, Amy asks what it is. Hearing a flushing sound, Amy sees a woman walk out of a stall and towards the sick. Amy shouts a warning towards the woman and she turns towards the alien, startled for a moment. She thinks it's a human wearing a mask. Amy tells her to get back and the woman turns towards her, forgetting the creature is behind her.
"And now we have a bystander. Somehow, I don't think the alien is going to take that well," Mickey said uneasily.
"You have no idea," Jane said darkly as the past viewers watched uneasily, sensing something about to happen.
Amy gestures to the alien and the woman turns back, startled again, asking if it's a Star Trek mask and wondering if it's her friend Ben before realizing she just said that. She approaches the alien and Amy warns her to stay back. The woman turns towards Amy again and once more forgets about the alien. The lights suddenly begin flickering and Amy warns the woman of the alien behind her. The alien raises its hand, electricity sparking as the woman turns back. She screams in terror as the alien shocks her with electricity. The creature lets out a roar as the woman is shocked before the woman's body disintegrates with a pop, leaving only scorch marks and little shreds of clothing.
"Bloody Hell!" Mickey exclaimed as they past viewers looked shocked.
"It killed her. It just…it used electricity and killed her," Martha said, at a loss for words.
"You forget it as soon as you look away, and it can apparently control electricity enough to shoot a burst of it that can disintegrate a human," Jack said, his mind already working to figure out what this was.
"Any guesses what this thing is?" Donna asked uneasily and Jack shook his head.
"Not anything I've ever encountered," Jack muttered, unnerved.
Horrified, Amy says it didn't need to kill her as the woman didn't remember it. Realizing they forget as soon as can't see the alien, Amy takes out her phone and takes a picture of it. Amy then asks why it killed the woman. "Joy," it says, taking her aback. "Her name was Joy. Your name is Amelia. You will tell The Doctor." Amy asks what she's supposed to tell him. "What he must know. And what he must never know," it says. Shocked, Amy asks how they know and the alien tells her to tell The Doctor. Terrified, Amy flees the room. Walking out, she bumps into the agent, who asks if she's alright. Forgetting her encounter with the alien, she says she's fine. Seeing Amy's phone, the agent asks what that is she says her phone, confusing him. Amy says she has to tell The Doctor and he asks what, only Amy can't remember why she said that. He begins to lead her back towards the Oval Office.
"You don't remember it, but you still remember in the back of your mind your encounter with it. Like a post hypnotic suggestion," Jack mused.
"What exactly does it want Amy to tell The Doctor though?" Mickey wondered as they all looked confused.
"Something that will change everything," Jane said darkly.
Her first time watching, she hadn't understood why the Silence had wanted Amy to tell The Doctor. But once the Ganger recordings had ended, it became clear. Kovarian had wanted to tip The Doctor off, to know Amy was in trouble in order to torment him. Kovarian was a sadistic one, that was for sure. It had been her undoing.
In the Oval Office, Nixon's phone begins ringing. As Nixon wonders if he should answer it, The Doctor pinpoints the place where the calls are coming from. Amy and the agent walk into the room as Canton calls The Doctor a genius, telling Nixon to answer the phone. Nixon answers the phone, beginning to record the call. "It's here! The spaceman is here! It's gonna get me! It's gonna eat me!" the girl says.
"He's figured it out though. Don't worry, The Doctor's on his way," Donna muttered, the mother in her worrying for the girl.
Which wasn't exactly a good thing, Jane thought with a grimace as she remembered what had happened after this.
The Doctor grabs his coat, saying there's no time to wait for a SWAT team and ordering Canton not to follow him into the TARDIS as he, Amy, Rory and River head inside. Canton ignores this and follows them inside. Nixon watches in disbelief as the TARDIS dematerializes. The girl cries for help and Nixon promises he's sending his best people.
"Not exactly wrong," Jack said with a shrug.
Inside the TARDIS, Canton looks around in disbelief as The Doctor and River explain that Jefferson Adams Hamilton isn't the girl's name, it's the name of three of America's Founding Fathers. The Doctor reveals he's met them and two of them fancied him.
"Of course they did. Half the people he meets seem to fancy him," Martha said in exasperation.
"Including yourself," Jack teased and Martha flushed.
"Shut up. Like you're in a position to talk," Martha said embarrassed and Jack shrugged.
"I freely admit if he wanted to be with me, I'd drop everything. But clearly he doesn't swing that way," Jack mused. "A shame. We would have been great together."
"You and Boss together? I don't think the universe could handle it," Mickey noted and everyone but Jack shuttered at the thought.
"Let's never speak of it," Jane recommended and no one disagreed.
Canton processes what he's seeing as Rory asks if he's coping. The Doctor reveals that the girl wasn't answering who she was, but where she was as Canton mutters its bigger on the inside. Rory assures him you get used to it. The Doctor asks where they find three names like that and Amy asks where. "Here," The Doctor says as the TARDIS jolts in the landing. The Doctor leads them to the doors, passing Canton on the way and telling Rory to handle this. Rory asks why it's always his turn. "Because you're the newest," Amy says, kissing him on the cheek before following The Doctor and River out the TARDIS.
"Kind of a rite of passage, isn't it?" Donna mused.
"We all have to do it at some point," Jack shrugged.
"Speak for yourself. But I didn't travel on the TARDIS for very long," Mickey noted.
"So this is how Canton and The Doctor begin working together," Wilf mused.
"Seems that way," Martha muttered, unable to shake the uneasy feeling that suddenly came over her.
Outside is a sort of office building, seemingly abandoned. Amy asks where they are and The Doctor says that they're five miles from Cane Kennedy Space Station, explaining its 1969, year of the moon, calling it interesting. Amy wonders why a little girl would be here and The Doctor admits he doesn't know. River picks up a phone as The Doctor explains when Nixon asked the girl where she was, she looked out the window. Walking over to the blinds, he lifts them open slightly, revealing the names of the Founding Fathers were actually the names on the street signs outside the window.
"Well at least they know the where. Now they just need to find her," Donna said, trying to be optimist.
"Doubt it will be that easy," Jack noted.
"It never is, Haven't we established that by now?" Jane asked dryly.
The Doctor explains this is likely the only place in America with those three street names on the same junction before telling River she's got 'that face' on again. River claims not to know what he's talking about and he says she has her 'he's hot when he's clever' face on. River claims this is her normal face and he agrees. She laughs as she tells him to shut up.
"Okay, seriously Boss, the flirting, I could do without," Mickey said uncomfortably. "He was never this bad with Rose."
"Never knew he had this side to him. Where has it been all my life?" Jack asked with a grin.
"Down boy," Jane said, looking at him in exasperation.
The Doctor picks up a phone as Canton and Rory walk out of the TARDIS. Canton marvels that they moved and The Doctor complains they haven't gotten to space travel yet, stunning Canton. Rory says he was going to cover it with time travel, stunning Canton further but The Doctor urges them on. Rory explains the TARDIS to Canton, who asks how long Scotland Yard has had this.
"Try and keep up Canton. They don't have time to give you a tutorial," Jack said.
"Well some of us didn't grow up with time travel. Give Canton a minute," Martha said crossly and Jack shrugged.
The group moves through the building, River shining a light as she explains it's an unused warehouse. The Doctor points out this is a trap and River points out she noticed the phone as well, explaining to Amy the girl couldn't have called, as it was cut off.
"So if the phones are cut off…" Donna trailed off uneasily.
"Like The Doctor said, it's a trap," Jack said grimly.
"But it doesn't make any sense. Why would someone lay a trap for The Doctor by making a girl call Nixon?" Mickey wondered.
"Could be a number of reasons. Neither of which I doubt we'll find out by trying to guess," Jack said pointedly as they continued watching.
Amy wonders who would want to trap them and The Doctor sarcastically points out everyone who wants to kill them. Unseen to any of them, someone in an astronaut suit is watching them from a distance.
"The astronaut," Donna said as they all started.
"You don't think…" Martha trailed off.
"That it's the same one that killed The Doctor? I doubt it's a coincidence," Jack said grimly.
"So did The Doctor send them back to stop it before it could kill him?" Wilf wondered.
"Life Rory said, that's not his style. Whatever The Doctor's plan is, it wasn't to save his own life," Jack said with certainty, wondering what The Doctor's plan was.
As they continue walking through the building, River wonders what a little girl would be doing here and The Doctor suggests they ask when they find her. River's light reveals a machine that resembles a bed with a helmet and wires. River notes it's definitely alien, likely not even from this time. The Doctor then points to a box with astronaut gear. The Doctor points out its cutting edge, excitedly examining a helmet as River wonders if it was stolen by the aliens. Amy wonders why aliens would do that as The Doctor puts the helmet on his head, opening the visor and saying how cool it is.
"What would aliens want with a teched out astronaut suit?" Donna wondered.
"A weapon. Although for what, I'm not sure," Jack said, the various scenarios for why these aliens would make this weapon running through his mind.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good," Mickey said darkly.
Amy wonders at cool aliens and The Doctor asks what she would call him. Amy admits he's an alien as he puts the helmet back. Rory says Canton is okay now and Canton compliments the TARDIS as he looks around with a flashlight. The Doctor urges them on to find the girl. As The Doctor walks off with Rory and Canton, River and Amy examine the machine, some of its components covered with slim. Amy starts to talk but River already knows what she's thinking: if they can find the spaceman in 1969 and stop it, it won't be able to kill The Doctor in 2011. Amy admits she's right and River reveals she was thinking the same thing. Amy urges River to do it but River reveals they came here because of what they saw in the future. If they try to prevent the future, it creates a paradox. "Time can be rewritten," Amy argues. River says not all of it and Amy asks who says. "Who do you think?" River asks.
"The Doctor's death could be a fixed point. And you never try to change those," Jack said grimly and Jane silently thought of what happened when River had tried.
"You have no idea how right you are Jack," Jane said vaguely and he shot her a look but didn't say anything.
"So there's nothing anyone can do?" Wilf asked helplessly.
"Sometimes you can't change things Gramps," Donna said sadly, thinking of Pompeii.
Amy tries to continue the conversation but River finds a hatch on the floor, calling over The Doctor. He walks over and River pushes the hatch aside, revealing an underground tunnel. The Doctor wonders where it goes as River uses her scanner, finding a network of tunnels underneath but no life signs. "Those are the worst kind," The Doctor notes. River begins to head down and The Doctor warns her to be careful. She calls this dull and The Doctor tells her to shout if there's trouble. "Don't worry, I'm quite the screamer," she flirts and The Doctor smiles.
"Really did not need to know that," Donna muttered.
"How do you think I feel?" Jane asked dryly, shuttering at the thought of her father and River in rather…compromising positions.
Everyone else seemed to be having the same thoughts. While Martha and Mickey looked a little green and Wilf uncomfortable, the smile on Jack's face left no doubt as to what he was thinking.
She heads down and Canton asks what's going on. The Doctor says River is just a friend but Rory points out Canton meant the possible alien incursion. "Okay," The Doctor said, tapping Canton on the shoulder before walking off. River reaches the bottom of the tunnel. Using her light to see, she finds three aliens like the one Amy saw. They snarl at her and River steps back in terror.
"River's actually scared of them," Donna said in surprise, having never actually seen River scared.
"She has good reason to be," Jane said darkly.
"So she has a history with them then," Jack noted curiously, wondering where River might have encountered them.
Although he mused he'd probably find out during these recordings.
Up above, Canton asks Amy if he's still in a bar having a drink. Amy assures him he's not as River frantically pulls herself out of the tunnel. As she does, she forgets the aliens and says there are just tunnels down there.
"And of course she forgets," Martha muttered.
"They even managed to fool River's scanner," Jack muttered. "Just what are these things?"
"You'll find out in the next," Jane promised, wondering how they'd take it.
River wants to take another look down there which The Doctor calls stupidly dangerous. "I like it to," River says before telling Amy to look after The Doctor. Amy smiles with a nod as River heads back down. The Doctor asks if Rory would mind going with River and Rory says he would. "Then I appreciate it all the more," The Doctor says and claps Rory on the back. Rory sighs before heading towards the tunnel, telling River he's coming to.
"The things we do for The Doctor," Jack mused as all of them related to Rory.
"Risking your life for him seems like a full time job," Martha mused.
"Probably because it is," Donna mused as she thought back on all the dangers she'd encountered. "We protect him as much as he protects us."
Once Rory reaches the bottom, he finds River hunched over, looking ill. He asks if she's alright and she dismisses it as the prison food. River pulls out her scanner before they begin heading down a tunnel. Rory looks back before following River, missing an alien stepping into the opening of the tunnel.
"Watch out you two," Wilf muttered, worried for both of them.
As they walk down the tunnel, Rory turns around, thinking he hears something but thinks it's his imagination. He makes a comment to River about it and she notes the tunnels are old, wondering how nobody has noticed them. As they walk further into the tunnel, the lights reveal a maintenance hatch. River heads towards it and quickly determines it's locked, wondering why people always lock things. Rory wonders through there and River says she doesn't know. Rory asks if it's something bad. "Almost definitely," River says.
"So naturally, they're going to open it," Martha said dryly.
"It's River. What do you expect?" Jane asked pointedly.
"Well this'll end badly," Donna deadpanned.
Rory realizes she's going to open it and she says it's locked, how can she resist? Rory asks if this is sensible. "God, I hope not," River says with a smile as he gets to work.
"She and The Doctor really are perfect for each other," Donna sighed.
"Only someone as insane as him could marry him," Jack said with a grin.
Rory says he can picture her and The Doctor and she tells him to keep a look out. As Rory turns to do that, he asks what she meant about their being a worse day coming for her. River reveals when she first met The Doctor, he already knew who she was. "Think about that. Impressible young girl and suddenly, this man just drops out of the sky. And he's clever and mad and wonderful and knows every last thing about her," River says as Rory turns away, still listening. "Imagine what that does to a girl." Rory says he doesn't really have to.
"Ouch," Mickey noted with a wince.
"The worse thing is he's really not wrong," Martha said sadly, remembering how messed up by The Doctor Amy had been in the beginning, not even knowing if she loved Rory or not.
"And Rory got a front row seat to it," Donna said sadly.
"Trouble is, it's all back to front. My past is his future. We're traveling in opposite directions," River says and he turns back to her. "Every time we meet, I know him more and he knows me less. I live for the days when I see him, but I know that every time I do, he'll be one step further away. And the day is coming when I'll look into that man's eyes…my Doctor…and he won't have the faintest idea who I am." There's a sound as River manages to unlock the door. "And I think it's going to kill me."
Donna grimaced, remembering this had come to pass. She had met The Doctor when he had no idea who she was, and it had killed her. Remembering River rambling to her about how much this hurt, Donna's heart grew heavy.
"I can't imagine what must be like," Martha muttered, not able to imagine what pain it would be to know someone you love was slipping further and further away from her.
"I'd imagine it would be torture," Jack mused.
"More like Hell," Mickey muttered.
River stands up and turns the knob, opening the door. River and Rory walk into the room, shinning their lights. The room's floor is filled with a mist as they walk further inside. They find a device resembling the ship above Craig's flat.
"Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?" Mickey as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"If you're seeing the same ship that was in Craig's flat, then yes," Jack said, his mind whirling. "I think we know who tried to make another TARDIS now."
"It's these aliens," Wilf realized and Jack nodded absently in agreement.
"Only question is why," Martha muttered, still in a bit of shock.
It beeps and River tells Rory that was an alarm and to check if anyone is coming. Rory heads towards the door, startled to see the aliens. He turns back to River and forgets, telling her nothing is out there.
"These aliens might be some of the most dangerous The Doctor has ever encountered," Jack said grimly.
"Because if he looks away, he's won't ever know they were even there," Martha muttered and Jack nodded.
"May God help him," Wilf said uneasily.
River examines the ships controls with her scanner, placing a hand on the panel. The alarms blare and River quickly removes it, saying the tunnels are running under the entire planet. River realizes they've been here for centuries. Hearing sparks of electricity behind him. Rory turns his head towards the door. The sparks grows stronger and River turns her head. "Rory!" she cries in alarm.
"Not again," Donna said uneasily as they all watched the screen uneasily.
"Get out of there," Martha almost pleaded.
Back in the warehouse, Amy asks if Canton was kicked out of the FBI because he had attitude problems as they examine the machine. Canton says he just wanted to get married, saying it's a crime when Amy asks.
"He's gay then," Jack noted. "Or at least in love with a man."
"Guess that makes sense for why he dislikes Nixon," Donna muttered.
Canton asks about The Doctor and she jokes its classified. Not getting her sarcasm, Canton asks by who. "God knows," Amy says. Canton asks if she works for The Doctor. "He's my friend, if friend is the right word. I haven't seen him in a while," Amy notes as she watches The Doctor examine a crate. "I had something I wanted to tell him, but stuff always gets in the way." Canton notes stuff does that.
"What is so important that these aliens want The Doctor to know?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"I'm more concerned about the fact that Amy seems to know about it," Martha mentioned.
"Help me," the girl's voice cries out. Canton pulls out his gun, heading after the girl. Amy starts following him when she doubles over in pain.
"Something's wrong," Martha realized as they all tensed.
"Well obviously, Amy's in pain," Donna snapped uneasily.
"No, not that. She seemed sick in the White House. Now she's in obvious pain," Martha said, the doctor in her working.
"You mean something's wrong medically," Mickey realized and Martha nodded.
"And that may be what the aliens want her to tell The Doctor," Martha muttered as she began to wonder what could be so important that they wanted The Doctor to know.
The Doctor goes to Amy, asking what's wrong. She says she needs to tell him something important as Canton calls out to The Doctor. He drags her after Canton. They find him where they first entered, unconscious.
"And now Canton's unconscious. Bloody brilliant," Donna groaned.
The Doctor goes to examine Canton as Amy tries to tell him again. The Doctor says it's not a good moment as Amy insists it's important. They hear the girl and look around but don't see her. Amy kneels down and looks The Doctor in the eyes. "Doctor, I'm pregnant."
"WHAT THE BLODOY HELL!?" Donna exclaimed in surprise as the past viewers all stared at the screen in shock.
"Okay, wasn't expecting that," Jack said in shock.
"Why would the aliens want The Doctor to know that?" Martha wondered, not understanding.
"Who cares? If she's pregnant, they really need to get out of there," Mickey snapped.
"What was she thinking, going with The Doctor while pregnant?" Wilf wondered aghast.
"She had her reasons," Jane said, although it didn't make a difference in the end.
Amy had never gotten to live out her actual pregnancy.
The Doctor looks at her in shock before they hear rhythmic breathing followed by footsteps. The Doctor gets to his feet as they see the astronaut walk into the room. Amy realizes this is the one that killed The Doctor. It raises its hand and Amy goes for Canton's gun. The astronaut opens its visor. It's the girl, asking for help.
"Blimey. The girl is in the suit," Mickey said as she they all stared at the screen in shock.
"How…why?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"That is a very complicated answer that you will get in the next recording," Jane promised.
"I should bloody hope so," Martha muttered.
Amy tells The Doctor to get down as she jumps to her feet, holding Canton's gun. The Doctor asks what she's doing. "Saving your life!" she says as she turns around, firing at the girl. "NO!" The Doctor cries. Amy screams as she sees the girl before the screen goes black.
"NO!" Donna exclaimed as they all stared at the screen in horror.
"Did she just…" Martha trailed off, unable to say it.
Jane was silent, knowing telling them was pointlessly. They'd find out in a minute anyway. So she didn't say a word as the next recording started.
And that's the first one of series six. Honestly, this is probably my favorite series premiere, perfectly setting up the season's darker tone and The Doctor getting killed just took me completely off guard the first time I watched the episode.