THWA: Thank you.
The words 'London, 5:02 PM 22nd April, 2011' flash across the screen. London is seen, a train running through a tunnel built right into the side of a building and cars are flying, suspended in the air by hot air balloons as a reporter gives the weather report.
"What the bloody Hell?" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Are you all seeing this?" Wilf asked, wondering if he had finally started showing signs of dementia.
"Seeing it Gramps. Just not sure what I'm seeing," Donna said in bewilderment.
"It'll all make sense soon," Jane promised.
In the park, kids are running around playing as Pterodactyls fly overhead. The kids stop, looking in amazement before one begins to fly towards them. The kids and their parents run in terror, passing a sign that tells them not to feed the Pterodactyls. In the city, a Roman Soldier sits on a horse, waiting for traffic to pass. A nearby news stand advertises that the War of the Roses is entering its second year. On a television broadcast, Charles Dickens is being interviewed about his next Christmas Special. He promises that it involves Ghosts in the past, present and future.
"What on earth is going on?" Martha asked as the past viewers grew more bewildered.
"It's like a mix and mash of every time period at once," Donna said confused.
"Like all of time is happening at once," Jack narrowed his eyes, wondering what was happening.
A reporter announces that Holy Roman Emperor Winston Churchill returned to the Buckingham Senate on his Mammoth. At the Buckingham palace, which is decorated with red and gold SPQR banners, Churchill is being examined by Malohkeh as he complains about an argument he had with Cleopatra. Churchill looks at the clock and asks Malohkeh for the time. Malohkeh says its 5:02 P.M. and Churchill notes it always is. He wonders why that is, pointing out it's always April 22nd, but Malohkeh seems to not care. Churchill orders to see the soothsayer.
"Churchill is the Roman Emperor, a meeting with Cleopatra while Malohkeh is his doctor. What kind of weird bizarro world did we walk into?" Donna asked in bewilderment.
"It's like Jack said, all of time is happening at once," Martha noted as they all wondered what was happening.
"And time isn't moving either. What on earth is happening?" Jack wondered.
"Perhaps this soothsayer will be able to shed light on what is happening," Wilf suggested.
"I hope so," Martha muttered as they all watched uneasily.
Malohkeh says he's in the tower where Churchill threw him last time and Churchill orders the soothsayer brought to him. Later, guards escort someone in chains dressed in rags to Churchill's office. Churchill orders the guards to leave and they do. "Tick tock goes the clock, as the old saying goes," Churchill says before looking at the clock, which still reads 5:02. Churchill notes they never tick and the soothsayer keeps saying something has happened to time and that all of history is happening at once. Churchill demands the soothsayer explain to him what happened so he can understand. The soothsayer lifts his head, revealing The Doctor with unkempt hair and a beard. "A woman."
"Of course he'd be the soothsayer," Donna sighed in exasperation.
"And a woman is the cause of all this. Who wants to bet its River?" Martha asked dryly.
"Considering the ending of the last one, it's a safe bet," Jack noted, wondering how River could have caused all this.
'Earlier' flashes across the scene. A grainy scene from a camera shows a figure walking forward. "Imagine you were dying. Imagine you were afraid and a long way from home and in terrible pain." It's The Doctor, wearing his Stetson. He walks up to the camera and looks up. "And just when you thought it couldn't get worse, you looked up and saw the face of the Devil himself. Hello, Dalek." It's revealed The Doctor is looking down at a wounded Dalek. The Dalek fearfully calls out an emergency as The Doctor uses his screwdriver on its hatch. He pulls it open, telling it he needs information. The Doctor uses his screwdriver on the Daleks data core, explaining he needs everything they know on the Silence.
"He just loves taking out Daleks," Martha said dryly.
"Can't say I blame him," Jack mused, knowing he'd take out the 456 if he could.
"Considering their history, I'm surprised Boss hasn't gone looking for them all over the galaxy," Mickey admitted.
"As much as Dad hates the Daleks, to go after them just because he hates them would go against his code. And long after the Time Lords were wiped out, that code was all he had left," Jane said and it was silent for a moment.
"He's looking for the Silence then," Wilf noted.
"Makes sense. If he wants Intel on the group that's after him, who better than the Daleks to give it to him?" Mickey mused, realizing it's probably what he would have done, provided he was able to survive an encounter with a Dalek.
At the Docks of Calisto B, A lone figure in a clock is walking down a street, unaware The Doctor is watching from around a corner. The Doctor then follows the figure into what seems to be an alien bar. A red skinned alien looks at him startled as The Doctor demands to see Gideon Vandaleur. The alien asks who says he's here and The Doctor places the data core of the Dalek down before smiling. Fearfully, the alien heads into the back.
"They should know better than to play with Boss by now," Mickey said as he and Jack snickered.
"Intimidating scum is nothing new to Dad," Jane shrugged.
The Doctor reads a magazine at a table before the clocked figure sits down. The Doctor greets Gideon as he lowers his hood, revealing a human looking male wearing an eye patch. The Doctor notes he's a former envoy of the Silence before offering his condolences. Gideon is confused until The Doctor reveals Gideon has been dead for six months. The Doctor uses his screwdriver on 'Gideon', who freezes. The Doctor uses his screwdriver and the glow reveals a small person in the eyes. The Doctor requests to speak to the captain and the person nods before running down the corridor.
"The Tesselecta," Jack said as the realization washed over the room.
"So Carter is back," Mickey muttered.
"Just what The Doctor needs," Martha said dryly and Jane smiled.
"You might be surprised," Jane said, giggling as they looked at her confused. "Spoilers."
In the cockpit, controls spark as The Doctor greets the crew of the Tesselecta and Captain Carter asks The Doctor has done to their systems. The Doctor assures them they'll be fine if they behave. He notes if they're posing as Vandaleur, they're investigating the Silence. He demands they tell him about the Silence. Carter asks what and The Doctor clarifies he wants to know their weakest link. The scene changes to The Doctor sitting across from a man who uneasily eyes a chessboard between them. The two are sitting in the center of a stadium as The Doctor points out the crowd is getting restless.
"Live chess. Should have known the Silence would have someone there," Jack muttered, unsurprised.
"Live Chess?" Wilf asked as the other past viewers looked at Jack in bewilderment.
"It's like a fight club I guess you could say. It's an underground chess match, the board is electrified so certain pieces get harder to move each time. Makes it more interesting," Jack explained with a distasteful expression.
"More like more entertaining for lowlifes," Mickey grumbled as they all looked disgusted.
"Sadly, there will always be people like that out there, whatever time period, whatever world," Jane said with a sigh.
The Doctor points out the man's only legal move is the queen, but since he's already moved it twelve times, it's electrified with over four million volts. The man looks uneasily at the crowd as The Doctor notes this is why it's called live chess. The man moves to touch the queen but The Doctor notes even with the gauntlet he'll never make it to bishop 4. The man agrees, saying it he's a dead man unless The Doctor concedes. The Doctor points out he's winning and the man tells him to name his price. The Doctor says he wants information. The man says he works for the Silence and they will kill him. The Doctor argues they're going to kill him to and he'd like to know why he has to die before he goes. The man says Dorium Maldovar is the only one who can help him.
"Brilliant. So this was all just a waste of time," Donna said with a groan.
"I wouldn't say that," Jane said, smiling as the past viewers looked at her in bewilderment. "Just keep watching."
The Doctor argues Dorium is dead but the man promises to take The Doctor to him if he concedes the game. The Doctor eyes him curiously before tipping over his king. The scene changes to the man leading The Doctor down into a dark room. The man explains it's the Seventh Transept, where the Headless Monks keep their leftovers. He warns The Doctor to watch his step, as there are traps everywhere. The Doctor looks down and hears movement, grumbling that he hates rats. The man assures him there are no rats, as the skulls eat them. The Doctor then sees the shelves are stocked with skulls, which turn towards him as they enter.
"Oi," Donna muttered weakly as the past viewers looked at the screen uncomfortably.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered.
"My word," Wilf said horrified.
"I knew the Monks were ruthless, but this…" even Jack was at a loss for words.
"Now you know why they're so feared Jack," Jane said grimly as the past viewers stared, shocked and horrified.
The man reminds The Doctor the headless monks behead you alive. The Doctor wonders why some are left in boxes. "Because some people are rich and some people are left to rot," the man says. The man notes Dorium was always very rich. The Doctor scans a box before opening it, revealing Dorium's head inside. It sneezes and The Doctor thanks the man for bringing him here. The man says it saves him the trouble of burying him before pulling out a gun and taking aim at The Doctor, declaring no one beats him at chess.
"Seriously? He's going to murder someone over a chess match?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"Welcome to the world of Live Chess, where reputations are everything. It's not uncommon for the victor to meet an unfortunate end," Jack said grimly.
"Like those bookies," Mickey noted and Jack nodded.
"I'm still in disbelief the heads are still alive after being cut off," Martha said in shock. "The laws of physics really aren't making any sense at this point."
"That's the Headless Monks," Jane shrugged.
The Doctor looks at the ground where the man is standing before a trapdoor opens. The man yelps as he falls into it and The Doctor looks inside, seeing the man surrounded by skulls, screaming as they devour him. The skulls then turn towards The Doctor and snarl. The Doctor uses his screwdriver and closes the hatch.
There wasn't a single person who didn't grimace at the scene. While the man had gotten what he deserved, it still was not a pleasant sight to behold.
Dorium's head wakes up, confused until he sees The Doctor. He says the monks turned on him and The Doctor awkwardly agrees. Dorium seriously asks how bad his injuries are before laughing at The Doctor's face. The Doctor joins in; realizing Dorium was messing with him.
"Well, at least he kept his sense of humor," Donna said with a slight grin.
"He's in remarkably good spirits considering his situation," Wilf said in surprise.
"Knowing Dorium, he probably freaked out when it first happened before realizing no one could come after him again," Jack noted.
In his office, Churchill interrupts The Doctor's story, noting the absurdity of it, wondering why he's even listening. The Doctor says Churchill senses that they're friends in another reality, just like he senses that there is something wrong with time. Churchill notes The Doctor mentioned a woman and The Doctor promises he's getting to her. Churchill asks what she's like. "Hell…in high heels," The Doctor says.
"Yep, definitely River," Donna said with a slight grin.
"But what could River have done to cause all this?" Martha wondered and Jane grimaced.
"It'll make sense in a few minutes," Jane said with a sigh.
Churchill says to tell him more. Back in the Seventh Transept, Dorium assures The Doctor being only a head isn't so bad as long as the box is in the right position. Dorium says he keeps himself entertained via Wi-Fi when The Doctor asks about the Silence. Dorium explains what they are and The Doctor asks if they want him dead. Dorium notes they merely don't want him to remain alive. The Doctor gives a sarcastic response and Dorium points out The Doctor is a man with 'a long and dangerous past' but his future is infinitely more terrifying. The Silence believes it must be averted.
"So this is about preventing The Doctor's future?" Wilf asked in confusion.
"Like I said yesterday, prophecies can be interpreted in a lot of ways," Jane said simply.
"So The Silence heard a prophecy about The Doctor and they misinterpreted it?" Jack asked.
"Sort of. It's complicated. I will explain everything once we finish up," Jane promised.
"You bloody better," Donna grumbled, tired of the secrecy.
The Doctor notes Dorium could have told him this when they last saw each other and Dorium shoots back it was a busy day and he got beheaded. The Doctor asks what's so dangerous about his future. "On the fields of Trenzalor at the fall of the Eleventh, when no living creature could speak falsely or fail to answer, a question will be asked. A question that must never, ever be answered," Dorium says. "Silence will fall when the question is asked," The Doctor finishes. Dorium says Silence must fall would be a better translation, explaining that the Silence are determined to make sure The Doctor never reaches Trenzalor. The Doctor is confused as Dorium explains that it's the oldest question in the universe, hidden in plain sight. Dorium asks if he'd like to know what is and The Doctor says yes. "Are you sure?" Dorium asks as The Doctor notices the skulls turning towards him again. "Very, very sure?" The Doctor uncertainly says yes and Dorium says he'll tell him. "But on your own head be it," Dorium says with a laugh. The Doctor is then shown entering the TARDIS, Dorium's box in his hands.
"Oi! What was the question?" Donna asked as the past viewers looked at the screen in confusion.
"You'll find out at the end this one. For now, it's not important," Jane told them.
"Seems important to me," Mickey grumbled.
"And it is. But for this recording, it's not important. Just watch," Jane said as the all continued to watch the screen, curious about this question.
Dorium protests from inside the box as The Doctor puts it down. The Doctor pulls the lever and the TARDIS takes off. The Doctor brings up the page of his death on the scanner, staring at it as Dorium complains from inside the box. Dorium tells The Doctor they all have to die, him more than most, asking if The Doctor sees that, as he now knows what the question is. At the Buckingham Palace, Churchill asks what the question was and how it leads to The Doctor's death. The Doctor asks Churchill if there was a man who knew who a secret so dangerous that it could never be told, how Churchill would destroy that secret from the world. Churchill notes he would destroy the man. "And Silence would fall," The Doctor notes. The Doctor now realizes it means his silence, his death.
"So The Doctor knows a secret the Silence don't want to get out, and that's why they want to kill him," Martha mused.
"The Doctor has many secrets. But what could be so dangerous it was worth all this?" Jack wondered what they were all thinking and Jane smiled tightly.
"Spoilers."
The Doctor suddenly realizes they're in the senate room, asking why they left Churchill's office. Churchill notes they went for a stroll when The Doctor sees Churchill has pulled out his revolver. The Doctor asks why he has that and Churchill notes he's dangerous company. The Doctor sees a black marking on his wrist and agrees.
"No. No, tell me it's what I'm thinking," Donna pleaded as they past viewers all stared in horror.
"I can't," Jane said simply.
"Brilliant," Martha groaned.
"They're back. But how?" Jack wondered horrified.
"Dad explains later on," Jane said simply, knowing there was no point in explaining.
Churchill tells him to resume his story. On the TARDIS, Dorium tells The Doctor to open his hatch, complaining of a headache. He does, revealing Dorium has turned upside down. The Doctor tilts his head and Dorium realizes what has happened. The Doctor wonders why Utah and Dorium says it's a still point in time, which makes it easier to create a fixed point. Dorium says his death is a fixed point and he can't run from it. The Doctor argues he's been running all his life, wondering why he should stop.
"So that's what he meant when he said it was time to stop running," Wilf mused.
"He's been running since he was just a kid," Martha noted as she and Jack remembered The Doctor's story of Gallifrey while they were on the run from The Master.
"And now he knows he has to stop," Jack muttered, wondering what secret could be so horrible.
Dorium reminds him he knows what's at stake now but The Doctor says not today. Dorium asks what the point in delaying it is, asking how long The Doctor has delayed so far. The Doctor picks up his phone, saying he's been on a farewell tour before noting all he can do to delay his death, briefly cutting off as the person on the other end of the answers. He tells them to 'get him and tell him it's me'. The Doctor then points out to Dorium that he has a time machine and so it never stops for him, rambling about everything he can do before his death, including helping Rose Tyler with her homework and attending Jack's stag parties.
Jack blinked, momentarily stunned that The Doctor was still thinking of him after all this time.
"I know Dad didn't exactly treat you very well Jack, but he did care about you," Jane said, smiling slightly at the dumbstruck look on Jack's face.
Jack merely nodded. He'd always doubted whether The Doctor had just kept him along for Rose's sake or not. Here was irrefutable proof that The Doctor had indeed considered him a friend after all.
Dorium argues time catches up with them all and The Doctor scoffs at that. The Doctor then puts the phone back to his ear and a woman in a nursing home apologizes, saying they didn't know how to contact him, informing him that Brigadier passed away a few months ago. The Doctor lowers the phone slightly, stunned.
"So this is how he found out then," Jack said, coming out of his shock as Jane nodded with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, who?" Wilf inquired.
"Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, known to most as The Brigadier. He was one of the founders of UNIT," Martha explained.
"And one of The Doctor's oldest friends," Jack added wistfully, having worked with the man on more than a few occasions over the decades. "He was a good man."
"Another friend he lost," Donna said softly, her heart breaking for her friend.
"Boss," Mickey said softly as they all stared at the screen sadly.
The nurse informs The Doctor it was a peaceful death, telling him Brigadier talked a lot about him, even pouring him an extra brandy in case The Doctor came to visit. The Doctor smiles sadly as Dorium asks what's wrong. The Doctor places the phone down and pulls out the TARDIS blue envelopes. "It's time."
"Even you can't fight fate old friend," Jack said softly as they all stared at the screen.
"He knows. A reminder of mortality was all it took to make her realize how foolish he was being," Jane said softly.
The Doctor is then shown placing the envelopes in front of the Tesselectra. Carter notes The Doctor could deliver them himself but The Doctor says he would have to cross his own time stream. Carter notes this is The Doctor's final journey according to their files. The Doctor nods and Carter promises to deliver them. The Doctor then begins to walk out. He opens the door to the bar when the Tesselectra rises, calling out to him. The Doctor looks back as Carter says they have always been champions of law and order, just as he is. Carter asks if there's nothing else they can do and The Doctor walks out without answering.
No one else said a word. They knew The Doctor somehow escaped with his life, but that didn't mean this was any easier for them to see. Wilf wiped a tear from his eye as Jack looked solemn. The others all looked ready to burst into tears at any moment.
"How did you do it Doctor?" Jack muttered softly.
Shots of Amy, Rory and River receiving their letters are seen as Churchill asks The Doctor why he would invite his friends to witness his death. The Doctor explains that although he had to die, he didn't have to do it alone. The Doctor is then shown reuniting with Amy and Rory in Utah. "Amy and Rory. The Last Centurion and the girl who waited. However dark it got, I'd turn around and there they'd be. If it's time to go, remember what you're leaving. Remember the best. My friends have always been the best of me."
"I guess I can understand that. No one wants to die alone," Martha mused.
"Yeah," Donna said with a sigh, most of her anger at The Doctor fading away. "I still think it was a cruel thing to do, making them witness it."
"It's a fixed point, Amy and Rory had to be there to witness it. Either way, The Doctor would have had to call them there," Jack noted.
"Regardless, I'm just happy The Doctor didn't have to go through this alone," Wilf said in relief. "No one should ever have to do it alone."
"You don't need to tell me Wilf," Mickey said as he tightened his grip around Marta, who smiled weakly before kissing him on the cheek.
Churchill asks if The Doctor told them this would happen and The Doctor says it would help if Churchill didn't keep asking questions. The Doctor looks down at his wrist, now seeing three black markings and notes they don't have much time.
"More of them are showing up," Donna said as the past viewers stared at the screen uneasily.
"Get ready Doctor," Jack muttered as they tensed, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The scene of River shooting The Doctor's Stetson off is shown as Churchill asks if River was there. The Doctor says she was, explaining that she came twice. At the lake, The Doctor is sharing the wine with all three Ponds when the astronaut comes out of the lake; The Doctor explaining all that was left was for him to die. The Doctor walks up it and the visor opens, revealing River inside. "Well then. Here we are at last," The Doctor notes.
"Here we go," Mickey muttered as they all stared, waiting to see what they knew would happen.
Or what they thought was going to happen at least.
River says the suit is in control and The Doctor assures her she's not supposed to stop this, as it's meant to happen. River pleads with him to run and he says he did, it brought him here. River tearfully says she tried to fight it but The Doctor assures her it's okay, he knows this is where he dies and explains this is a fixed point, something that must happen. The Doctor assures her she won't even remember, nodding to the other River by the picnic. River is stunned as The Doctor explains that is River's future, serving time for a murder she can't remember. River demands to know why he'd make her watch and he explains so she'd know this was inevitable. "And you are forgiven. Always and completely forgiven," The Doctor says as River raises her arm.
"He brought her there so she knew he didn't blame her," Martha muttered, finding it equally romantic and twisted.
"It's the kind of declaration of love only The Doctor could give," Jack noted.
"Spaceman, can't you just buy her flowers like a regular person?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"And since when has Boss been normal?" Mickey asked dryly and Donna paused, realizing he was right.
River pleads for him to run but he says he can't. River says time can be rewritten but he tells her not to dare. "Goodbye River," The Doctor says. He closes his eyes as River looks at him tearfully. Five shots are fired and The Doctor braces himself, yet none make contact. Confused, The Doctor opens his eyes. "Hello Sweetie," River says with a smile.
"What just happened?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in confusion.
Except Jack, who had paled several shades.
"River just broke time," Jack said in horror.
"What?" Donna yelped as the past viewers looked at him in bewildered.
"Just wait," Jane said as she grimaced.
The Doctor demands to know what she's done and River explains she drained her weapon systems. The Doctor protests that this is fixed and River says fixed points can be rewritten. The Doctor says they can't, demanding to know who told her that before everything is consumed by a bright light.
"I'm going to agree with my husband, what just happened?" Martha asked as the past viewers looked back and forth between Jack and Jane, waiting to see which one would answer their questions.
"River changed a fixed point. It's one of the universal rules of time travel, you can't change a fixed point," Jack said grimly.
"Two different events happened at the same place, at the same time. It's a paradox of the highest order," Jane continued.
"Creating paradox energy so powerful it's causing time to go haywire. All of time is happening at once and eventually…" Jack trialed off but they understood what he was saying.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey said in horror.
"Oi. River, what did you do?" Donna said horrified.
Back at the Buckingham Palace, The Doctor explains to Churchill that time is now dying, all of history is happening at once and it will 5: 02 for all of eternity. The Doctor compares it to a needle stuck on a record and Churchill incredulously asks if he's ever heard of downloads. "Said Winston Churchill," The Doctor says dryly. Churchill then smells gun smoke, realizing he's fired his revolver as The Doctor realizes he's holding a sword. The Doctor notes they're defending themselves, explaining to a confused Churchill about the Silence aliens. The Doctor looks down to see four black markings on his arm.
"Brilliant, as if there weren't enough problems," Martha groaned as they all tensed.
The Doctor assures Churchill that they're not a problem in small numbers before looking down and seeing his arm covered in black markings. The Doctor and Churchill look up to see various Silence alien looking down at them from the ceiling.
"But they're quite a big problem in large numbers," Jack said with a heavy sigh as the past viewers watched the screen uneasily.
"Run Spaceman," Donna whispered.
An explosive then rolls into the room. The Doctor pushes Churchill down and it goes off, filling the room with smoke. Various soldiers then burst into the room, training their guns on the Silence. Churchill demands they identify themselves as a woman walks into the room. "Pond. Amelia Pond."
"So Amy's here to," Wilf said in surprise.
"A version of Amy in this new reality. But how did she find them?" Jack wondered suspiciously.
The Doctor is relieved, lowering Churchill's revolver as he tells him Amy is on their side. As Amy steps into view, The Doctor is horrified to see she is wearing an eye patch. Amy then shoots The Doctor in the head with a stun gun.
"What the bloody Hell was that?" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers looked at the screen, not really understanding what they had just seen.
"It makes sense in a minute," Jane promised as she smiled slightly.
The Doctor then wakes up in an unknown room to an automated voice coming over an intercom. As his vision focuses, he sees Amy standing in the doorway. She apologizes for shooting him with a stun gun but warns him they'll be in Cairo shortly. The Doctor stumbles to his feet, trying to explain they are best friends in another version of reality. The Doctor stumbles forward, reminding Amy of the crack in her bedroom. He picks something off the table after nearly falling; trying to urge her to remember when he realizes it's a paper Mache TARDIS. Amy smiles as The Doctor looks around the room, seeing the various drawings of their adventures.
"She remembers the other timeline, the one before River blew it all up," Martha realized.
"The crack in her bedroom, it made her resistant to changes in the timeline along with traveling in the TARDIS," Jack realized with a laugh.
"So Amy figured out something happened and what, put together a team?" Mickey asked in disbelief.
"Not just Amy, but yeah, basically," Jane said with a nod.
Amy tells The Doctor he looks rubbish and he says she looks wonderful before tossing the toy TARDIS at her. Amy then pulls out a suit and bowtie on a hanger, to The Doctor's relief. "Geronimo," he says happily as she hands it to him. Shortly after, The Doctor has changed into the suit and shaved. The Doctor compliments Amy's office, wondering how she has an office and asking if she's a secret agent. Amy explains some of them have noticed time has gone wrong and she has a team working on it.
"So it's not just Amy and Churchill, others have noticed as well," Wilf mused.
"It's not just time travel that allows people to notice something unusual. Some people just have a sort of gift that allows them to notice when something is wrong. Looks like Amy's been recruiting such people," Jack noted.
The Doctor excitedly notes Amy has an office and Amy laughs before hugging him, saying she's missed him. The Doctor asks about Rory and Amy pulls a drawing of an unknown man off her desk, asking if that's Rory. She doesn't remember Rory, but she knows he's her husband and she loves him. "Apparently," The Doctor notes as he looks at the drawing.
"Her memories are all jumbled up, a mix of this reality and the original," Jack noted.
"Which is why she has to draw so much, she's trying to remember before it all slips away," Donna realized and Jack nodded his agreement.
"Some things are crystal clear like Dad and how much she loves Rory, others like what Rory looks and sounds like are fuzzier," Jane added.
Amy explains writing and drawing about their adventures is how she keeps remembering but it's getting harder to remember. The Doctor asks if she remembers why time has gone wrong and she says the lakeside. The Doctor says he died there but Amy says he didn't, remembering it both ways. The Doctor explains time split open because two different versions of the same event happened at the same moment. Amy asks if they can't stay like that but The Doctor explains time is disintegrating and soon reality itself will fall apart.
"No matter what, he has to die," Martha realized in dismay.
"Except apparently not, since he somehow escaped," Mickey wondered, the past viewers all silently wondering how The Doctor pulled it off.
Someone then walks in. It's Rory, dressed in a soldier's uniform with an eye patch.
"It's Rory!" Donna exclaimed, equal parts surprised and happy to see him.
"Makes sense, he's a time traveler as well. He'd of noticed something was off to," Jack mused.
Rory tells Amy they're about to arrive and eye drives need to be activated. Amy thanks 'Captain Williams' and The Doctor excitedly stands there, greeting Rory. Rory greets him politely and Amy introduces them, saying she couldn't live without Rory. The Doctor picks up Amy's drawing of Rory and laughs. Amy is confused by his actions as The Doctor explains she and Rory always find each other but she has to really look. Amy insists she is.
"Apparently not hard enough," Mickey said with a snicker.
"It's like the roles are reversed from when they were kids," Martha noted.
"She knows she loves Rory and keeps looking for him, not realizing he's right in front of her," Donna said, torn between amusement and pity. "It's never easy for them, is it?"
"No one writes songs or books about the love stories that come easy," Jack pointed out.
The Doctor laughs, cupping Amy's face before telling her she doesn't always look hard enough. Amy wonders how The Doctor can still be aging if time isn't passing but The Doctor says time is passing for him, as he's the epicenter of this explosion. He explains he's what wrong with time, confusing Amy. "I'm still alive," The Doctor clarifies.
The lighthearted atmosphere faded from the room as they were reminded of The Doctor's death. No one said a word as they all stared, hoping they'd figure out how The Doctor did it.
The train then arrives in a pyramid. On the side of the pyramid is an American Flag with 'Area 52' painted under it. Amy and Rory lead The Doctor down a stairwell, The Doctor wondering why he has to put an eye patch on. Rory corrects him, explaining it's an eye drive and explaining what it is. Amy adds it's the only thing that works on 'them' as various Silence are seen in glass tanks filled with water. Amy adds that no living mind can remember them.
"So that's why Kovarian wears them all the time," Jack mused as he narrowed his eyes.
"Makes sense, she doesn't want to fall victim to her own army's abilities," Martha noted.
The Doctor stares at the Silence as Rory explains they've captured over 100. The Doctor walks up to the tank, noting he always wondered what they looked like. Amy tells him to put on his eye drive and he'll remember as long as he's wearing. The Doctor remembers that the Silence's human servants were wearing eye drives and Amy notes they'd have to. Rory directs The Doctor away from the tanks and The Doctor puts on his eye drive. The Silence turn to stare at The Doctor as he walks by, which Rory notices. Amy asks why humans aren't killing the Silence on sight anymore and The Doctor explains it was another reality. He asks what the tanks are for and Amy and Rory explain the fluid prevents them from drawing on electricity. Rory notes he doesn't like how the Silence are looking at The Doctor, who agrees uneasily.
"I guess that makes sense. River blew up all of reality, so what The Doctor did to get rid of the Silence aliens wouldn't work," Martha mused.
"Only way to do it again is to put things back the way they were," Jack agreed.
"Which means The Doctor has to die," Donna whispered and no one else said a word as they stared at the screen uneasily.
Rory tells Amy he should check this out before ordering two of his men to have the tank seals checked. Amy begins leading The Doctor away as he tries to talk to her about Rory, Amy not seeing the connection between Rory and Captain Williams. The Doctor says he needs to check something, mockingly saluting Amy before heading back. Amy radios someone, telling them The Doctor is on his way.
"So it looks like Amy is keeping secrets from The Doctor for once," Wilf noted.
"She did say she has a team. I wonder who's on it," Martha mused as they all wondered the same thing.
Rory is standing in front of the tanks when The Doctor walks up next to him, noting Rory always seems to be the loyal soldier, waiting to be noticed. Rory is confused as The Doctor tells him to just ask Amy out. The Doctor tells Rory Amy claims to like him and a skeptical Rory asks what she said as he looks back at the tanks. The Doctor stammers as Rory asks exactly what Amy said and Rory notes The Doctor hasn't done this before. The Doctor admits he hasn't and a beat passes before Rory says he'll see him in a moment.
"Boss, you are the worst wingman ever," Mickey said bluntly as Donna and Martha laughed at The Doctor's antics.
"Spaceman, you have many talents. But matchmaking is not one of them," Donna said amused.
The Doctor then heads back towards Amy, the Silence watching him. Amy tells The Doctor it's time for him to meet some old friends. Rory orders over an intercom to check the tanks as Amy leads The Doctor into a chamber with various soldiers and equipment placed around it. River is facing away from them as she's informed The Doctor's presence has caused the loop to extend. "Hi honey, I'm home," The Doctor quips and River turns around to face him, wearing an eye drive. "And what sort of time do you call this?"
"Well I guess it makes sense why Amy kept this a secret. I doubt The Doctor will pleased to see her, considering what happened," Jack mused.
"You mean how River destroyed time? Yeah, the Spaceman won't take that well," Donna grumbled.
"Dad may love River, but he doesn't have the same blinders with her that he did with Rose. He's really not happy with her right now," Jane said with a grimace.
River then walks a few feet away, revealing Kovarian is tied to a chair. Kovarian notes that the end of time is happening, bemoaning that The Doctor didn't die. The Doctor points out he did his best, he showed up. "You just can't get good psychopaths these days," The Doctor says.
"Well, if there's one good thing that came out of this, it's that Kovarian is their prisoner," Jack said darkly, taking sadistic joy out of it.
"The first good thing to come out of this," Donna said darkly.
The Doctor compliments what they've done with the pyramids, wondering how they did all this and River reveals she used her lip stick on President Kennedy and Cleopatra, who she calls a push over. The Doctor agrees and they begin to flirt, to Kovarian's annoyance. "It was such a basic mistake, wasn't it, Madame Kovarian? Take a child, raise her into the perfect psychopath, introduce her to The Doctor. Who else was I going to fall in love with?" River sighs wistfully.
"It's an ironic twist of fate. She tried to create The Doctor's killer, instead she created one of his greatest allies," Jack mused, amused darkly at Kovarian's failure.
"It's the kind of result only The Doctor could achieve. Only he could make someone who wants to kill him fall madly in love with him," Martha said with a laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
"It's the kind of situation only he could find himself in," Donna noted in amusement.
The Doctor asks River if she understands what is happening and she asks him to dinner. The Doctor says no one has the time, scolding her for their predicament, saying time is dying because of her. River notes because she refused to kill the man she loves. The Doctor sarcastically thanks her, moving to hug her when Amy orders a soldier to grab him. The Doctor is restrained and pulled back before he can touch River. River says she knows what happens if they touch. The Doctor smiles before breaking away from the soldiers, managing to grab River's hand before they can stop him. River tries to shake him off as Amy pleads with him to let go. A technicians notices time is beginning to move as The Doctor apologizes, saying it's the only way. The Doctor and River glow before the scene of River about to shoot The Doctor is shown.
"Wait, what just happened?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in bewilderment.
"They're the two points of the distortion. Once they touch, time moves again and…" Jack trialed off but they all understood.
"And The Doctor dies," Wilf said hollowly.
The soldiers pull The Doctor off River and she angrily orders the soldiers to cuff him. The Doctor wonders why River always has handcuffs as he's cuffed. He argues that it's the only way, as if they touch, time can begin again. River says she'll be by a lakeside, killing him and The Doctor argues time won't fall apart. The Doctor argues there isn't another way and River points out she didn't say there was.
"Bloody Hell River," Mickey said in disbelief. "I don't want Boss to die any more than you do, but he's just one man."1
"It'll break my heart if The Doctor dies, but if it's a choice between him and the rest of the universe…" Martha trailed off, looking pained.
"Even The Doctor isn't worth the loss of all life," Jack said softly.
"In many ways, River was still the weapon Kovarian had turned her into. It had only been a few years since Berlin for her; it takes time to break that kind of programing. River was just starting to figure out how to put other people before herself. It took her a long time to become the woman you met at the Library," Jane explained as she glanced at Donna, who was watching the screen silently.
Outside the chamber, a Silence places its hand on the glass. It begins to crack. On a lower level, Rory is examining a panel when he hears water dripping onto the floor. Rory looks up and sees water dripping down the steps followed by the flash of electricity.
"Oh Bloody Hell," Mickey breathed as the past viewers tensed.
"Who thought it was a good idea to keep them all locked up in the same place?" Donna groaned.
"All part of Kovarian's trap," Jane said with a sigh.
"Of course it was," Martha grumbled.
Back in the chamber, River tells The Doctor there are a lot of theories about them. They argue about the nature of them before River says she's either the woman who marries him or murders him. The Doctor says he doesn't want to marry her and River says she doesn't want to murder him. The Doctor calls this no fun when Amy feels a drop of water splash on her head. Amy sees water leaking from the ceiling and points it out to The Doctor. Outside, Rory sees a tank beginning to crack, unaware of a Silence sneaking up on him.
"And of course one goes after Rory," Martha muttered as they all tensed.
"Just his luck," Donna said softly as they all stared at the screen uneasily.
In the chamber, The Doctor asks how many Silences they have trapped but Kovarian reveals the Silence have never been trapped, rather they've been waiting for The Doctor. Rory then enters the chamber, saying the Silence have escaped before slamming the door shut. In the Pyramid, the soldiers are trying to fight off the Silence, shooting at them only for the Silence to use electricity on them.
"Of course it was a trap. Why is it always a bloody trap?" Donna groaned.
"Because it's Kovarian. She's not gonna stop until she feels she's stopped The Doctor," Jane said grimly.
"Setting a trap within a trap also seems to be her go to move," Jack noted.
Rory locks the door, taking a position with the other soldiers. He tells Amy they have them outnumbered when Kovarian gleefully notes they're all wearing eye drives based on hers. The Doctor suspiciously asks what she means when the technician cries out in pain, her eye drive surging with electricity. Amy moves to help her as a soldier has the same thing happen to him. By the time Amy reaches the technician, she's dead. Kovarian smirks.
"What the bloody Hell?!" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers looked at the screen in shock.
"Kovarian hijacked the eye drives," Martha realized in horror.
"She has them surrounded and it now picking them off one by one without lifting a finger. Say what you will, she's brilliant," Jack said grimly.
"Let's sound a little less impressed," Donna snapped as they watched the screen uneasily.
Outside, the soldiers are fighting off the Silence when their eye drives begin to shock them. In the chamber, The Doctor's eye drive begins to shock him and he orders everyone to remove the eye drives. Amy removes his before getting shocked by her own. As River removes Amy's, Kovarian gleefully says the effects will vary either death or deliberating agony. "But they will take you all, one by one." Kovarian's eye drive then begins to shock her, to her disbelief. She begs them to get it off her but they ignore her, The Doctor trying to convince River they can stop this.
"Well isn't that poetic justice," Donna said with vindictive pleasure.
"Being fried by the very thing she's using to go after The Doctor and the others. Somewhere out there, someone is laughing at this," Jack said darkly.
"As they say, you reap what you saw," Martha shrugged.
Mickey mere watched, eager to see Kovarian get what she deserved as Wilf averted his gaze. He had no love for Kovarian; it just wasn't in Wilf to rejoice at someone's death.
Amy tells The Doctor they've been working on something but The Doctor doesn't want to hear it. Amy snaps they're doing this for him. "And people are dying for me! I won't thank you for that Amelia Pond!" The Doctor snaps back.
"So this is how The Doctor survives. They found a way," Wilf said hopefully.
"Not exactly," Jane said evasively but didn't elaborate.
"Really sick of these vague answers," Martha grumbled and Jane smiled slightly.
"It'll make sense in a few minutes," Jane assured her.
As Kovarian is shocked, River and Amy plead for The Doctor to let them show him. Reluctantly, The Doctor nods. Amy asks Rory how long they have and he says a couple minutes before there is a bang on the door. River says they need to go the top of the pyramid before leading The Doctor towards there. Rory offers to buy them time and Amy tells him to take his eye drive off. But Rory says he can't or he'll forget what's coming. Amy argues it could activate at any second but Rory informs her it's already activated. Amy sees his hands trembling but Rory argues he's no use if he can't remember.
"Blimey Rory," Mickey muttered as they all stared at the screen, torn between shock and being impressed.
"Part of me is impressed. But the doctor in me wants to scold Rory for risking his health that way," Martha muttered.
"If they can manage to put time back the way it was, it won't matter," Jack pointed out. "Nothing in this reality will have even happened."
"Very big if Jack. And I for one don't want to bet Rory's health on that," Donna snapped.
Rory holds his wrist steady and tells Amy to go. Amy thanks him before beginning to head out. She turns back to him for a moment before seeming to walk out of the room. Rory stares ahead at the door before the lock breaks. The doors swing open as Rory cries out in pain, falling to his knees as the Silence begin to enter the room. "Rory Williams, the man who dies and dies again," one of them says as they approach Rory, beginning to channel electricity. "Die one last time. And know she will never come back for you."
"Run Rory," Donna pleaded under her breath as they all watched the screen fearfully.
Amy then reenters the room, firing a rifle at the Silence. They go down and Amy moves to Rory, helping him up and removing the eye drive.
"Oh thank God," Donna said as they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"It seems even with her memories scrambled; Amy isn't willing to leave Rory behind," Jack noted.
"Even with everything going on, Amy's core self remained intact. And Amy Pond would kill for those she loves," Jane pointed out.
"As would we all," Wilf noted softly.
They begin to head out when Kovarian weakly pleads for Amy's help, having managed to shake the eye drive off slightly.
"Oi! You have a lot of bloody nerve," Donna sneered as the past viewers looked at the screen in a mix of disbelief and anger.
"After everything you did to Amy, you have the audacity to ask her for help?" Mickey asked in disbelief.
"She can't honestly expect Amy to help her," Martha said shocked.
"People like Kovarian think they can coerce or manipulate anyone. It's honestly not surprising that Kovarian thinks Amy can be manipulated by the likes of her," Jack noted.
Jane was silent. She knew what Amy was about to do and, while Kovarian had it coming, it would not be easy for any of them to see.
Amy turns and heads over to Kovarian. "You took my baby from me. And hurt her. And now she's all grown up and she's fine, but I'll never see my baby again," Amy says coldly. Kovarian says she'll still save her, because The Doctor would and Amy would never do anything to disappoint him. Rory says they have to go as Amy agrees that The Doctor is precious to her. "But do you know what else he is, Madame Kovarian?" She leans down in front of Kovarian. "Not here." Amy then places the eye drive back over Kovarian's eye. "River Song didn't get it all from you, sweetie." Amy then grabs Rory by the arm and walks out before Kovarian's eye drive shocks her and Kovarian wails in agony.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered in disbelief.
He was not the only one stunned. Donna and Martha were also shocked by this, and conflicted. Martha had taken an oath to do no harm as a doctor, but as a mother, the thought of someone taking Matthew the way Kovarian had taken Melody filled her with a murderous rage. Donna, likewise, was imagining a scenario where Will had been taken and what she would do to the people who took her son. The images were not pleasant.
Jack stared silently, understanding Amy's rage and why she did it. He simply hadn't expected Amy to actually do it.
Wilf on the other hand averted his gaze. He understood Amy's actions all too well, but that didn't mean he approved.
"You guys need a moment?" Jane asked softly as the recording paused.
"No. No, I think we're good," Jack said as he glanced around at the others, seeing them all nod, although they were definitely shaken by this development.
Jane eyed them, not sure she believed him. But, regardless, the TARDIS resumed the recording.
Amy tells Rory they should get a drink and get married, both of which Rory agrees to.
Some light smiles flashed across the room but no one said a word. While it would have been humorous a minute ago, in light of what they had just seen, it was hard to find any humor in it.
As the Silence continue killing the soldiers, River leads The Doctor up to the top of the pyramids. The Doctor looks around, calling it a Timey-Wimey distress beacon, asking who built it. River points out she's a child of the TARDIS and understands the physics. The Doctor is annoyed that all she has is a distress beacon. River explains that outside this bubble over time, the universe is still turning and she's sent a message everywhere, past, present, future, and otherwise. "'The Doctor is dying. Please, please, help'," River says.
"That's her big solution? A distress call?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"I believe I got it," Wilf mused, remembering the broadcast interrupting the news he had been watching.
"So did we," Martha noted, she and Mickey exchanging a glance, remembering Martha's phone call with her mother being interrupted by said message.
Jack was silent, remembering being off Earth when it happened. But he had heard it loud and clear, the frequencies of the planet he had been on had buzzed with the message. Before Jack could even begin to figure out where it was coming from, it had stopped.
The Doctor scoffs, saying that would mean nothing to anyone and calling it stupid. The Doctor angrily says she's embarrassing them both.
"Oi Spaceman! I'm not exactly happy with River myself, but no need to be cruel," Donna snapped.
"Hard to blame him right now, considering what River's done," Jack noted although he didn't necessarily disagree with Donna.
Amy and Rory then run onto the roof, Amy telling River they have minutes. River explains the reports of sunspots and solar flares are actually about The Doctor. "The sky if full of a million, million voices saying 'Yes, of course. We'll help'," River says and The Doctor moves to speak but is cut off. "You've touched so many lives, saved so many people. Did you think when your time came; you'd really have to do more than just ask? You've decided that the universe is better off without you, but the universe doesn't agree." The Doctor insists no one can help him, arguing that time is disintegrating. They argue, The Doctor saying he has to die. River tells him to shut up, saying she can't let him die without knowing he's loved, by no one more than her. The Doctor argues that they are ground zero of an explosion that will consume reality. Billions upon billions will suffer and die." I'll suffer if I have to kill you," River says tearfully. "More than every living thing in the universe?" The Doctor demands. "Yes," River says with a face full of despair.
"Blimey River," Mickey said in exasperation.
"This is either the most romantic thing I've ever seen, or the most selfish," Martha noted.
"I'd say it's a bit of both," Jane noted. "River wants to show Dad how much she and the entire universe love him, but she's willing to see the universe die to do it."
"As much as I want to save The Doctor, one life cannot stand in the way of millions," Jack said although he looked physically pained.
"She knows that, this was a lesson for her in a lot of ways. River was still at the beginning of her time here," Jane explained.
"Time travel, it's all so very complicated," Wilf mused.
The Doctor grumbles, telling Amy and Rory he hopes they're proud of their daughter before turning away. Rory is confused and Amy explains who River is. Rory seems to accept it easily.
"Rory seems to just be going with the flow by now," Donna said, slightly amused.
"Well, considering he was working for Amy here, this probably isn't news to him," Martha noted and Donna nodded.
The Doctor tells Amy to uncuff him and she does. The Doctor then asks for a cloth about a foot long before merely undoing his bowtie. He instructs River to take one end and wrap it around her hand before holding it out to him. Confused, River does so as The Doctor says they'll have to do this quickly. The Doctor tells Rory to say 'I consent and gladly give'. Confused, Rory do so and The Doctor tells Amy to do so as well, as she's the mother of the bride.
"Wait, so this is…" Jack trailed as the realization hit them.
"A Time Lord Marriage Ceremony, yes," Jane said with a slight smile.
"Looks like we're about to witness history," Wilf noted as they watched the screen in fascination.
Amy does and The Doctor tells River he'll whisper something in her ear and she needs to remember it and tell no one. River nods and The Doctor does so. River has a look of surprise as The Doctor claims he told her his name. "Now, there you go, River Song, Melody Pond. You're the woman who married me."
"Oi! That was it?!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"There's a longer version, but they were short on time," Jane said with a slight smile.
There were of course other reasons her father had taken the short route, but why spoil the surprise?
"Now, wife, I have a request. This world is dying and it's my fault. And I can't bear it another day," The Doctor says. The Doctor pleads for River's help, saying there isn't another way. River sadly says he may kiss the bride and The Doctor promises to make it a good one. "You better," River says before they kiss. The two glow as time begins moving again. As they kiss, the events of River shooting The Doctor and Amy running to his side followed by Rory giving him a Viking like sendoff are shown. "And you are forgiven. Always and completely forgiven," The Doctor's voice says. Time then returns to normal, London returning to what it once was. "Tick tock goes the clock. He gave all he could give her. Tick tock goes the clock, now prison waits for River," the dolls are heard singing.
"No," Donna breathed as the past viewers all stared at the screen in horror.
"Remember, he survived," Jane reminded them.
"How though?" Mickey wondered.
"Just keep watching, it's explained in a minute," Jane said with a smile.
In her and Rory's backyard, Amy is seen sitting at a table at night when there is a flash. Amy says she got a bottle because she heard there was a freak meteor shower. River thanks her as she begins pouring a glass. Amy asks where they are and River explains she just came from the Byzantium. River sits down, noting Amy didn't have a clue who she was before asking where Amy is. They take a drink as Amy says The Doctor is dead. River asks how Amy is and Amy asks how she thinks. River says she won't know unless she tells her. Amy notes she killed Madame Kovarian. River points out it happened in an aborted timeline but Amy argues she can remember it, so it happened.
"So Kovarian is alive. Brilliant," Donna said sarcastically.
Not for long, Jack thought darkly, already tossing around ideas for what he would do to her upon his return to his own time.
"Dealing with the things we've done and learning to live with ourselves is the hardest thing in this world," Jack said softly, once more thinking of Steven.
Amy wonders what that makes her, wistfully wishing she could talk to The Doctor but knowing she can't. River asks if it would make a difference but Amy notes it doesn't matter because he's dead. River tells Amy that The Doctor isn't dead. Amy thinks she's talking about meeting the younger versions of him she meets. River acknowledges that but reveals that's not she means. Amy is confused as River says she's going to tell her something she probably shouldn't: The Doctor's last secret. She asks if Amy want to know what The Doctor whispered in her ear. Amy thinks it was his name but River reminds Amy of rule one before saying she lies as well. "Spoilers. Pretending I don't know you're my mother, pretending I didn't recognize a space suit in Florida," River lists. Amy asks what The Doctor whispered in River's ear. "Oh, that man," River says and Amy smiles. "He's always one step ahead of everyone. Always a plan."
"So he did have a plan," Wilf said in relief.
"He always does. He just had to put on the performance of a lifetime," Jane said with a slight smile.
"Well he certainly convinced us," Martha noted.
"How did you do it Doctor?" Jack wondered as they began watching with renewed interest.
Amy asks what The Doctor told River and River smiles. Rory arrives home when he hears Amy's shout. He sees Amy and River joyously hugging before walking out into the back. Amy hugs him before sharing the news. Stunned, Rory asks if River is sure and River confirms it, as she's The Doctor's wife. Amy's excitement fades as she realizes she's now The Doctor's mother in law. River tells Rory to get Amy another drink and he agrees, heading back into the house as River raises her glass.
"Poor Amy," Mickey said as they all shared a laugh at Amy's expense.
"To be fair, if I found out I was The Doctor's mother in law, I'd probably react the same way," Martha shrugged.
In the Seventh Transept, a monk carries Dorium's box as Dorium demands to know who's carrying him. The monk places the box back it its place before opening it. The monk begins to walk away. "Is it you? It is, isn't it? It is you! I can sense it!" Dorium says excitedly. Dorium wonders how he could have escaped.
"That's what we're wondering," Martha said as they all watched intently, hoping they would finally have their answer.
The scene flashes back to The Doctor's last meeting with Captain Carter. The Doctor heads out the door before poking his head back inside, having an idea. The scene then flashes back to what The Doctor whispered in River's ear. "Look into my eye," he says. River does so and is stunned to see a miniaturized Doctor smiling at her, putting on his Stetson and hushing her.
"The Tesselecta. Of course!" Jack exclaimed as they all realized the truth.
"He ejected the moment he was hit and, as far as the world knows, The Doctor is dead," Martha brilliant.
"The Silence think they've won and won't be coming after him or the people close to him anymore. It's brilliant," Donna said with a laugh, realizing The Doctor's plan.
"But to let Amy and Rory think he's dead," Wilf muttered.
"Come on Wilf, do you honestly think Dad didn't know River would tell them?" Wilf pointed out and Wilf paused.
"No, he knows River better than that," Wilf acknowledged with a smile.
In the Seventh Transept, The Doctor drops his cloak, explaining to Dorium he had used the Tesselecta. "A Doctor in a Doctor's suit. Time said I had to be on that beach, so I dressed for the occasion. Barely got singed in that boat," The Doctor explains. Dorium asks if The Doctor is going to let them think he's dead and The Doctor says he has to, as he's gotten too big and noisy, so he needs to let them forgot him. "It's time to step back into the shadows."
"So no one else comes after him like the Silence. So none of his Companions pay the price for being associated with him again," Jack noted.
"So no one he loves is hurt by his enemies again. He'll do what he did at first, help out from the shadows but he'll try to be more subtle this time, so the legend of The Doctor who travels through time won't soar to the heights it once did," Jane explained.
"A secret Doctor. That is so him," Martha said with a smile.
"And Dr. Song? Imprisoned all her days?" Dorium asks. "Her days, yes. Her night, well, that's between her and me, eh?" The Doctor says.
"Did not need to know that," Donna said as everyone but Jack grimaced.
"I don't know, I'm fairly interested to know what those nights entail," Jack said with an intrigued look.
"You would be," Martha sighed at his antics.
Dorium chuckles, noting The Doctor has so many secrets and promises to help him keep them. The Doctor dryly notes Dorium isn't going anywhere. Dorium calls The Doctor a fool, as Trenzalor and the question is still waiting for him. The Doctor wishes Dorium goodbye before beginning to head out. The Doctor walks out as Dorium shouts at him about the question, which The Doctor has been running from all his life. "Doctor who?" Dorium asks. The Doctor pauses in front of the TARDIS, looking back as Dorium repeats the question. The Doctor smiles before the screen goes black.
"So the question the Silence are so worried about…is The Doctor's name?" Martha said in disbelief.
"Let me guess, part of that prophecy you keep talking about?" Donna said dryly as she looked at Jane, who nodded.
"Yeah. And I'll tell you about it once we finish all these. But, for now, let's take a break for lunch," Jane said as she got to her feet.
And that's the end of that one. I know this episode gets some flak, but I love it. It's so jam packed with information and character moments that you honestly need to watch it twice to really appreciate and understand it. It perfectly ended the plot of the last two seasons and could have easily ended the show there.
1: This is probably going to be an unpopular take, but I'm gonna say it anyway. River is my favorite Doctor Who character following Eleven and Jack. But, with that said, this was not her best moment. Her being willing to let the universe burn to save The Doctor is framed as this grand romantic gesture, and in some ways it is. But it's also one of the most selfish acts I have seen committed in fiction. I did not want The Doctor to die, but allowing the universe to be destroyed was certainly not the answers. It's almost as bad as Rose being willing to destroy the entire multiverse just to get back to Ten. It's only slightly better here because instead of being over the moon about this like he was with Rose, The Doctor is allowed to remain in character and criticize River for her selfishness.