TW: Thank you.
Gallifrey 22:3: Thank you.
Ya boi: Someone complained about copyright to the admins so I took it down.
The recording opens as someone types at a typewriter. "New York, the city of a million stories. Half of them are true, the other half just haven't happened yet," a man's voice says. The scene then changes to New York at night. "Statues, the man said," the voices says as statues are seen outside a building. "Living statues that moved in the dark."
"Weeping Angels," Martha realized in horror.
"Bloody brilliant. I think I'd prefer Daleks," Donna grumbled.
"Either way, looks like The Doctor is about to have his hands full," Jack said, uneasy as he glanced at Jane, remembering her words about this recording.
Jane felt Jack's gaze but remained silent. It would be no use to tell them, so she just let them watch.
It's pouring ran as people walk in the streets and a statue is seen staring at a building across the street. Inside, a man offers a younger man, who he calls Mr. Garner, money if he'll take the case. The man says Garner doesn't believe him but Garner says he'll believe anything the man wants as long as he's paid. The man though, is fixated on the man believing whether statues can move. Garner is silent before the man says statues can't move. "When you're looking," the man said as he peeks out the window at a statue outside.
"Definitely Weeping Angels then," Mickey muttered.
"What is this man paying Garner for?" Wilf wondered.
"It obviously has something to do with the Weeping Angels, but I'm not sure why he would be interested in them," Martha mused.
"Why do these kinds of people do anything? Money," Jane explained.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised," Jack said dryly, having encountered many men like this. "He does seem the type."
Garner wishes the man, Mr. Grayle, goodnight before taking his payment and walking out of the room. Garner puts on a hat and walks out of the builder. Grayle watches from the window as Garner passes the statues. Grayle closes the curtain briefly before opening it again, startled to see one of the statues is now missing.
Martha grimaced, remembering her own experiences with the Weeping Angels. She still sometimes had nightmares about them.
The typewriter is seen again as Garner narrates, explaining Grayle had given him an address to an apartment block, which was where the statues went. "I asked him why he didn't look himself. He didn't answer," Garner narrates as he gets out of a cab and walks over to an apartment building. "Grayle was the scariest guy I knew. If something scared him, I kind of wanted to shake its hand."
"You say that until you meet the Angels," Donna muttered.
"At least Grayle is smart enough to be afraid. Which should be a warning sign for Garner to run as far in the opposite direction as possible," Jack noted.
"You know better than anyone that common sense tends to go out the window when money is involved," Jane pointed out and Jack nodded after a moment, conceding her point.
As Garner nears the building, he sees people staring out their windows. Garner walks up some steps, passing a Weeping Angel covering its face. The door opens and he enters, not seeing the Angel has uncovered its face.
No one said a word, but they all watched the screen uneasily, feeling the tension in the room wising. Something was about to happen.
Garner walks inside, looking around but not seeing anyone there. The lift comes down and opens, empty. Garner walks into the lift and turns around. The door closes and Garner is stunned to see a Weeping Angel now inside.
"Bloody Hell!" Mickey exclaimed as the past viewers started, not expecting that.
"Not looking forward to this again," Donna grumbled.
The lift takes Garner up 7 floors before the doors open. Garner wearily walks down the corridor, pausing when he sees a room owned by 'S. Garner'. Garner enters the room and finds a Private Investigator license that is a match for his. Hearing a man's grunt, Garner follows the sounds to an old man in the room. Garner demands to know who the man is. "They're coming for you. They're going to send you back." Garner is confused as the man reveals he's going to be sent back in time, as the man is Garner and has already lived through this.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"You mean that's…" Donna trailed off.
"Garner's future self," Martha muttered.
"But why is he there? Why stay at that building for all these years?" Wilf wondered and Jane grimaced.
"Spoilers," she said simply.
Jack was silent, remembering a story he had heard while on a mission in America. But he would wait to see if it was actually true or not.
Garner, alarmed, rushes out of the room but sees a Weeping Angel at the end of the corridor. He turns around as the lift opens and another one is there. Garner turns around and jumps back, seeing the other Angel right next to him. Seeing he's surrounded, Garner opens a door and runs down a stairwell only to find his path blocked by two more Angels. Garner then runs up the stairwell. Garner makes it the top, walking out onto the roof. Behind him is a large ranged mouth. Garner turns around to see the Statue of Liberty with a fanged mouth lunging for him.
"What. The. Bloody. Hell?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in utter disbelief.
"The Statue of Liberty…is an Angel?" Martha asked in disbelief.
"How…what?" Donna asked in utter bewilderment.
"How can the Statue be an Angel if it's made of copper?" Jack asked, struggling to wrap his head around it.1
"The Angels created enough time energy to convert it into one. It's ridiculous, but what you gonna do?" Jane shrugged. "The universe is full of things that don't make any logical sense."
"You're telling me," Donna grumbled.
The scene then changes to present day New York. In Central Park, The Doctor is reading a book out loud as Amy reads a newspaper, wearing reading glasses while Rory lays down a few feet away. Amy complains about The Doctor's reading and The Doctor turns towards her, saying there's something different about her.
"Might be the glasses Doctor," Martha said dryly as Donna looked at the screen oddly.
"Jane, aren't those the glasses that you were wearing a few days ago?" Donna asked and Jane smiled tightly.
"The very same," Jane said, reaching inside her jacket pocket and pulling out the glasses.
While the others were surprised by this, Donna remembered Jane's reaction when she had asked about the glasses. A pit of dread formed n Donna's stomach as she looked at the screen fearfully.
Rory asks about the book and The Doctor explains it's a Melody Malone book, Amy adding some details. The Doctor is surprised she's read it but she says he did, out loud. Rory accuses The Doctor of fancying Melody. The Doctor protests but refuses to let Amy see the cover.
"Should River be jealous Doctor?" Jack asked with an amused smirk.
Jane disguised her laugh as a laugh before putting the glasses away. Oh Jack had no idea.
Seeing The Doctor trying to figure out what's different about her, Amy points to her glasses. The Doctor says they make her eyes look 'liney' before taking them off and puts back on, realizing those are wrinkles. Rory quickly says he's going to get coffee.
"Spaceman, you dumbo. Never tell a woman she has wrinkles around her eyes," Donna almost slapped her face in exasperation.
"What did I ever see in him?" Martha wondered.
"He's attractive and can show you all of time and space," Jack pointed out and Martha paused.
"Yeah, that about did it," Martha admitted embarrassed.
Amy stops him, asking if she has wrinkles on her eyes. Rory stammers that he hasn't noticed them unconvincingly and they flirt before Rory kisses her. The Doctor complains before Rory leaves to go get coffee.
"This seems less like a trip with The Doctor and more of a family vacation," Martha mentioned.
"With Boss as Amy and Rory's kid," Mickey said with a grin.
"In many ways, Amy, Rory and River were the closest thing Dad had to a family after the Time War. It's why they were so special to him," Jane said as a sad smile flashed across her face.
And why losing them had broken him so much.
The Doctor borrows Amy's glasses before ripping out the last page of the book. Amy asks why he did that and The Doctor explains that he always rips about the last page so a book doesn't have to end, declaring he hates endings. As The Doctor reads aloud from the book, Rory is making his way back towards the park with two cups of coffee. Rory hears a giggle and looks back, seeing a statue of 'Angels on the water' has opened its mouth. Rory turns back and keep walking, not noticing the statue has now disappeared.
"And now Angels on the Water is an Angel?" Jack asked in disbelief as the past viewers all watched wearily.
"A baby Angel anyway," Jane shrugged sheepishly.
"Angels have babies?" Martha asked looking ill at the thought.
"How do they think they're still around?" Jane asked although she didn't look much better.
"I try not to think about them at all," Martha said with a shudder.
"Well this is just disturbing," Donna said looking like she was going to be sick.
Rory hears the giggle again and turns back, looking around. "I followed the skinny guy for two more blocks before he turned and I could ask exactly what he was doing here," The Doctor reads as Amy looks out over the bridge. "He looked a little scared, so I gave him my best smile and my bluest eyes." Amy warns him not to say Yowzah as The Doctor stares at the book in shock. Alarmed, Amy asks what the skinny guy said. "I just went to get coffee for The Doctor and Amy. Hello River."
"Oi! What?!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers looked at the screen startled.
"The Angels sent Rory back in time," Martha realized in horror.
"And to River apparently," Jack noted.
"Is this book a diary then?" Wilf noted.
"Not exactly," Jane said vaguely. "It's explained later on."
River looks up, greeting Rory. Rory wonders how he got here but River doesn't know, but warns him to put his hands up. Rory turns around to see a man holding a gun at him and drops the coffee, putting his hands up. Another man walks up behind River, asking if she's Melody Malone.
"And River is Melody. Why am I not surprised?" Martha asked dryly.
"So this book was written by River then. But how did The Doctor get it?" Wilf wondered.
"Again, don't know," Jane shrugged.
"But you have to have a theory at least," Donna said knowingly.
"Maybe," Jane acknowledged but didn't elaborate.
"So it's gonna be like that, huh?" Mickey muttered and Jane smiled tightly.
Rory is shocked by this as a car drives up and one of the men tells them to get in. In 2012, The Doctor and Amy are running across the street, Amy wondering how Rory and River got in the book. The Doctor gives a sarcastic response and Amy snaps at him. The Doctor says he doesn't know as they reach the TARDIS. As Rory and River get in the car, The Doctor and Amy enter the TARDIS, Amy demanding to know where The Doctor got this book.
"A very good question," Jack muttered, not able to figure it out.
Jane was silent as she continued watch the screen. Donna was right, she did have a theory. But it wouldn't make sense until they finished the rest of this set.
The Doctor says it was in his jacket and he's given up asking how things get there. Amy looks through the book and tells him that Rory and River are in April 3rd, 1938. In the car, River tells Rory he couldn't have come in the TARDIS. In the TARDIS, The Doctor is alarmed as Amy reads this. River explains New York is surrounded is surrounded by time distortions, making it impossible for the TARDIS to land here.
"Those can stop the TARDIS?" Mickey asked in shock and Jane, Jack and Donna all nodded.
"Enough Time Energy can cause the TARDIS to rebound off a certain time and place like a bullet on a shield," Jack explained.
"Even the TARDIS has its limit. Sorry old girl," Donna apologized as she looked around the room sheepishly.
"Then how did River get there?" Martha wondered.
"She explains in a minute," Jane promised.
River says even she couldn't land the TARDIS, infuriating The Doctor. Amy scolds him as The Doctor says that getting to 1938 should be easy. He pulls down the lever and the TARDIS rocks, sending The Doctor and Amy back as the console sparks. The TARDIS briefly appears in the sky before vanishing. Amy asks what just happened and The Doctor explains they bounced off 1938.
"You sure about that Doctor?" Martha asked dryly as Donna rolled her eyes.
"Oi! This is not the time to be competing with River Spaceman!" Donna said annoyed.
Amy goes back to reading as River explains she got here through a vortex manipulator. Rory admits he's not sure how he got here as the car passes a building with an Angel looking down at them.
No one said a word as they all tensed, sure that the Angels would be making another appearance. Jack remembered Jane's hatred of the Angels and, seeing her hate filled look as she glared at the screen, a hollow feeling filled Jack as he realized he was about to find out why Jane hated the Angels so much.
In 2012, the TARDIS has landed in a graveyard, The Doctor explaining to Amy that the Weeping Angels sent Rory back while he tries to put out the fires in the TARDIS. Amy says they need to go get Rory and The Doctor points out that didn't work last time. Amy wonders why they're in a graveyard and The Doctor says it doesn't matter.
Jane barely repressed the flitch that threatened to cross her face. It mattered more than her father had realized and by the time he had, it was too late. He had already lost everything.
Amy says they'll get there somehow, as they're in the rest of the book. The Doctor is confused as Amy says on page 43, The Doctor will break something. The Doctor is confused as Amy reads from the book a conversation between The Doctor and River before The Doctor snatches the book from her, telling her not to read ahead. Amy argues it could help find Rory but The Doctor says once they know what's coming, it's fixed and he has to break something now because Amy told him he's going to. Amy argues time can be rewritten but The Doctor says not once it's been read.
"Really?" Mickey asked in surprised.
"Why do you think I didn't bring him here instead of the lot of you? If it was that easy, I would have gone to him, shown him what he needs to see, explained about the Space Siren and been done with it," Jane explained. "But if I did that, then it would all be pointless."
"Because you would be creating fixed time and so it would have to happen," Martha realized and Jane nodded.
"Time travel, its tricky business," Jane sighed.
The Doctor leads Amy over to the TARDIS, explaining once they know what's coming its written in stone. In the distance, a grave with Rory's name is seen.
"You guys saw that right?" Mickey asked as the past viewers all tensed.
"If you mean a grave with Rory's name…" Jack trailed off.
"Williams isn't exactly an uncommon surname. It doesn't mean anything," Martha said although she wasn't sure if she was trying to convince them or herself.
Jane remained silent, allowing them to remain blissful in their denial. It would just be cruel to tell them now.
In 1938, Rory and River are led into a building. River makes a comment about a vase, recognizing where it's from when Grayle appears at the top of a stairwell, inquiring whether she's an archeologist. On the TARDIS, The Doctor is making some adjustments, saying he can get them to 1938 but if he's off by a nanosecond he'll destroy the planet.
"Oi! Hell of a risk Spaceman!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers looked at the screen horrified.
"I've heard of calculated risk but this is ridiculous," Jack muttered.
"Doctor, be careful," Martha pleaded as they all watched uneasily.
The Doctor says he needs something to lock onto, asking Amy what dynasty the décor was from. In 1938, Grayle says it's Early Chin as he reaches River, noting she's well informed. River accuses him of being afraid, pointing to all the locks on the door. Rory is surprised when he can understand some of the words written on the vase and River explains it's a gift from the TARDIS.
"TARDIS translation Matrix," Jane shrugged.
"Well that actually explains a lot," Martha muttered as the past viewers looked reflective.
Grayle orders Rory to be put 'somewhere uncomfortable' and one of his men suggests with the babies. Rory is alarmed as Grayle agrees before Rory is dragged off. Rory is led down into the basement and the man shoves him down the stairs. The man tosses Rory some matches, saying he'll last longer with them as the lights are out. Rory asks what he cares and the man says its funnier before walking up the stairs. The man closes the door and Rory hears a giggle.
"Bloody bastard," Mickey snarled as the past viewers looked simultaneously enraged and worried for Rory.
"The babies," Donna said uneasily.
"And I think we can all guess what babies he meant," Jack said grimly.
In China, 221 BC, The Doctor and Amy enter a building where vases are being made and The Doctor Uses his psychic paper to pass them off as agents of the emperor. In 1938, River sees one of Grayle's vases has Yowzah written on it. "Hello Sweetie."
"That is brilliant," Jack said with a laugh as he figured out The Doctor's plan.
"I don't understand. What did he do?" Wilf asked as the other past viewers looked at the screen in bewilderment.
"If River can figure out his plan, then he's just created a doorway for the TARDIS," Jack said, hoping River would figure it out.
River walks over to the windows, noting whatever Grayle doesn't want anyone else to see has to be his favorite. She opens the curtain to reveal a Weeping Angel in chains.
"Blimey," Mickey muttered as the past viewers looked at the screen startled.
"It's injured," Jack noticed.
"So he kept it prisoner and is torturing it?" Donna said horrified, a sentiment that was shared by the others.
"I hate the Weeping Angels, but this is too far even for me," Jane said with a grimace.
"Yet unsurprising for a man like Grayle," Jack said grimly.
River then accesses her vortex manipulator, telling Grayle she's texting a boy. On the TARDIS, 'Yowzah' appears on the scanner and The Doctor says they have a signal before flipping a switch and the TARDIS rocks as it starts to take off.
"Now I understand," Donna said as The Doctor's plan clicked.
"A word spread across time through a vase. It should allow the TARDIS to land in 1938," Jack said with a smirk. "Brilliant old friend."
In 1938, Grayle tells River the Angels are all over but no one notices. He calls her the detective that investigates Angels as River notices the Angel is wounded. Grayle says he wanted to know if it could feel pain.
"Of course you would," Donna sneered. "Only a coward like you would do this."
"If there's any justice, that Angel will get him at some point," Mickey said darkly, not knowing how close to the truth he was as Jane smiled tightly.
River says the Angel is screaming and the others can hear it, realizing that's why he needs all the locks. Grayle turns off the light briefly and when he turns it back on, the Angel has grabbed River's wrist. Grayle demands she tell him all about the Angels before turning out the lights again.
"You bastard," Martha snarled as they all glared at the screen angrily.
"He feels like the walls are caving in and he's desperate. A desperate coward is always a dangerous thing," Jack said uneasily.
"Hurry Doctor," Wilf pleaded softly.
In the basement, Rory has lit a match and hears the giggles again. He calls out to whoever is there before seeing three statues of babies on the floor. The light goes out and Rory frantically tries to light another one. When he does, he's startled to see the statues have moved towards him.
"Run Rory," Mickey urged.
"There's nowhere to run to, he's locked in the basement," Jack said grimly as they all watched nervously.
Rory drops the match and when he picks it up, sees the statues have moved closer to him. Rory steps back, looking around wildly as he hears the giggles again. The match goes out and Rory frantically tries to light another one. Rory does only to see a statue is right next to him. It blows and the match goes out.
"Rory," Donna whispered nervously as they all watched uneasily, worry and fear for Rory filling the room.
River explains to Grayle about the Angels, asking what he wants with them. Grayle says he wants to collect them, as he's only human. "That's exactly what they're thinking," River says.
"You stupid idiot. You can't collect or control something like the Weeping Angels," Jack snarled. "You're going to get yourself and those around you killed. It's what always happens when men like you play with things you don't understand."
"Men with egos like him think they can control everything. And like you said Jack, people get killed because of it," Jane said grimly.
"If we're lucky, he's the only one the Angels kill," Martha said darkly although she honestly doubted it.
The room begins to shake as the sound of the TARDIS is heard. Grayle begins panicking, wondering what it is as the TARDIS begins materializing. River notes he could burn New York and Grayle demands to know what that means. "It means Mr. Grayle, just wait 'til my husband gets home," River says smugly.
"You're in for it now," Mickey said gleefully as the past viewers began to smile.
The TARDIS materializes outside the office with an energy wave that sends Grayle flying and makes the vase fall, shattering it. Amy urges The Doctor on but he tells her he needs to do final checks. "Since when?" Amy asks and The Doctor fixes his hair.
"Not the time to try and impress River Spaceman," Donna said with a laugh.
"Well, I guess that's how we know its love. Don't think The Doctor cared about making himself look good to impress Rose," Jack mused, the only one who had spent an extended period of time with both The Doctor and Rose.
They exit the TARDIS and Amy runs up the stairs, calling out for Rory. The Doctor sees Grayle on the floor before spotting River. "Sorry I'm late Honey. Traffic was Hell," he quips and she laughs. The Doctor determines Grayle is merely in shock and will be fine. "Not if I get loose," River says.
"Which would be no less than he deserves," Martha said darkly and no one could really disagree.
The Doctor walks over to River, asking where they are and how prison is. But River informs him she was pardoned ages ago and is now a Professor. The Doctor is surprised as River explains the person she killed has no record. "It's almost as though someone's gone around deleting himself from every database in the universe," River notes.
"Freeing River from prison while also making sure nothing like The Silence ever happens again," Martha realized.
"Operating in the shadows, just like in the beginning," Jane noted with a slight smile.
"He got the idea from Oswin, didn't he?" Donna asked and Jane shrugged.
"Can't say for certain, but I imagine Dad would have done this with or without Oswin. But I'm pretty sure the Dalek Asylum made him more determined to erase all evidence of his existence," Jane said with a sigh.
The Doctor points out he was getting too big as they playfully bicker. The Doctor scans the Angel and notes it's holding River tightly. River says she wants her hand back, asking if he's going to break her wrists or the Angels. The conversation Amy read earlier happens as The Doctor explains Amy read in a book that he has to break her wrist. Amy walks in and River asks what book. The Doctor pulls out his copy of Melody Malone and says they can't read it because she hasn't written it yet.
"Always a bloody catch, isn't there?" Donna grumbled.
"But if River did write the book, she would have made sure they could use something in it, right?" Martha wounded.
"Yeah, but what?" Jack asked but no one had an answer.
Amy realizes River would have made the book useful and River agrees but says they can't read ahead. Amy says there has to be something they can use and The Doctor asks what. Amy suggests they look at the chapter titles.
"That is brilliant!" Mickey said with a laugh.
"Finally, some good luck," Martha sighed, none of the past viewers noticing the grim look that crossed Jane's face.
"Yeah. Good luck," Jane muttered.
The Doctor opens the book to the table of contexts and looks inside, seeing a chapter called 'The Roman in the cellar'. Realizing Rory is in the basement, The Doctor tosses his screwdriver to Amy and she runs off. He then kisses River before moving to follow Amy. However, he freezes and River asks what's wrong. The Doctor stares down at the table of contents, ignoring River. The last chapter title is 'Amelia's last farewell'.
"No," Donna breathed as they stared at the screen in horror.
"That doesn't mean something bad is going to happen. It could just mean that Amy and Rory decide to head home after this," Martha said although her words sounded false even to her own ears.
"You believe that as much as we do," Jack said darkly and Martha didn't deny this.
Jane looked at Martha sadly. In a way, Martha was right; it was a goodbye after deciding not to travel with The Doctor anymore. But it was also a painful separation that had broken her father.
River urges The Doctor to calm down as he tosses the book aside angrily, ordering River to get his wrist out without breaking it before storming out, ordering her to change the future.
"You know it's not that simple Spaceman. Even River can't rewrite what's already written," Donna said with a heavy sigh as they watched the screen uneasily.
Amy runs down into the cellar, using the screwdriver as a light to look for Rory. She sees the statues but The Doctor runs down, telling her the statues are Angels. Seeing the footprints and matches, The Doctor and Amy realize the Angels have taken Rory. The Doctor leads Amy back up the stairs.
"So now he's even further back in time," Mickey said in dismay as he and Donna groaned.
"Brilliant. As if this wasn't difficult enough already," Donna grumbled.
Jack was silent, remembering the beginning with Garner, wondering if the story he had heard was about the Angels and what that meant for Rory. But he would see as the recording continued.
On the streets, Rory looks around before heading into a nearby building, the apartment block Garner had arrived at in the beginning of the recording.
"Well, at the very least we know where he is," Wilf said trying to be optimistic.
"Yeah, in a building surrounded by Angels," Donna grumbled.
"Either way, Rory's still in danger. And it doesn't look like finding him is going to be easy," Jack said darkly.
The Doctor paces back and forth as Amy worries the Angels will keep pulling Rory further back in time. River then walks in, saying Rory hasn't been sent back in time, her vortex manipulator detecting that Rory has been moved in space but not time.
"She got out," Donna said in surprised.
"She changed the future," Martha said with a smile.
"It shouldn't be possible though. Amy read it from the book, it's fixed now," Jack said perplexed. "And after last time, River would know better than to change a fixed point."
"Just waited for it," Jane said with a grimace.
River says Rory isn't far from here as The Doctor is overjoyed that River got out. Amy demands to know where Rory is as Rory is shown entering the apartment building, not noticing the Angel outside it.
"Walking into a lion's den. Or worse," Mickey said grimly as the past viewers all tensed.
The Doctor urges River to hurry and she snaps that it's not easy. The Doctor asks how River got away from the Angel and she gives an evasive answer. The Doctor excitedly says she changed the future. "It's called marriage honey. Now hush. I'm working," River says. The Doctor excitedly says how good River is before River says Rory is a few blocks away. She suggests they steal a car out front and The Doctor grabs her hand, telling her to show him as he pulls her along. River makes a pained cry and The Doctor stops. The Doctor looks down, seeing River's wrist is broken.
"What?" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"She lied," Jack muttered.
"But why? It doesn't make sense," Wilf noted in confusion.
Jane merely shrugged. Even now, River's reasons for deceiving her father in this recording didn't make sense to her, as she knew he'd have figured it out eventually. But she guessed River wasn't exactly at her best in this recording.
At Winter Quay, Rory is inside when the lift comes down. Rory looks at it wearily before getting on. Back at Grayle's, The Doctor hands Amy two devices, explaining that when the numbers on both reach 0 they've have a lock on Rory. The Doctor then sits down next to River, asking why she lied to him. "When one's in love with an ageless god who insists on the face of a 12 year old, one does one's best to hide the damage," River says.
"River, he's not a child and you're not his mother. You're both grownups, act like it," Martha said in exasperation.
"Unfortunately, between Dad's avoiding her out of fear of the pain her death would bring and the nature of their jobs, neither of them ever had the time to sit down and figure out how to work together as husband and wife. Just one of them any tragedies of their marriage," Jane said with a heavy sigh. "They had too little time and too much at the same time."
"They always do," Jack mused.
The Doctor takes River's injured hand, saying it must hurt. She says it does, along with the wrist. The Doctor looks at her before taking her hand, which glows with Regeneration Energy. Ignoring River's protests, The Doctor uses it to heal River's hand and wrist.
"You mean he can do that?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"Only works with someone who has Time Lord DNA, but yeah," Jane shrugged.
"Every time I think I've got Time Lords all figured out, The Doctor does something like this," Jack muttered in disbelief.
The Doctor kisses River's hand but she slaps him, calling it a waste of Regeneration Energy. "Nothing is gained by you being a sentimental idiot!" River snaps as The Doctor looks at her bewildered. River snaps that he embarrasses her before storming out.
"Oi! He didn't deserve that, he was only trying to help!" River snapped angrily as the other past viewers were taken aback by River's bizarre reaction.
"Don't be too hard on her. She was…going through a lot and took it out on Dad without meaning to," Jane said awkwardly, wondering how much she should reveal.
"You want to explain what's going then?" Jack asked and Jane weighed her options before deciding there was no point in keeping them out of the loop.
"She knew what was going to happen in this recording," Jane revealed to their surprise. "Dad came to her at some point after this, before the Siren got to him and told her. She figured it out the moment she saw Dad's reaction to the chapter titles. She didn't mean to take it out on him, but she did."2
The other past viewers exchanged uneasy glances at this, wondering what could be so awful that River would act like this. They all remembered the chapter titles and pits of dread formed in their stomachs as the recording continued.
Amy then hands The Doctor the glasses and scanner, telling him to stick to the science before following her daughter as The Doctor angrily stomps his feet. Finding River outside, Amy asks why she lied. "Never let him see the damage," River said and Amy walks over, placing an around her as River turns to her. "And never, ever let him see you age. He doesn't like endings."
"Oh River," Martha said softly as they stared at the screen sadly. "He doesn't need you to protect him, he's a big boy."
"They're Ponds though. Protecting the people they love kind of comes second nature to them," Jane shrugged. "Not that I disagree."
Inside, the scanner gets a lock on Rory. The Doctor runs out, alerting River and Amy before they get in the car. None of them notice a statue across the street or that the doors have been left open. Inside, Grayle wakes up. As he get sup, he sees an Angel in his office. He turns around only to see another one behind him.
"Well, if that's not poetic justice, I don't know what is," Jack said feeling vindictive.
"Grayle is about to get exactly what he deserves," Mickey said darkly and no one could disagree.
"This is what happens when you play with things you don't understand," Jane said softly.
At Winter Quay, Rory gets off the lift and begins looking around. He pauses as he sees a name on one of the rooms. The door opens and Rory heads inside, not seeing a Weeping Angel at the end of the corridor.
"Fuck," Mickey muttered as they all watched tense.
Outside, the others arrive and Amy quickly gets out. River wonders why Rory was sent here and The Doctor says they'll know that once they know what this place is. The Doctor gets out and he and Amy quickly run towards Winter Quay. They open the door and River joins them, the trio quickly making their way onto the lift. They get off on the same floor and Amy calls out for Rory. She runs down the corridor, stopping as she sees him in the room. They run to each other, happily reuniting.
"Well, at least they finally found each other," Martha said as she, Mickey and Donna breathed a sigh of relief of relief.
"Doesn't it seem a bit easy though? And why was Rory sent here instead of back in time?" Donna wondered, unable to shake the feeling of unease.
"If I'm right, it's because this is exactly where the Angels wanted him," Jack said grimly.
Outside the room, The Doctor and River see the Weeping Angel and are unnerved by the face it's smiling.
"Well isn't that just the most unnerving thing you've ever seen," Mickey muttered as the past viewers watched the screen uneasily.
"Why is it smiling?" Donna asked nervously.
"I really don't want to know, but I think I'm going to find out," Martha muttered.
The Doctor looks towards the room, seeing it belongs to 'R. Williams'. The Doctor heads into the room, telling them not to look at anything as River closes the door. But Amy's attention is drawn to an old man in his room. The old man sits up in bed, calling out to Amy. The Doctor turns away as Amy walks into the room. She takes the man's hand, realizing he's Rory as an old man. Rory stares shocked as Amy says the man is him. Rory turns away as his future self closes his eyes, dying. Rory asks for someone to explain what's happening and The Doctor says Rory had just died.
"What the bloody Hell is going on?" Mickey asked as the past viewers stared at the screen, not really understanding what just happened.
"Another thing I thought was a myth turns out to be real," Jack said grimly as they all turned to him.
"You know what this is?" Martha asked and Jack sighed.
"Was on assignment in America over sixty years ago when I heard a story about an apartment building that was haunted by monsters. According to the story, the monsters keep you there until you die. Never put much stock in it, thought it was just an old wives tale. But a lot of things I thought were myth are turning out to be real," Jack muttered.
"Looks like those monsters were Weeping Angels," Donna muttered as they all turned back to the recording.
The Doctor explains Winter Quay is policed by Angels who send you back in time every time you try to escape. Amy is in disbelief as The Doctor explains the Angels feed on time energy, which is produced every time they send someone back in time. The Doctor explains the apartment building is a farm for the Angels to send their victims back in time over and over again. The Doctor asks River how many Angels are in New York and River says it's like they've taken over every statue in the city.
"Lovely. An endless supply of victims so they can power up as much as they want," Donna grumbled.
"And they found their next one in Rory," Wilf whispered.
"Doctor, you have your work cut out for you," Martha muttered.
"I'm not even sure he can stop them this time," Jack said uneasily. "An army of Angels, it took the cracks in time to stop them last time. But now they've taken over an entire city."
"Boss has his work cut out for him," Mickey muttered as they watched the screen worriedly.
The Doctor bemoans the situation when they hear three loud bangs. Rory asks what that was. The Doctor doesn't know but believes they're coming for Rory. Rory is confused, demanding to know what will happen to him. The Doctor explains Rory will be sent back in time a few decades prior and will live out the rest of his life until he dies in the bed like they just saw. They hear the bangs again and Rory asks if Amy will be there. The Doctor says no, as Rory's future self was too happy to see her. Rory, panicking, asks what happens if he just runs but The Doctor says it's already happened, as Rory has already witnessed the results. But River argues Rory's right, it would create a paradox which could kill the Angels and Winter Quay would never happen.
"Another fixed point," Martha said uneasily.
"It's only fixed if they can't stop it. Rory and River are right, if they can create a big enough Paradox, it wouldn't happen," Jack argued.
"A paradox that big might destroy New York," Donna muttered before her eyes lit up in recognition. "Destroy New York…"
"Yes. Before you ask, yes," Jane said with a sigh. "This is the Paradox that let out the Siren."
"This is what you want us to prevent?" Wilf asked curiously but Jane shook her head.
"The Paradox might need to happen regardless. No, what I want you to prevent is what happened immediately after," Jane said, her eyes not moving from the screen.
The past viewers exchanged bewildered glances before turning back to the screen, wondering what exactly they were supposed to prevent.
The Doctor argues to create such a paradox would take almost unimaginable power, demanding they tell him what they have. Amy walks up to Rory and takes his hand. "I won't let them take him. That's what we got."
"Really romantic, in an 'us against the world' kind of way," Martha noted.
"Yeah, but how does she intend to pull it off?" Jack asked as they watched the screen uneasily.
They hear the bags again and Rory realizes something is getting closer. The Doctor warns Rory that even if he got out, he would have to keep running from the Angels for the rest of his life. "Well then, better get started," Amy says. She opens the door but an Angel is standing outside. "Husband, run!"
"I guess it's a good thing Rory is used to running from things," Mickey muttered as they continued to watch fearfully.
"Yeah, but now he's trying to outrun time itself," Jack muttered, not sure whether he should be hoping they could pull it off or not.
Rory pats The Doctor on the shoulder before he and Amy run out of the room. The Doctor pulls out his screwdriver as another Angel appears. The Doctor voices his doubts but River tells him to shut up. They try to run out but the lights go out briefly. When they come back on, the Angels have entered the room.
"And now they're surrounded. Brilliant," Donna moaned as the past viewers grew even more tense.
Amy and Rory reach the ground floor only to find an Angel waiting for them. Amy urges Rory to head up and they go reluctantly. Upstairs, The Doctor is using his screwdriver to keep the lights on but says he can't keep it up. River asks if he has any ideas and he tells her to run. Rory runs onto the roof and, in a replay of what happened with Garner, he turns around to see the Statue of Liberty.
"And now the bloody Statue of Liberty is after Rory. This cannot get any worse," Donna moaned.
"Aren't you the one always saying not to say that," Mickey pointed out.
"In this situation, it really can't get worse," Donna snapped.
The Doctor and River run down the staircase but sees it's littered with Angels. The Doctor suggests they use the fire escape. Up on the roof, Rory mentions he always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. "I guess she got impatient." Rory then tells Amy to keep her eyes on the statue as he runs over to the edge of the roof. Rory looks down as Amy asks if there's a way down. "No, but there's a way out," Rory says.
"Is he gonna…" Mickey trailed off as the past viewers realized Rory's plan.
"Oi," Donna muttered.
"That's…insane," Martha declared.
"Just insane enough to work. Dying at Winter Quay decades before he's supposed to, the paradox that will let out the Space Siren. This is it," Jack realized.
"But he'll get killed!" Wilf protested.
"Paradoxes are tricky things. He might come back," Jack noted although they could hear the skepticism in his voice.
"Hell of a risk," Mickey muttered.
"Only way out of this situation," Jane noted softly and none of them could disagree.
Amy asks what Rory's doing as he climbs up on the ledge. She protests that he'll die and he points out dying twice at Winter Quay will be a paradox. They argue and Rory pleads with Amy to tell him he's wrong. Amy is silent. "Great. The one time you can't manage it," Rory says lowly. Rory nearly falls but steadies himself. Amy takes his hand and Rory tells her to push him, placing her hand on his chest. Amy refuses, saying it will kill him but Rory points out if this place never existed, he will have never fallen. "So what, you think you'll just come back to life?" Amy asks. "When don't I?!" Rory asks.
"He's got a point. He dies almost as much as me," Jack mused.
"Not really sure this is the same though," Martha noted as they continued to watch uneasily.
Rory argues he would rather die than live the rest of his life without seeing Amy again. "Amy, please, if you love me, then trust me and push," Rory says. "I can't," Amy says. "You have to!" "Could you? If it was me, could you do it?" Amy demands. "To save you, I could do anything," Rory says certainly.
No one said a word, all of them feeling the emotions and intensity of the scene. They could only watch, wondering how this would play out.
A tear falls from Amy's eye before she climbs up onto the ledge with Rory. She tells him to prove it but Rory doesn't want to take her to. Amy points out he said he'd come back to life, cutting off his attempts to argue and putting his hands on her waist. "Together or not all," Amy says.
"Blimey," Mickey said as the past viewers all looked at the screen in disbelief.
"She's going to…" Martha trailed off, speechless.
Donna was in a similar state, once more feeling ashamed of having ever doubted Amy's love for Rory. A love like theirs was something that never came along, ever. She couldn't imagine doing the same thing with Shaun, as much as she loved him.
"My word," Wilf breathed.
Jack remained silent, simultaneously admiring Amy and Rory and envying them. A love like this was not something he had ever experienced, even with Ianto. He just hoped they survived this.
The Doctor and River climb up the fire escape onto the roof and, seeing Amy and Rory, The Doctor demands to know what they're doing. "Changing the future," Amy says, placing a hand on the side of Rory's face. "It's called marriage." Amy and Rory then step off and begin to fall.
The past viewers all watched with baited breath, hoping this worked as Jane watched with a grim look, knowing this was the thing that had unleashed the Space Siren and, in so many ways, spelled the end of the universe.
The Doctor rushes over to the ledge, calling out to them. Amy and Rory hold each other as they fall and River notices the building beginning to be wiped away. The Doctor grabs River's hand, explaining the paradox is working. There is then a bright flash before the scene changes back to the graveyard. Amy and Rory sit up, Rory wondering where they are.
"It worked. It bloody worked," Donna said, laughing in relief.
"Yeah, and let the Space Siren out to," Jack noted grimly.
"So this is the point where it began manipulating his life?" Martha asked and Jane grimaced.
"Not this one, but the next recording," Jane said. "Pay close attention to what happens now."
The past viewers watched silently, remembering what Jane had said about this and knowing what happened next was what needed to be prevented. They were about to see what had put their friend in such a state that the Siren had been able to manipulate him.
The Doctor runs over, explaining they're back where they started, happily saying the paradox worked. Amy wonders why they keep ending up here but The Doctor says it doesn't matter, although he can't ever take the TARDIS back there.
"Why do they keep ending up here?" Jack mused to himself and Jane smiled tightly.
"Keep watching," she said in a tone that chilled them all to the bone.
The Doctor notes he could have lost them both, throwing his arms around Amy and Rory and telling them to never do that again. Rory argues they fixed the problem but The Doctor says he was talking to himself before kissing them both on the forehead. The Doctor walks over to the TARDIS as Amy and Rory laugh. River is by the TARDIS and she and The Doctor begin to bicker. Amy and Rory approach, Rory asking if they can just go to the pub next time. The Doctor says they should go there right now and River says it's a family outing as she and The Doctor head into the TARDIS. As Amy moves to follow them, Rory notices a grave with his name on it. Rory points it out to Amy. She walks over and looks behind him. Rory vanishes, a Weeping Angel standing just behind him.
"NO!" Donna exclaimed as the past viewers all stared at the screen in horror.
"No. No, after everything they went through to get him back…" Martha trailed off in denial.
"Rory," Mickey whispered.
Jack and Wilf were simply too stunned to respond as Jane looked away, unable to watch what happened next.
Amy calls out to The Doctor and he and River run back out. The Doctor scans the Angel, saying it's a survivor, weak but they need to keep their eyes on it. Amy demands to know where Rory is and The Doctor notices the Angel is pointing at the grave. The Doctor looks at it and sees that Rory died at age 82.
"No. No, he can't…" Donna trailed off, beginning to cry.
"They have to find a way to bring him back, they have to," Martha said in denial.
"Not this time," Jane said softly, still not looking at the screen.
The Doctor apologizes to Amy but she says they have to go get him in the TARDIS. The Doctor says that another paradox would ripe New York apart. Amy refuses to believe it until River confirms this. Amy stares at the Angel, asking if there's room for one more name on Rory's gravestone.
"Bloody Hell," Mickey breathed as the past viewers realized what was about to happen.
"Amy, she's going to willingly allow herself to be sent back," Jack said softly.
"The Angel won't do it. There's no guarantee it would send her back to Rory," Martha said in shock.
"Amy was willing to risk it. Just like she was with the Dream Lord, just like she was a few minutes ago," Jane said softly. "This is it guys. The loss Dad couldn't come back from."
No one else said a word, simply watching, trying to process it all.
The Doctor tries to convince Amy to come back to the TARDIS but she asks if the Angel would send her back to the same time as Rory. The Doctor says he doesn't know. "But it's my best shot, yeah?" Amy asks. The Doctor shouts no but River confirms it is. "Well then, I just have to blink, yeah?" Amy asks. "No!" The Doctor shouts. "It'll be fine. I know it will. I'll-I'll be with him. Like I should be. Me and Rory together," Amy says.
"Amy," Donna said, tears springing to her eyes.
She was not the only one. Martha and Wilf had tears running down their face as Mickey looked ready to join them. Jack didn't turn away but he looked ready to start crying as well. Jane was still refusing to look at the screen, but tears were beginning to fall from her face.
"Melody?" Amy calls out. The Doctor pleads with them to stop as River walks over to Amy, taking her hand. Amy tells River to look after The Doctor as River kisses her hand. "You are creating fixed time. I will never be able to see you again," The Doctor warns. Amy says she'll be fine, as she'll be with Rory. The Doctor pleads with Amy to come back into the TARDIS as she sobs. "Raggedy Man," Amy turns around to look at The Doctor. "Goodbye." Amy vanishes as well.
"Amy," Donna choked out as tears finally began to fall from her face.
There was not anyone who wasn't affected. Martha was now openly sobbing as Mickey had his arms wrapped around her, crying himself. Wilf put a hand to his mouth, looking as he had the last time he had seen the Tenth Doctor. Jack lowered his head, a few tears falling from his eyes as well. Jane finally turned back to the screen, tears falling freely down her face.
The Doctor sobs as he sees Rory's grave stone now reads under his name 'And his loving Wife, Amelia Williams, aged 87'. The Doctor falls to his knees, looking up as River walks up next to him, putting a hand on his back as he stares at the gravestone.
The room was silent, the emotions of everyone feeling shot.
"They were together. At least in the end, they were together," Martha said hoarsely.
No one said anything, too emotionally drained to take any comfort in that.
Later, River charts a course in the TARDIS as The Doctor silently sits on the steps. The Doctor apologizes to River, as Amy and Rory were her parents. But River says it doesn't matter.
"Of course it bloody matters River!" Donna snapped emotionally.
"She's just trying to make him feel better. She thought he'd lash out at her, and maybe his previous Regeneration would have. But he only tried to comfort her only for her to be too worried about him to accept it," Jane sighed.3
The Doctor argues it does matter. River tells The Doctor that he shouldn't travel alone and he asks her to travel with him. "Whenever and wherever you want," River says and The Doctor smiles. "But not all the time. One psychopath per TARDIS, don't you think?"
"Oh River," Martha said with a sigh as they all stared at the screen sadly. "You don't have to hide the damage from him, just let him be there for you."
"Unfortunately, that's a lesson River didn't learn until it was too late," Jane said with a sigh.
River asks if she gives 'Melody Malone' to Amy to publish. The Doctor confirms this and River begins heading upstairs, promising she'll make Amy write an Afterword for him, hoping he'll listen to Amy. As River walks upstairs, The Doctor remembers the last page.
"The last page, the one he ripped out at the beginning," Martha said as they all started.
"The last message Amy ever gave Dad," Jane said softly as they all watched the screen intently.
The Doctor runs back to Central Part, finding the last page still in the picnic basket. "Afterword, by Amelia Williams," Amy's voice says. "Hello old friend. And here we are. You and me. On the last page." The Doctor is shown reading this on a park bench. "By the time you read these words, Rory and I will be long gone. So know that we lived well and were very happy." The Doctor puts Amy's reading glasses on. "And above all else, know that we will love you always. Sometimes I do worry about you, though. I think once we're gone, you won't be coming back here for a while and you might be alone, which you should never be. Don't be alone Doctor. And do one more thing for me. There's a little girl waiting in a garden," The Doctor smiles as he reads this. "She's going to wait a long while, so she's going to need a lot of hope." Seven year old Amelia Pond is shown running out of her house with her suitcase and waiting for The Doctor. "Go to her and tell her a story. Tell her if she's patient, the days are coming that she'll never forget. Tell her she'll go to sea and fight pirates. She'll fall in love with a man who'll wait 2,000 years to keep her safe. Tell her she'll give hope to the greatest painter who ever lived and save a whale in outer space." The Doctor is shown on the TARDIS, setting a course. In the yard the day after meeting The Doctor, Amelia wakes up and she hears the TARDIS returning. "Tell her this is the story of Amelia Pond and this is how it ends." Amelia smiles, all color draining from the screen before it goes black.
The past viewers were silent, feeling emotionally drained after seeing that. Jane had expected this, so she got to feet.
"Come on, I think we all need a break," Jane said softly.
No one disagreed, mindlessly following after her as she led them out of the room, each of them trying to process everything they had just seen.
Oof. This episode always ends up leaving me feeling like my heart has been ripped out, stomped on and then thrown in the blender.
Anyway, in spite of phenomenal acting from the cast and some really great scenes, this episode was honestly kind of average (although I can honestly say it was better than most of what came after). What sets out to be a heartfelt sendoff to Amy and Rory is marred by an increasingly convoluted plot that makes the Weeping Angels ridiculously OP and has River being needlessly cruel to The Doctor to the point it doesn't even feel like River anymore, especially when she slaps him.
1: The Statue of Liberty being a Weeping Angel is just ridiculous. It's made of freaking copper for God's sake. It just adds to the convolutedness of the episode and is also hard not to feel like there's some political undertone there.
2: Considering how prepared River seems to be to send Amy back to be with Rory, it wouldn't surprise me if a future version of The Doctor had forewarned River about this and makes most of her actions in this episode a bit more understandable.
3: Apparently it's a popular headcanon that The Doctor lashed out at River and blamed her for what happened to Amy and Rory. Not sure why, because there is no basis for it whatsoever. Not only is The Doctor never shown blaming her and instead trying to comfort her, he offers to make River a permanent companion only for River to turn him down. But I usually hear it from the same people that have mindlessly lapped up River doubting The Doctor's feelings for her even though this made zero sense, so hardly a surprise.