Chapter 32: The Shakespeare Code

Evening. A young man playing a lute and serenading a woman who is leaning out of an upstairs window. He sings and she smiles at him. When he is finished she says his music shows his blood to be afire and invites him in for consummation. He excitedly enters the house.

"Oh! This is where we met Shakespeare." Martha grins happily. That had been one heck of a trip.

He enters. The room has an assortment of herbs and things hanging from appropriate places.

"Looks like a witch's house, even has the cauldron." Rose laughs.

"Not far off." Ten tells her.

He states it cannot be the home of one so beautiful and she shushes him. She kisses him. Her face turns changes to one with a hooked nose and deep lines, and pointed teeth, and her voice is higher pitched.

"Gross." Mickey shudders. Jack nods his agreement.

Lilith states his kiss transformed her but then says a suitor should meet the parents. She calls for Mother Doomfinger and Mother Bloodtide. A sour-faced old woman stands up behind Wiggins. Another woman jumps down from a rafter, cackling.

"Great names." Donna mutters sarcastically.

"Three witches? Isn't that some part of a Shakespeare play?" Rose asks.

"You don't know Shakespeare?" Martha asks curiously. Rose flushes slightly.

"Didn't pay that much attention in school. Way too many old time words." She shrugs. Nine squeezes her shoulder.

"Yes, they are, it's Macbeth." Ten tells her with a grin.

They all pounce upon Wiggins. There are some nasty squishy sounds.

"Oh! Poor bloke." Donna winces.

Lilith say that at the hour of woven words they will rise again and the Earth will perish.

"Blah, blah, blah. Heard all that before." Nine rolls his eyes dramatically, making Rose laugh.

"Woven words? So you'll get to see a Shakespeare play performed in the proper time?" Jack asks Martha who nods excitedly.

In the TARDIS, it is bucking wildly and Martha is hanging on to the console.

Everybody smiles fondly.

Martha asks how he travels in time and what makes it go.

"All the boring questions. Takes the fun out of everything, knowing that." Nine sighs.

The Doctor says that takes all the fun and mystery out of it and she doesn't want to know. Then he warns her to hold on tight.

"See, I agree with myself." Ten nods.

"Funny that." Mickey mutters sarcastically.

The TARDIS comes to a halt, and Martha falls to the floor. The Doctor stumbles as well but grabs his jacket. Martha asks if he had to pass a test to fly the TARDIS. He states yes but he failed it.

"I should think so too. If that kind of driving is a pass I wouldn't dare get in with someone who failed." Donna snorts.

"I do very well considering it's supposed to be driven with six people." Ten pouts.

"Of course you do." Rose consoles him, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice. She realised she fails when he looks up eyes narrowed and begins to tickle her. She writhes around and he only stops when she accidentally kicks him in the stomach.

"Oof. Ouch Rose." He wheezes.

"Don't tickle me then." She glares at him but then grins and takes his hand again.

The Doctor continues that he promised her one trip and outside the door is a brave new world. She asks where they are and he tells her to take a look. Washing hanging on lines below the overhanging eaves, scruffy urchins running around.

"The joys of times before toilets and hygiene." Rose shudders slightly.

Martha steps outside and says you've got to be kidding me. Then states they did it, they travelled in time.

Nine opens his mouth but Rose discretely elbows him before he can say anything. He pouts at her but says nothing.

Martha asks where they are before stopping and asking when they are, saying she needs to get used to the new language.

"It does take some getting used to." Donna agrees.

The Doctor tells her to mind out. He pulls Martha back as a man empties his slop bucket from an upstairs window.

"Lovely." Mickey wrinkles his nose.

The Doctor continues that they are somewhere before the invention of the toilet and he apologises. Martha shrugs this off saying she has seen worse on the late night shift of A+E.

"That must be an awful shift." Donna shudders.

"You get used to it." Martha tells her with a grin.

She then asks if they are safe as the Doctor strolls down the street. He stops and tells her that of course they are. She states that in the movies if you step on a butterfly you change the future.

"Reality rarely turns out like the movies." Ten reminds her.

"Well I know that now." Martha rolls her eyes at him.

"Why would you want to step on a poor butterfly?" Nine asks scathingly.

"I wouldn't do it on purpose." Martha states. Nine looks at her then shrugs and doesn't say anything else.

The Doctor tells her not to step on any butterflies then. Then he asks what butterflies have ever done to her. He continues walking. Martha catches up asking what if she kills her grandfather.

"Why would you do that?" Jack asks her with a frown.

"And unless you're grandfather is incredibly old he wouldn't be living in the 1500s." Nine adds with a snort.

"Not exactly what I meant. If an ancestor is killed, Would I die too?"

"Unless it was fixed, yes." Ten tells her.

The Doctor asks if she is planning to. She replied no and he says 'well, then' before carrying on. Martha asks if it is London. He agrees, adding the year is round about 1599.

"Supposedly." Rose smirks.

"I was exactly right." Ten tells her proudly.

"Had to happen eventually." Donna grins.

Then Martha asks if she is alright or if she will get carted off as a slave.

"Possibly but unlikely." Jack shrugs.

The Doctor asks why they would do that. Martha points out she is black. The Doctor replied he isn't even human.

"True, but you look human." Sarah-Jane tells him.

He continues that she should just walk about like she owns the place as it works for him.

"Does get you arrested sometimes." Rose points out.

"Half the fun." Ten shrugs with a grin.

He states that Elizabethan England isn't so different from her time. He says they have recycling, a water cooler moment and global warming.

Everyone laughs.

"It's practically the same." Sarah-Jane laughs.

"I've just noticed you haven't made Martha dress for the occasion." Mickey points out. Ten shrugs.

"Dresses in that time aren't exactly practical for running."

"Nor are several outfits you made me wear to fit in." Rose points out under her breath.

"Yes but I liked you in those dresses." Nine whispers.

Then he adds they have entertainment for the masses. He works out where they are. The Doctor gets Martha to run along from the south end of old London Bridge, past St Mary Ovarie - Southwark Cathedral - to a view of the Globe Theatre. He tells her it has just opened. Then adds it isn't actually a globe but a tetradecagon as it has fourteen sides. He tells her it contains the man himself.

"Fourteen sides? That's an odd number." Donna frowns. Jack grins at her and opens his mouth so she elbows him, knowing exactly what bad joke he was about to make.

"Guess they had problems with making it a globe." Sarah-Jane suggests.

Martha realises he means Shakespeare. He asks if she will accompany him to the theatre and she agrees. The Doctor tells her that when she gets back she can tell everyone that she met Shakespeare.

"Oh yes, very believable that." Rose scoffs.

Martha states she could get sectioned. A performance has just finished, and the packed audience of about three thousand are applauding the actors. The Doctor and Martha have been watching with the rest of the ordinary folk in the pit. Martha says it was amazing and worth putting up with the smell.

"And that smell was pretty bad." Martha adds.

"I bet." Jack winces.

She asks if some of the actors are men dressed as women. The Doctor tells her London never changes. Martha asks where Shakespeare is. She calls for the author then stops and asks if people do that. A man behind her starts shouting for the author and soon the whole theatre is doing it. The Doctor looks around and states that they do now.

"You just started a new trend." Sarah-Jane smiles over at Martha.

Shakespeare comes onto the stage, very full of himself, to rapturous applause. He blows kisses at the audience and waves. Martha states he is very different from his portrait.

Jack wolf whistles. "Definitely better looking than his portrait."

"Agreed. If I knew he was that good looking I might have paid more attention to his works." Rose smirks. Both Doctors glare at the image of Shakespeare on the frozen screen and Rose tries not to laugh at how predictable they both are.

Lilith is dressed like an aristocrat, and sitting alone in one of the upper boxes. She takes a rough doll with a strand of hair stuck to its head from her purse.

"Don't they use those kinds of things for voodoo?" Mickey asks.

"No such thing. It's science that humans couldn't explain so called it magic." Nine rolls his eyes.

The Doctor says that Shakespeare is a genius, always choosing the best words. Shakespeare tells the crowd to shut their big fat mouths.

Everyone bursts out laughing except the two Doctors.

"They say you should never meet your heroes." Sarah-Jane laughs.

"Dickens turned out fantastically in the end." Nine protests.

The crowd laughs. The Doctor looks put out and says oh well. Martha tells him you should never meet your heroes.

Martha and Sarah-Jane exchange smiles.

Shakespeare says they have excellent taste. He points at someone in the crowd and says that is a wig. Up in the stand, Lilith pulls the hair on her doll. She mutters what sounds like a spell.

"That sounds like magic and their house looked like a witch's." Mickey points out.

Shakespeare says that he knows it was a funny ending but they will find out what happens soon. But you don't rush a genius. Lilith kisses her doll and Shakespeare suddenly goes rigid and blank. He says they will find out tomorrow night at the premiere of his brand new play. Some of the actors are looking at him in confusion.

"So those three need him to have this new play performed?" Rose questions. "Because those actors looked confused and I'm sure that even in those days they practised before a play."

"Well they did say at the hour of woven words they will rise again." Jack reminds her. "I guess whatever they need said is in the play."

Shakespeare announces the new play is a sequel called Loves Labour's won. Everyone is clapping except the Doctor.

"I've never heard of that?" Sarah-Jane frowns

"It didn't exist." Ten tells her.

A short while later, everyone is filing out of the theatre. Martha states that she isn't an expert but has never heard of that new play. The Doctor tells her it is the lost play. It is mentioned is lists of his plays but never turns up and nobody knows why.

"I'm guessing you had something to do with it." Rose laughs.

"I might do." Ten smirks.

Martha asks if they can tape it and sell it when they get home. The Doctor tells her no.

"This from the same person who asked if it was safe to step on a butterfly?" Jack laughs. "You got used to it quick."

She states that would be bad and he agrees.

"Very bad." Nine nods sternly.

She asks how it disappeared in the first place. The Doctor says he was going to just give her a quick trip but he guesses they can stay longer.

"There was no way you'd be leaving now." Jack sniggers. "He's interested and so not leaving."

At The Elephant, a courtyard tavern, a serving girl brings in a tray to Shakespeare and his two companions. The girl says there is enough beer in the house to sink the Spanish. He says she saved his life. She replied that she will do more than that tonight. Then she turns to another girl and tells her to hurry up as the talk of gentlemen is best not overheard.

"Only because it's probably gross." Rose rolls her eyes.

The other girl is Lilith who apologises. One of the men turns to Shakespeare and says he must be mad as the play wasn't supposed to be done until next week as he hasn't even finished it yet. Shakespeare states he only has the final scene to go and they will have it by morning. Then the Doctor appears, knocking on the door and asking if he is not interrupting.

"Not that you would care if you were interrupting." Donna laughs.

"True." Ten shrugs. "Important business and all."

Shakespeare asks who let him in and tells him he can't have an autograph of be sketched with him. He tells him to be a good boy and shove, before stopping and seeing Martha.

"I don't think the Doctor has ever been a 'good boy'." Rose sniggers.

"Definitely not. He loves causing trouble too much." Sarah-Jane agrees.

"Oi!" Ten pouts.

Shakespeare tells Martha to sit down with him and dismisses the two men who were with him. Dolly comes over and tells them to go as Will has found his new muse. Dolly, Burbage and Kempe leave. Martha and the Doctor sit at the table. He states she has unusual clothes. Martha makes an attempt to speak his language with random words and the Doctor tells her not to.

They all laugh, including Martha.

"That was almost as bad as Rose's attempt at Scottish." Mickey grins.

The Doctor shows Shakespeare his psychic paper. He introduces them but Shakespeare says the paper is blank.

"He really is a genius." Nine grins proudly.

The Doctor states this proves he is an absolute genius. Martha looks at the paper and says that is says exactly what the Doctor said. Shakespeare states it is blank. The Doctor tells her it is psychic paper and then says it is a long story and he hates starting from scratch.

"It gets terribly annoying explaining things again and again." Nine sighs.

"Sure it does. You love showing off." Jack states.

Shakespeare says he has never heard the word psychic before and words are his trade. He asks who the Doctor is and who his blackamoor lady is. Martha looks offended, asking what he said. Shakespeare tries a few more options and Martha states she can't believe she is hearing this.

"Racism wasn't exactly a thing back then." Nine reminds her.

The Doctor states it is political correctness gone mad.

"Nothing like it is today." Martha mutters.

He adds that Martha is from a far off land of Freedonia.

"So where is this Freedonia?" Jack asks.

"Far away, like I said." Ten tells him.

A man in expensive clothes and wearing a gold chain of office enters. He is the official censor, from the Lord Chamberlain's office. He states that a new play with no warning is abominable. He demands to see a script as every new play must be registered before being performed. Shakespeare says he will send one first thing in the morning but the man demands he see it now. Shakespeare admits he can't so the man says the performance is cancelled. He states that if it is the last thing he does Loves Labour's Won will never be performed.

"Lilith has just heard all of that so it might just be the last thing he does." Rose winces.

"He certainly won't be getting that banning order done." Jack agrees.

In the courtyard Lilith runs into the man and apologies. She strokes his hair. He calls her a wanton woman and says he will return later. Lynley leaves. Lilith holds up a lock of his hair. Lilith runs up to a quiet corner and gets out her doll. She says that someone seeks to stop the performance.

"Great, they can communicate over distance as well." Mickey sighs.

Doomfinger states it must be tomorrow and Bloodtide agrees that Loves Labour's won must be performed. Lilith changes the hair in the doll and tells them to fear not. The three chant and Lilith dunks the doll into a pail of water. Walking along, Lynley suddenly clutches his throat and sways.

"Science or not, that does look exactly like voodoo." Rose points out.

"Probably where humans got the idea from." Nine shrugs.

In Shakespeare's room Martha announces that is it and she thought it might be something more mysterious. A man's scream comes from the street, then a woman's. The three rush out to investigate.

"There's your wish." Jack grins.

"Be careful what you wish for." Mickey agrees with a laugh.

"Learnt that lesson." Martha assures him.

In the courtyard, Lynley staggers back in, spewing copious amounts of water. Martha recognises him. The Doctor tells everyone to leave it to him as he is a doctor. Martha says so is she, near enough. Lilith takes the doll out of the water. She and the mothers chant again to stop the heart. Lilith stabs the doll with a pin and then pulls its head off.

"So they take all their power from words?" Nine frowns. "Not many races do that and none of them are nice."

Lynley collapses. Martha tries to help. Martha starts to clear Lynley's airways for CPR, and water gushes out. She asks what the hell that is and the Doctor states he has never seen a death like it. He says he drowned and then there was an invisible blow to his heart. Lilith watches from a balcony. The Doctor tells Dolly that he has died from an imbalance of humours and that it is natural. He asks he to have him taken away.

"An imbalance of humours?" Rose asks with a laugh.

"That's what they thought caused all disease back in that time." Ten tells her. He explains what it is and Rose nods.

Lilith says she will do it and leaves, smiling. Martha asks why he tells them that. He explains that if he tells them the truth they will think it was witchcraft. Martha asks what it was then and he says witchcraft.

"You thought it was witchcraft?" Jack asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Quickest way to explain." Ten shrugs.

The three witches stand around their cauldron. Doomfinger says the potion is prepared and tells Lilith to take it. Bloodtide states Shakespeare will release them and the mind of a genius will unlock the tide of blood.

"Tide of blood doesn't sound so good." Rose mutters.

"No, but even aliens think Shakespeare is a genius." Ten grins happily.

Lilith adds that the work is done and the potion is a muse to pen Loves Labour's won. In Shakespeare's room, Dolly comes in and says the Doctor's room is just across the landing. Shakespeare talks about the strange events, including the land of Freedonia where a woman can be a doctor. Martha tells him it's where a woman can do what she likes. Shakespeare asks the Doctor how a man so young can have eyes so old.

"Because he is really an old man." Rose laughs.

"I'm not that old." Ten protests.

"Yeah, you are." Donna tells him. "Super old and super skinny, that's you." Ten pouts.

The Doctor says he reads a lot. Shakespeare calls this a trite reply and agrees that is what he would do. Then he turns to Martha and states she looks at the Doctor like she is surprised he exists and that he is a puzzle to her as he is to him. The Doctor smiles slightly

"Well, he's got you two pegged very easily." Jack smiles. "Handsome and clever, I like it."

"You like everything." Donna rolls her eyes.

Martha says they should say goodnight and then leaves. Shakespeare states he has to get to work but he will get answers tomorrow about his constant performance. The Doctor tells him that all the world's a stage and Shakespeare says he might use that. They wish each other goodnight.

"I like him." Rose grins.

"Look at you, quoting his own lines at him." Sarah-Jane laughs and Ten grins proudly.

In their room, Martha is holding a candle. She states it isn't exactly five star.

"What were you expecting in 1599?" Nine asks her.

"I hadn't realised we were staying." She tells him.

He looks around and says he has seen worse. She tells him she doesn't even have a toothbrush. He feels around in his pockets and produces one saying it contains Venusian spearmint.

"Useful but I'm not sure I'd want to brush my teeth with something you produced from your pockets. Who knows what else is in there?" Rose shudders a little.

"Nothing that bad." Ten assures her with an unconvincing smile. She eyes him warily before mentally deciding to always make sure she has her own toothbrush. As if he can read her mind, his grin widens.

Martha points out there is only one bed. He tells her they will manage before lying down on top of the covers fully clothed, hands behind his bed. Martha states that with the magic it's a little bit Harry Potter. He tells her to wait until book seven as he cried.

"You did?" Rose asks him. They had been reading the series together in the TARDIS each evening. They were only on book two before they were brought here.

"Yeah." Ten nods.

Martha asks if witches and magic is real and he tells her of course not. Martha exasperatedly asks how she is supposed to know as she only just started believing in time travel.

"He doesn't really think about how new you are to this stuff." Donna laughs.

Says it looks like witchcraft but isn't. Then he asks if she is going to stand there all night. She looks taken aback and then puts the candle down and sits on the bed. She tells him to budge up which he does. She says there isn't much room. Then says they are in the same bed and tongues will wag in a suggestive voice. The Doctor ignores this and carries on talking about psychic energy but humans can't channel it without a generator that they would have spotted.

"I'm not so sure about that." Jack sniggers.

"Might be so obvious you missed it." Sarah-Jane agrees. Ten mock glares at them both.

He turns over so he is facing her and says there is something staring him right in the face that he can't see.

"Sounds about right." Rose tells him with a smirk. Nine pokes her side and she laughs.

Martha is about to say something when he continues that Rose would know. His friend Rose would say exactly the right thing. Martha looks a little upset. He suddenly shifts back onto his back and says it can't be helped, she is a novice. He adds he will take her back home tomorrow. Now definitely upset, Martha angrily says great and then blows out the candle.

"Even when you were a novice you'd say exactly the right thing." Nine whispers to Rose.

"I guess my brain just works weirdly enough to help." Rose mutters back.

"It works perfectly." He grins, kissing the top of her head.

"You were a great help Martha, besides you saved me and the world on your first try." Ten reminds her.

"I don't think that's quite what's upsetting her." Jack mutters under his breath, knowing the Doctor's super hearing will catch it. Ten catches his eye and nods to say he knows but there is nothing else he can say.

Outside Lilith watches Shakespeare's window. Inside, Shakespeare is writing with his back to the window. Lilith glides up outside, uncorks the bottle of potion and blows the green vapours towards him. With a susurration of voices, Shakespeare breathes it in and collapses onto his papers. Lilith enters and holds up her doll, now equipped with strings to make it a puppet holding a quill in its hand. She tugs a string and Shakespeare jerks upright again, then writes without looking at the paper as she jiggles the puppet's arm. Across the way, the Doctor is still awake while Martha sleeps. Finally Shakespeare writes finis, and slumps again. Lilith strokes his head.

"They wouldn't kill him, would they?" Mickey asks.

"I doubt it. They may not go ahead with the play if he died, especially as he hasn't given it to anybody yet." Nine points out.

Dolly enters with a broom, saying she has finished cleaning just in time for his treat. She spots Lilith and says she isn't the first then. Lilith turns round, with her witches face.

"Yuck. That's not a sight you want to walk in on." Sarah-Jane grimaces.

Lilith says she will take the broom to aid her flight.

"Witches riding brooms?" Rose laughs.

"They aren't witches." Ten reminds her.

"Certainly good at acting like our very stereotypical witch." Donna points out.

Lilith snatches the broom, and Dolly screams. The Doctor and Martha leap out of bed and run to the room. Shakespeare wakes up, confused asking what that was. Dolly has collapsed. Martha goes to the window and sees an archetypal witch on a broomstick silhouetted against the full moon. Lilith cackles.

"Woah." Jack laughs. "That is kinda cool."

The Doctor finishes examining Dolly and states she died of fright. Martha calls to the Doctor and he goes over, asking what she saw. She says it was a witch. Later, a cockerel crows and dogs start barking at the rising sun. Shakespear asks what could cause Dolly to die of fright, saying she had enormous spirit.

"Three bouts of plague? She really was brave." Nine says, raising an eyebrow.

The Doctor quotes Dylan Thomas and Shakespeare says he might use that. The Doctor tells him it is someone else's. Martha points out that both strange deaths were linked to Shakespeare. Offended, he asks if she is accusing him.

"To be fair, it does sound like you are." Mickey tells Martha.

"Yeah, didn't mean it like that, but he is the key to whatever is happening." She shrugs.

She says she saw a witch and he has written about witches. Shakespeare looks confused and the Doctor says he hasn't yet. Then Shakespeare states that Peter Streete spoke of witches. Martha asks who that is and he says that Peter was the builder who sketched the plans for the globe.

"Oh!" Jack gasps. "That explains why it has fourteen sides, the three of them must have influenced him to do that. It's too bizarre otherwise."

The Doctor makes a realisation and tells them to come on. They go to the Theatre. He asks why fourteen sides. Shakespeare tells him it was the shape Peter Streete thought best. The Doctor wonders why fourteen rings a bell. Martha points out there are fourteen lines in a sonnet.

"Good catch." Sarah-Jane smiles.

The Doctor starts talking to himself and Shakespeare states that it is just a theatre. The Doctor tells him that on the stage, saying the right words can make a man weep or cry with joy. Words can change people's minds. Martha likens it to the TARDIS being small with tons of power inside. The Doctor smiles and says he likes her.

"You like anyone who compliments your box." Jack laughs.

"Or compliments you." Donna adds.

The Doctor asks if he can speak with Peter. Shakespeare tells him he lost his mind,started raving about witches and is now in Bedlam, a madhouse. The Doctor says they are going there now and Shakespeare says he is coming as he wants to witness this first hand. Two young men enter. He gives them a copy of the play and tells them to learn it, saying the Queen might be there.

Both Ten and Martha share a grin and laugh quietly.

"Oh dear. What did you do?" Rose asks in amusement.

"Nothing." Ten tells her innocently. He knows she doesn't believe him.

As they are walking, Shakespeare asks about Freedonia where women can do anything they like. Martha points out the country is ruled by a woman. He states that she is royal which is God's business and calls Martha royal beauty. She stops and says he has a wife in the country.

"Didn't mean too much back then. Men had mistresses all the time." Nine tells her. "Especially if his wife is back in the country."

"It's still wrong." Martha points out.

He tells her this is the town. The Doctor comes back and tells them to come on, they can all have a good flirt later. Shakespeare asks if that is a promise.

"Oh yes!" Jack cheers. Then he turns to the Doctor. "I'm so proud. Using the promise of flirting to get what you want." Ten rolls his eyes.

"If you're proud of me I'm doomed." He jests. Jack just laughs good naturedly.

"You are so taking me to meet Shakespeare." He points at Nine. Nine shakes his head firmly.

"Definitely not." Jack pouts at him.

The Doctor looks resigned and states that fifty seven academics just punched the air. Then he tells them to move.

"Fifty seven academics and Jack." Rose laughs.

"You saying I'm not an academic?" Jack grins.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Rose replied with a smirk.

Back on the stage Burbage says he doesn't think much of sequels. Kempe comes out and asks if he has seen the last bit as it makes no sense. Burbage reminds him that goes for most of his stuff but is pleased he has centre stage. He starts reading and a wind starts blowing.

"Definitely not what was supposed to be there. Dravidian Shores? Where is that?" Martha asks with a frown.

"Around the Ganymede Antares." Nine tells her absently, thinking hard.

"Well that clears that up." She mutters sarcastically.

Kempe asks what that was and Burbage keeps reading. At Lilith's house Doomfinger says the spirit stirs but too soon. The actors are visible in the cauldron. Lilith assures them it is just a rehearsal. Burbage keeps reading.

"Rexel four?" Rose questions.

"No way?" Nine turns to Ten. "Carrionites?" Ten nods.

"What are they when they are at home?" Donna asks.

"Well they disappeared at the dawn of time and, until now, nobody even knew if they were real or not." Nine tells her.

A puff of smoke appears in mid air and turns into a figure.

"Yuck. That's even uglier!" Donna mutters.

"So they plan on bringing more of their race to Earth using words in a Shakespeare play?" Rose asks.

"That about sums it up." Ten nods.

Kempe calls it a vile shade. It reaches towards them, then atomises with a small screech. Kempe tells Burbage they should never speak of it again or they will end up in Bedlam. The screen changes to inside Bedlam. The person leading them asks if the Doctor would like some entertainment while he waits. He offers to whip the madmen, saying they will put on a good show.

"That's awful!" Rose gasps.

"That's how they treated mental illness back then." Nine tells her grimly.

"How can they call it a hospital? They aren't treating anything." Donna scowls furiously.

The Doctor states he does not want that and the keeper tells them to wait while he makes him decent for the lady. The Keeper of the Hospital walks on down the corridor with cells on either side. Martha asks Shakespeare if this is what he calls a hospital and that he put his friend in there. He scathingly says it is all so different in freedonia.

"I should certainly hope so." Sarah-Jane says firmly.

She tells him he is clever and asks if he things it does any good. Shakespeare tells her he has been mad but fear of this place set him right. Martha asks how he went mad and the Doctor says he lost his son. Shakespeare explains the Black Death took him and he wasn't even there.

"That's horrible. No wonder he went mad." Rose frowns sadly. Nine squeezes her arm.

"And now he still spends his time away from home." Sarah-Jane says.

Martha says she didn't know and apologises. Shakespeare says is made him question everything, to be or not to be. Then he stops and says that is quite good. The Doctor tells him he should write it down.

"He really is good. So many famous quotes just made up on the spot." Jack smiles.

"Hey, I came up with some of them." Ten reminds him.

Shakespeare asks if it is a bit pretentious, and then the keeper calls for them. The go to the cell. A hunched figure in rags has his back to them. The keeper opens the door warning they can be dangerous. The Doctor snaps at him it helps if you don't whip them and orders him to get out. He does so.

"You tell him." Rose cheers.

The Doctor calls Peter's name but he doesn't respond. Shakespeare says he is the same as he was and they will get nothing out of him. The Doctor touches Streete's shoulder and he raises his head, staring.

"Well, that's something at least." Donna says.

"The Doctor can look through his mind to see what happened." Mickey points out. Ten frowns slightly but says nothing.

Lilith gets a sudden headache and says she must see. They use the liquid in the cauldron to scry, and see the Doctor with Streete. Lilith recognises him from the inn. Back at the madhouse the Doctor puts his fingers on Streete's temples. He asks Peter to go into the past, a year ago and tells him everything that happened since is just a story.

"One heck of a story." Rose mutters.

"Nothing more fantastical than Shakespeare's plays." Nine shrugs.

Peter seems to respond and the Doctor lies him on the cot. Then he tells Peter to tell him the story about the witches. At the house, Lilith asks who this Doctor is. Then she sends Doomfinger to doom the Doctor.

"I've been doomed far longer than that." Ten murmurs quietly. Rose squeezes his hand gently and he smiles slightly.

In the cell Peter tells them that the witches spoke to Peter and got him to build the Globe to their design. Always fourteen and then they snapped his wits. The Doctor asks where he saw the witches and Peter finally manages to say All Hallows Street.

"Naturally." Donna rolls her eyes.

"Very witchy." Martha agrees.

Then Doomfinger appears and stops Peter's heart with just a touch. Shakespeare calls out he is seeing a witch. Doomfinger asks who will be next. Martha yells to be let out and the Doctor reminds her the whole building is screaming that. Doomfinger asks again who will die first and the Doctor asks if she is looking for volunteers. Martha yells for him not to and Shakespeare asks if the Doctor can stop her.

"Of course he can." Sarah-Jane smiles. "That's what he does."

"If words have power to them, maybe words have power over them?" Donna suggests. Ten beams at her.

"Atta girl. Spot on."

Doomfinger states that no mortal has power over her. The Doctor points out that there is a power in words and he just needs the right one to know her. She tells him none on Earth have knowledge of them. He replies that it is a good thing he's there.

"Very true." Rose grins.

He says what he knows about them so far and yells out fourteen. At the house they watch the cauldron as he yells the fourteen starts of the Rexel planetary configuration. In the cell he names Doomfinger a Carrionite. She screams and then vanishes.

"Well that's good to know." Jack states.

"Only works once though." Nine tells him.

"That would have been nice to know." Martha rolls her eyes.

"There wasn't a lot of time." Ten grins sheepishly.

Martha asks what he did and he explains that he named her which is old magic. She replied there is no such thing as magic. The Doctor explains it is a different sort of science, they use words instead of numbers. Shakespeare asks what they use them for and he replies the end of the world.

"They really should be more creative. Everyone wants to aim for the end of the world." Jack sighs.

Back at the house, Doomfinger is gasping or breathe. She tells the others that he knows them and spoke their name. Lilith assures her that he will know death.

"Already do." Nine mutters.

She tells them he will perish at her hand but the other two must go to the Globe. She assures them she will join them once the Doctor screams his last.

"Bit overconfident isn't she?" Mickey sneers.

"They usually are." Rose shrugs.

In Shakespeare's room he splashes water on his face and neck. The Doctor explains that the Carrionites disappeared and nobody was sure if they were real or legend. Shakespeare says he is going for real.

"I'm with him." Donna agrees.

"It does seem that way. I'm beginning to wonder if there are any legends, if they are all in fact real." Nine nods.

"Even the Easter Bunny?" Rose asks with a grin.

"Maybe even that." He laughs.

Martha asks what they want and the Doctor says a new empire on Earth of blood, bones and witchcraft. She asks how and he says he is looking at the man with the words as he glances over at Shakespeare. Shakespeare says he has done nothing. Martha asks what he was doing last night and he replied finishing the play. Both Martha and the Doctor look at him with interest.

"He did say he was going to finish it." Jack points out.

"Never told us that he actually did though." Martha reminds him.

The Doctor asks what happened on the last page. Shakespeare tells him the ending but confesses he doesn't remember writing the last few lines.

"Be nice if he had mentioned that before." Nine rolls his eyes.

"Probably didn't think about it." Sarah-Jane suggests.

"No he's been busy staring at the pretty lady all day." Jack laughs.

The Doctor tells him they used him and gave him the final words like a spell, using the shape of the Globe like an energy converter. He uses another quote from Hamlet and says he can have that. Shakespeare grins.

"I should get commision." Nine mutters.

"Well it's a bit unfair as you already know what will be written. He would have come up with it on his own if these Carrionites hadn't been around." Jack argues.

At the Globe, they start the play. Doomfinger and Bloodtide are watching in the upper box. In Shakespeare's room, the Doctor looks at a map and points to All Hallows Street. He says to Martha they will track them down and tells Shakespeare to stop the play at all costs. Shakespeare shakes his hand and says he is used to being the cleverest man around but next to the Doctor he knows nothing.

"Oh dear! He doesn't know what he's done." Rose groans. "One of these days his head will explode just from his ego."

"Oi." Ten pouts at her.

Martha tells him not to complain and he says he isn't. He wishes the Doctor luck and the Doctor does the same. Then he says once more unto the breach. They leave. Shakespeare says he likes that, then realises it is one of his lines. The Doctor pokes his head back in the room and tells him to shift. At the Globe, the play goes on and then Shakespeare comes on and says the play must be stopped. Doomfinger pulls out the doll. Shakespeare apologises to the crowd, telling them they will get a refund.

"At least he's being nice about it." Sarah-Jane smiles.

"He wants them to come back and watch his plays again." Jack tells her.

Doomfinger hits the doll and Shakespeare falls down.

"Well that went well." Rose sighs.

"It bought a bit of time if only a minute. That can be important." Mickey says.

"True." She agrees.

Kempe asks if he is drunk. Burbage tells them to get him off the stage. The young men playing the women carry Shakespeare off the stage. He tells the crowd to forgive Will as he's drunk. There is laughter and the play continues. Doomfinger states nothing can stop them now.

"That's not quite true." Jack grins.

The Doctor and Martha emerge onto All Hallows Street but don't know which house. Martha points out the world didn't end in 1599, using herself as proof. The Doctor using Back to the Future to explain it. She asks if he means the film. He sarcastically tells her the novel before saying of course the film. Martha asks if she is going to fade. He says her and the entire future if they don't stop it.

"But no pressure." Rose laughs.

"There's always pressure. No use travelling with me if you can't cope with that." Nine tells her sternly.

He asks which house. A door creaks open and he corrects himself to witch house.

Everyone groans.

"Really Doctor?" Rose asks.

"It had to be done." Ten shrugs unrepentantly.

They go upstairs and Lilith is waiting. He says he guesses they are expected. Lilith tells him death has been waiting for him for a very long time. Martha tries the naming. Lilith gasps and then laughs. Martha asks what she did wrong and Lilith tells her naming only works once.

"Again, would have been nice to know that." Martha glares at Ten.

Lilith names Martha who falls backwards. The Doctor catches her, asking what she has done. Lilith announces she is only sleeping. She states the name had less impact and she is somehow out of her time.

"Good thing that. But why was it more effective on Martha than the one in the cell?" Jack asks. "It sounds like it should have killed her."

"They are better at it for one thing, but also she named Martha personally, I just named their species. Effective but not quite as good." Ten explains.

Lilith tries it on the Doctor but nothing happens. She declares it fascinating there is no name but then says there is one word that aches. He tells her the naming won't work on him. Lilith tries it with the name Rose.

Everyone winces.

"That was not a good idea." Jack scowls at the screen. Nine glares at the screen as well but Ten just looks over at Rose sadly. She gives him a small smile.

The Doctor stands saying that is a big mistake because that name keeps him fighting.

Ten tightens his grip on Rose's hand and she smiles at him a little shakily. It still amazes her that she can mean so much so someone as brilliant as the Doctor.

He states the Carrionites vanished and asks where they went. Lilith tells him the Eternals found the right word to banish them. He asks how they escaped and she explains that Shakespeare's madness when his son died allowed them entrance. He asks how many and she says just three but the play will restore the rest and then they will lead the universe back to the ways of blood and magic.

"Kind of you to offer but no thanks." Donna grimaces.

"Yeah, not a big fan of that plan." Mickey agrees.

The Doctor comments it's a busy schedule but first they have to get past him. She moves closer and says that will be easy given how handsome he is. He tells that definitely won't work on him. She pulls some hair from his head. He asks what she did and she calls it a souvenir. He tells her to give it back.

"Somehow I doubt that is the plan." Sarah-Jane notes lightly.

"Worth a try." Ten shrugs.

"Sure." Donna agrees sarcastically.

Lilith flies out of the window backwards. The Doctor complains that is cheating. Lilith wraps his hair round a wooden doll, while Martha wakes up. He tells her she calls it magic while he calls it a DNA replication module.

"Now who's taking all the mystery out of everything." Rose laughs.

Lilith stabs the doll, The Doctor screams and falls. Lilith flies away.

"Good job they don't know about the second heart." Jack comments.

"God job indeed. Still hurts with only one working though." Ten shudders.

Martha runs over. She rolls him onto his back saying she's got him. Then she smiles and remember he has two hearts. He says she is making a habit of this. He stands up and then falls to one knee saying he only has one heart working. He asks how people cope.

"Kind of used to it by now." Mickey points out.

He tells her to hit him on the chest which she does. He cries out in pain and then says the other side. They keep going until Martha hits the right spot and he cracks his back before standing up. He asks what she is standing there for they need to go to the Globe.

"I'm rather jealous he let you hit him so many times." Donna tells Martha casually.

"Martha's a doctor and professional, you would simply hit me in the wrong place on purpose so you got to hit me more." Ten tells her.

"I would not." Donna defends unconvincingly.

"Don't worry, I would too." Rose laughs.

"Oi! You're supposed to be on my side." Nine grumbles.

"That's boring." Rose tells him.

At the theatre, Lilith joins the other two and tells them the Doctor is dead. The play keeps going. On the streets, Martha yells they are going the wrong way. The Doctor says they aren't. Then he yells they are going the wrong way.

"Typical." Rose laughs. "You have a rubbish sense of direction."

"It's not that bad." Ten protests. All the companions raise their eyebrows at him and he pouts.

On stage Burbage goes through the last few lines and a wind fills the theatre. Lilith states that it begins. A red glow hangs over the Globe. The Doctor heads for the stage door. A storm rages over the building. The audience panic and run, but the witches slam the doors shut to stop them. The Doctor and Martha find Shakespeare waking up.

"Well at least he woke up in time for the ending of the world." Jack laughs.

"Well if words stop them, he's who you want. The Doctor may be good with words but he uses far too many for any kind of precision." Donna agrees.

"I can be precise." Ten protests.

"You're the embodiment of 'why say it in ten words when I can say it in a hundred'." Sarah-Jane tells him.

The Doctor yells at him that he said stop the play. Shakespeare protests he hit his head.

"You know what they can do with those puppet things." Mickey reminds him.

The Doctor tells him not to rub it or he will go bald. There is more screaming and the Doctor says that is his cue. He runs out. Martha pull Shakespeare with them. The Doctor runs out onto the stage, followed by Martha and Shakespeare. Lilith realises he is alive but says he can watch this world become a blasted heath.

"I've watched it be destroyed by the sun. Then I had chips. It all works out ok." Ten shrugs, grinning at Rose.

Lilith holds the crystal out into the red light and bat-like creatures fly into the theatre. They circle a bit then fly up into the sky. The Doctor turns to Shakespeare and says that history needs him. He convinces Shakespeare that he is the only man clever enough to do it because he comes up with the perfect words.

"You are very good at making people believe in themselves." Sarah-Jane smiles warmly at the Doctor.

"You get people to do things they never thought they could be capable of." Rose agrees. Both Doctors look down, flushing slightly.

"We also get them killed." Nine murmurs.

"You kept Shakespeare alive, and Martha." Jack points out.

Shakespeare starts speaking and Lilith cries that they are words of power. The Doctor supplies the correct numbers and Martha yells 'expelliarmus' as the final word. This is repeated by the Doctor and then Shakespeare. The Doctor laughs and says 'good old JK'.

"Harry Potter is useful." Rose laughs.

"Saved the world." Ten agrees with a grin.

The Carrionites scream. The Carrionites are sucked into a tornado, along with all the extant pages of the play. The Doctor comments there goes Loves Labour's Won. The sky clears with a flash and bang. After a few moments, someone starts clapping, then all the audience joins in. Martha asks if they think it was all special effects. Shakespeare says her effect is special indeed. She tells him it isn't his best line.

Everyone laughs.

Shakespeare and Martha take their bows. Meanwhile, the Doctor goes up to the now empty box and picks up the crystal. Lilith and her mothers are inside, scratching to get at him.

"They will be stuck in there forever?" Donn asks nervously.

"Yep. Put them in some old room in the TARDIS where nobody will ever find them to speak words of power." Ten assures her.

Next morning Shakespeare and Martha are sat in the theatre. He tells her a joke but she doesn't get it, so she tells him one from her time.

They all laugh a little.

He laughs and then says it doesn't make sense. He says come here and Shakespeare puts his arm around Martha's waist and pulls her towards him. She points out they only just met.

"Saved the world together, mind." Jack reminds her. "I'm so jealous of you right now."

He replied that the Doctor might never kiss her so why not entertain a man who will. He leans in but she backs off again and tells him his breath stinks.

"Yeah, 16th century problems." Jack laughs.

The Doctor then comes in wearing a small stiff ruff and carrying an animal skull. He states there is a good prop store back there. Then says the skull reminds him of a Sycorax.

"It does a bit." Rose agrees.

Shakespeare says he will have the word Sycorax off him as well. The Doctor comments he should be on ten percent. He asks how Shakespeare's head is and he says still aching. The Doctor takes the ruff off and puts it on him saying he got this for him. Wear it for a few days and then adds he mayu want to keep it as it suits him.

"Still better looking than most of his portraits though." Donna comments.

"Definitely." Martha agrees.

Martha asks about the play. The Doctor says it is all gone, every copy went up in the sky. Shakespeare calls it his lost masterpiece. Martha suggests he writes it up again but the Doctor flattens that idea, saying there is still power in the words. Shakespeare says he has new ideas and he may write in memory of his son Hamnet.

"Hamnet?" Rose asks. "I may not know much but I thought the play was Hamlet?"

"Probably got changed in translation over time." Sarah-Jane shrugs.

"It is pretty close." Rose nods.

Martha questions Hamnet and Shakespeare agrees. Martha asks again and he asks what is wrong with that. The Doctor cuts in saying he has an attic in the TARDIS where the crystal ball can go and he has to get Martha back to Freedonia.

"You have an attic?" Jack asks in surprise.

"Well the dressing room in two floors to I guess an attic isn't too out there." Mickey notes.

Shakespeare corrects he means travel through time and space

"He really is a genius."

"Well, having seen the Carrionites, the clothes do give away you're most likely not from that time." Donna points out.

The Doctor looks a little surprised as he asks what he just said. Shakespeare says it's not hard to work out he is from another world and Martha is from the future. The Doctor calls him incredible. He says he will say goodbye to Martha with a sonnet. Then Burbage and Kempe enter.

"Aww, they interrupted." Jack sighs.

They call to Will saying she has turned up. Burbage states they are the talk of the town and she wants them to perform again. Martha asks who and he tells her it's Her Majesty. Fanfare and the elderly Elizabeth enters with two pikemen. The Doctor calls out Elizabeth the First. She recognises the Doctor.

"Oh dear. She's met you before. I doubt she's happy." Rose laughs.

"Why would you say that?" Nine asks with a fake hurt expression.

"Because most people who meet you don't like you." She smirks.

She calls him her sworn enemy.

"Wow, you really did upset her." Jack whistles.

The Doctor asks what. She states off with his head and he says what again. Martha tells him to run. They run and Martha thanks Shakespeare as they leave. Shakespeare laughs as the pikemen chase the Doctor and Martha out and into the streets of Southwark. As they run Martha asks what he has done to upset her. He says he doesn't know as he hasn't met her yet, that's part of time travel. Then he adds he can't wait to find out.

"Of course you can't wait to upset yet another Queen of England." Sarah-Jane laughs.

They get to the Tardis and he lets Martha in. The Doctor gets inside and shuts the door as an arrow thuds into it. The screen goes black.

"Well that was exciting."

"So do you know what you did to upset her yet?" Rose asks.

"Nope." Ten shakes his head. "But she recognised me, so it's something I do in this body."

"Are we doing another one?" Jack asks. They all agree after a quick look at Ten who seems more relaxed than when they first started. Jack presses the button.