The Shakespeare Code

The Doctor and I decided to travel in to the past on our first trip with Martha. We also decided to stay on Earth. The Doctor turned a wheel on the console as fast as he could while Martha held on to the console to remain steady. I flipped some switches and looked over at Mom, "How you doing?"

She smiled, "I'm great… Isn't there anyway you can fly this more steady…"

"Not really…" I said.

On the other side of the console, Martha asked my uncle, "But how do you travel in time? What makes it go? "

"Oh, let's take the fun and mystery out of everything. Martha, you don't wanna know. It just does. Hold on tight!" He climbs onto the console to hit a switch and we all fell to the floor. Even Mom was knocked off the jump seat.

"Blimey!" asked Martha, as she got to her feet, "Do you have to pass a test to fly this thing?"

"Yes, and I failed it," said the Doctor as he stood up and grabbed his coat.

I helped my Mom up, "I passed the first time."

Mom smiled, "That's my girl…"

"Now, make the most of it." said the Doctor as he handed Martha her jacket, "I promised you one trip and one trip only. Outside this door…" He stopped at the door and faced us, "Brave new world."

"Where are we?" asked Mom.

"Take a look," he said as he opened the door, "After you."

Mom and Martha walked off first. I grabbed my fedora off the hat rack and looked around at where we were. London 1599 it was just a typical Elizabethan street at night, with people just wandering about. "Oh, you are kidding me," said Martha, "You are so kidding me. Oh, my God! We did it. We traveled in time. Where are we? No, sorry. I gotta get used to this whole new language. When are we? "

I looked up and pulled Mom and Martha back a man dumped a bucket out of a first
The Doctor looks up and pulls her back as a man dumped the contents of a bucket from a window over our heads.

"Mind the loo!" said the Man.

"Somewhere before the invention of the toilet." I said, "Sorry about that."

"I've seen worse," said Mom. "I've worked the late night shift in the E.R."

"Me too," said Martha as we started walking down the street, "But are we safe? I mean, can we move around and stuff? "

"Of course we can," said my uncle, "Why do you ask?"

"It's like in the films. You step on a butterfly; you change the future of the human race."

"Well, tell you what then, don't step on any butterflies. What have butterflies ever done to you?"

"But what if I kill my great grandfather?" asked Mom.

"You planning to?"

"No."

"Well, then."

"This is London," said Martha.

"Yep, London 1599," I said.

"Oh, but hold on. Am I all right? I'm not gonna get carted off as a slave, am I?"

"Why would they do that?" asked The Doctor.

"Not exactly white, in case you haven't noticed."

"I'm not even human. Just walk about like you own the place. Works for me. Besides, you'd be surprised. Elizabethan England, not so different from your time. Look over there." he pointed at a man shoveling manure, "They've got recycling." he pointed at two men conversing at a water barrel. "Water cooler moment."

"... and the world will be consumed by flame!" said a preacher in the street.

"Global warming. Oh, yes, and... entertainment! Popular entertainment for the masses. If I'm right, we're just down the river by Southwark right next to…"

We turned the corner and I smiled at the building in front of us "The Globe Theatre!" I said, "Brand new. Just opened. Through, strictly speaking, it's not a globe; it's a tetradecagon — 14 sides — containing the man himself. "

"Whoa, you don't mean... is Shakespeare in there?" asked Martha.

"Oh, yes," said the Doctor, he held out his arms for Martha and Mom, "Ms. Jones, Mrs. Duncan. Will you accompany me to the theatre?"

"Yes, Mr. Smith, I will," said Martha.

"I would be delighted," said Mom.

I laughed as we headed to the theater. I stepped next to Martha and said, "When you get home, you can tell everyone you've seen Shakespeare."

"Then I could get sectioned!" she replied.

It was truly a remarkable experience watching Shakespeare in the Globe Theater. It was a packed house and when the play was over everyone applauded and cheered. The Actors stood on the stage and took their bows.

"That's amazing! Just amazing," said Martha.

"It's worth putting up with the smell," Said Mom, "And are those men dressed as women?"

"London never changes." said The Doctor.

"Where's Shakespeare?" asked Martha, "I wanna see Shakespeare." She raised her fist in in the air and shouted "Author! Author!"

My mom looked at me and asked, "Do people shout that? Do they shout 'Author'?"

A Man in crowd by Martha picked up the chant and it soon spread through out the crowd. I looked around, "They do now."

Soon Shakespeare came out and took an exaggerated bow and blew kisses. Audience went wild, "He's a bit different from his portraits," said Martha.

"Genius. He's a genius - THE genius," said The Doctor, "The most human Human that's ever been. Now we're gonna hear him speak. Always, he chooses the best words. New, beautiful, brilliant words."

"Shut your big fat mouths!" yelled Shakespeare. The audience laughed.

"Oh, well," said my uncle in a disappointed tone.

"You should never meet your heroes," I said.

"You have excellent taste! I'll give you that," said Shakespeare, he pointed to man in audience, "Oh, that's a wig!" The audience laughed, "I know what you're all saying. 'Loves Labour's Lost', that's a funny ending, isn't it? It just stops! Will the boys get the girls? Well, don't get your hose in a tangle, you'll find out soon. Yeah, yeah. All in good time. You don't rush a genius." He bowed and then jerked upright. "When? Tomorrow night." The Audience cheered, "The premiere of my brand new play. A sequel, no less, and I call it 'Loves Labour's Won'!"

The Audience applauded loudly. The Doctor looked at each other. Something wasn't right. Once Shakespeare left the stage, the crowd started to make its way out of the theater. "I'm not an expert, but I've never heard of 'Loves Labour's Won'." said my mom.

"Exactly — the lost play. It doesn't exist — only in rumors," I said, "It's mentioned in lists of his plays but never ever turns up. No one knows why."

"Have you got a mini-disk or something?" asked Martha, "We could tape it. We can flog it. Sell it when we get home and make a mint."

The Doctor and I looked at Martha, "No."

"That would be bad?"

"Yeah. Yeah." said the Doctor

"Well, how come it disappeared in the first place?" asked Mom.

"Well, I was just gonna give you a quick little trip in the TARDIS but I suppose we could stay a bit longer."

"Wait…" said my mom… "We are actually going to meet Shakespeare…"

"Yes," said the Doctor.

A big smiled appeared on her face, "Mom," I said, "We are not going to meet Shakespeare so you can audition to be in his next play. In Elizabethan England, it was illegal for women to perform in the theater because it was considered dishonorable. We are going to meet Shakespeare so we can find out about 'Love's Labour Won'. "

"All right…" she said.

We found out that Shakespeare was staying at The Elephant Inn. We walked in and saw Shakespeare drinking with two of his actors. The Doctor knocked on the doorframe, "Hello! Excuse me! I'm not interrupting, am I? Mr. Shakespeare, isn't it?"

"Oh no, no, no, no," said Shakespeare, "Who let you in? No autographs. No, you can't have yourself sketched with me. And please don't ask where I get my ideas from. Thanks for the interest. Now be a good boy and shove—-" he then got a look at Martha who was standing behind the Doctor, "Hey, nonny nonny. Sit right down here next to me." he looked at his friends and said, "You two get sewing on them costumes. Off you go."

Then a blond haired woman named Dolly Bailey walked in, "Come on, lads. I think our William's found his new muse."

"Sweet lady," he said as Martha sat down, "Such unusual clothes. So... Fitted."

"Um, verily, forsooth, egads," said Martha.

"No, no, don't do that," I said, as the rest of us took a seat at the table.

The Doctor took out the psychic paper and said, "I'm Sir Doctor of TARDIS. This is my niece, Lady Teddy. And these are our companion, Miss Martha Jones & Mrs. Amy Duncan."

"Interesting, that bit of paper," said Shakespeare, "It's blank."

My uncle was clearly impressed, "Oh, that's... very clever. That proves it. Absolute genius."

"No, it says so right there," said Martha as she glanced at the psychic paper, "Sir Doctor, Lady Teddy, Martha Jones, Amy Duncan. It says so."

Mom looked at the paper, "She's right."

"And I say it's blank," said Shakespeare.

The Doctor looked at Martha & Mom and said, "Psychic paper. Um, long story. Oh, I hate starting from scratch." Then, he put the Psychic paper away.

"Psychic. Never heard that before and words are my trade. Who are you exactly? More's the point, who is your delicious blackamoor lady?"

"What did you say?" said Martha.

"Oops. Isn't that a word we use nowadays?" asked Shakespeare, "An Ethiop girl? A swarth? A Queen of Afric…"

"I can't believe I'm hearing this."

"It's political correctness gone mad." said The Doctor.

"Martha's from a far-off land. Freedonia," I said.

"Excuse me!" Said a voice from outside. Just then large man walked in the room, "Hold hard a moment. This is abominable behaviour. A new play with no warning? I demand to see a script, Mr. Shakespeare. As Master of the Revels, every new script must be registered at my office and examined by me before it can be performed."

"Tomorrow morning, Mr. Lynley, first thing, I'll send it 'round."

"I don't work to your schedule, you work to mine. The script, now!"

"I can't."

"Then tomorrow's performance is cancelled."

"It's all go, 'round here, isn't it?" said Martha.

"I'm returning to my office for a banning order. If it's the last thing I do, 'Love's Labours Won' will never be played." With that Mr. Lynley left.

"Well, then... mystery solved," said Mom, "That's 'Love's Labours Won' over and done with. Thought it might be something more, you know... more mysterious."

Then we heard a scream from outside. We all rushed outside. When we got outside we saw Mr. Lynley, spitting up water. "It's that Lynley bloke." said Martha.

"What's wrong with him? Leave it to men— I'm a doctor." said my uncle, as he went to Mr. Lynley's side.

"So am I – near enough." said Martha.

"I'm a nurse," said my mom.

Then all of the sudden, Mr. Lynley fell to the ground. The Doctor stood and ran to look down the street for something.

Martha put her ear to his chest to see if he was breathing, "Gotta get the heart going."

"Mr, Lynley?" asked Mom, "Can you hear me? You're gonna be all right."

Martha prepared to start mouth-to-mouth as the Doctor returned. Then, water gushed from Lynley's mouth, "What the hell is that?" asked Martha.

"I've never seen a death like it," said Mom, "His lungs are full of water — he drowned and then... I don't know, like a blow to the heart, an invisible blow."

The Doctor stood and looked at Dolly, "Good mistress, this poor fellow has died from a sudden imbalance of the humours. A natural if unfortunate demise. Call a constable and have him taken away."

"Yes, sir," said Dolly.

"I'll do it, ma'am," said a maid who worked at the inn.

The Doctor crouched down "And why are you telling them that?" asked Martha.

"This lot still have got one foot in the Dark Ages," said The Doctor, "If I tell them the truth, they'll panic and think it was witchcraft. "

"Okay, what was it then?" asked Mom

"Witchcraft." I said.

A short time later, we were back inside, Dolly walked into the room, "I got you a room, Sir Doctor. You and your party are just across the landing." Then she left.

"Poor Lynley," said Shakespeare, "So many strange events. Not least of all, this land of Freedonia where a woman can be a doctor?"

"Where a woman can do what she likes," said Martha

"And you, Sir Doctor, Lady Teddy. How can two people so young have eyes so old?"

"We do a lot of reading," I said.

"A trite reply. Yeah, that's what I'd do," said Shakespeare. Then he looked at Martha, "And you, you look at him like you're surprised he exists. He's as much of a puzzle to you as he is to me."

"I think we should say good night," said Martha, then she left.

"I must work," said Shakespeare, "I have a play to complete. But I'll get my answers tomorrow, Doctor, and I'll discover more about you and why this constant performance of yours."

"All the world's a stage," said The Doctor.

"Hm, I might use that. Good night, Doctor, Teddy, Amy…"

"Good night," Said Mom and I as we stood to leave.

"Nighty-night, Shakespeare," said the Doctor, then we left.

When we entered the room, Martha was examining the room. There wasn't much in the room except for two beds. "It's not exactly five-star, is it?" said Martha.

"Oh, it'll do. I've seen worse." said my uncle.

"I haven't even got a toothbrush," said Mom.

"Ooh." I reached into the inside pockets of my cardigan and pulled out a couple of brushes, "Contains Venusian spearmint."

"So, who's going where?" asked Martha, "I mean, there's only two beds."

"We'll manage." said the Doctor.

"I think the Doctor and I should share one bed and Mom and Martha you can share the other." I said.

"Sound good to me," said Mom as she laid down on one bed and The Doctor flopped onto the other.

"So, magic and stuff," said Martha, "That's a surprise. It's a little bit 'Harry Potter'. "

"Wait till you read Book Seven. Oh, I cried." said my uncle.

"But is it real, though?" asked Mom, "I mean, witches, black magic and all that, it's real?"

"'Course it isn't!"

"Well, how am I supposed to know? I've only just started believing in time travel. Give me a break."

"It looks like witchcraft, but it isn't," I said as I laid down.

"Can't be." said The Doctor, then he looked at Martha, "Are you gonna stand there all night?" Martha then laid down in the bed next to my mom and she looked over at the Doctor as he continued, "There's such a thing as psychic energy but a human couldn't channel it like that."

" Not without a generator the size of Taunton and I think we'd have spotted that," I said.

"There's something I'm missing, Martha." he said, "Something really close, staring me right in the face and I can't see it. Rose would know. A friend of mine, Rose. Right now, she'd say exactly the right thing." Then he lied on back, "Still, can't be helped. You're a novice, never mind. I'll take you back home tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes, "Great!" said Martha. Then she blew out the candle and the room went dark.

Even though Time Lords don't need a lot of sleep, I still liked to get some whenever I could. Being with The Doctor takes quite a bit of energy. I was dozing when all of the sudden a blood curdling scream filled the room. My eyes popped open and I felt my uncle get out of the bed. I ran after him, my mom and Martha were right behind me.

We went into Shakespeare's Room and saw Dolly dead on the floor. "Wha.? What was that?" said Shakespeare. The Doctor and Martha went to examine the body. Mom and I ran to the window and we saw the impossible. We saw the silhouette of a witch on a broom flying in the sky. We looked at each other.

" Her heart gave out. She died of fright," said The Doctor.

"Doctor?" I called.

"What did you see?"

"A witch." said Mom.

The next morning we were all in Shakespeare's room sitting around his desk, "Oh, sweet Dolly Bailey." he said, "She sat out three bouts of the plague in this place. We all ran like rats. But what could have scared her so? She had such enormous spirit."

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light." Said my uncle.

"I might use that."

"You can't. It's someone else's."

"But the thing is, Mr. Lynley drowned on dry land," said Mom to Shakespeare, "Dolly died of fright and they were both connected to you."

"You're accusing me?" he said.

"No, but Teddy and I saw a witch, flying, cackling away, and you've written about witches."

"I have? When was that?"

"Not, not quite yet." said I said to Mom in a low tone of voice.

"Peter Streete spoke of witches," said Shakespeare.

"Who's Peter Streete?" asked Martha.

"Our builder. He sketched the plans to the Globe."

"The architect. Hold on. The architect! The architect!" said my uncle, we all jumped when he slammed his fist on the table, "The Globe! Come on!" Then he rushed out of the room and we followed.

Soon we were standing on the stage of the Globe Theater. The Doctor was standing in the pit where the audience stood, "The columns there, right?" he said, "14 sides. I've always wondered but I never asked... tell me, Will, why 14 sides? "

"It was the shape Peter Streete thought best, that's all. Said it carried the sound well."

"Why does that ring a bell? 14…" I said as I started to think.

"There are 14 lines in a sonnet." said Mom.

"So there is. Good point. Words and shapes following the same design," said the Doctor as he started to pace, "14 lines, 14 sides, 14 facets…Oh, my head. Tetradecagon... think, think, think! Words, letters, numbers, lines!"

"This is just a theatre." said Shakespeare.

"But a theatre's magic," I said, "You should know. Mom you know. Stand on this stage, say the right words with the right emphasis a the right time... You can make men weep, or cry with joy, change them. You can change people's minds just with words in this place. And if you exaggerate that…"

"It's like you're police box," said Martha, "Small wooden box with all that POWER inside."

"Oh. Oh, Martha Jones, I like you," said The Doctor, "Tell you what, though. Peter Streete would know. Can I talk to him?

"You won't get an answer," said Shakespeare. "A month after finishing this place... lost his mind."

"Why? What happened?" asked Mom.

"Started raving about witches, hearing voices, babbling. His mind was addled."

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"Bedlam."

"What's Bedlam?" asked Mom.

"Bethlem Hospital," said Shakespeare, "The madhouse."

"We're gonna go there. Right now. Come on."

He headed out with Me, Mom and Martha close behind. I heard Shakespeare call out, "Wait! I'm coming with you. I want to witness this at first hand! Ralph, the last scene as promised. Copy it, hand it round. Learn it. Speak it. Back before curtain up. Remember, kid, project. Eyes and teeth. You never know — the Queen might turn up."

As we walked down the street, Shakespeare and Martha talked, "So, tell me of Freedonia, where women can be doctors, writers, actors." He said.

"This country's ruled by a woman," said Martha.

"Ah, she's royal. That's God's business. Though you are a royal beauty."

Martha stopped, "Whoa, Nelly! I know for a fact you've got a wife in the country."

"But Martha, this is Town."

The Doctor walked up to us, "Come on. We can all have a good flirt later. "

"Is that a promise, Doctor?" said Shakespeare.

My eyes got big and the Doctor said," Oh, 57 academics just punched the air. Now move!"

We reached Bedlam Hospital and it was nothing like a modern hospital. It was more like a jail. As we walked down the hall, the Jailer said, "Does my lord, Doctor, wish some entertainment while he waits? I'd whip these madmen. They'll put on a good show for ya. Bandog and Bedlam!"

"No, I don't!" said the Doctor.

"Wait here, my lords, while I make him decent for the ladies." Then he walked away.

"So this is what you call a hospital, yeah?" said Martha, "Where the patients are whipped to entertain the gentry? And you put your friend in here?"

"Oh, and it's all so different in Freedonia," said Shakespeare.

"But you're clever! Do you honestly think this place is any good?"

"I've been mad. I've lost my mind. Fear of this place set me right again. It serves its purpose."

"Mad in what way?"

"You lost your son," I said softly.

"My only boy. The Black Death took him. I wasn't even there." said Shakespeare.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry." said Martha.

"It made me question everything. The futility of this fleeting existence. To be or not to be... oh, that's quite good."

"You should write that down," said Mom.

"Hm, maybe not. A bit pretentious?"

"This way, m'lord!" called the Jailer from down the hall. We walked up to the cell and the jailer unlocked to door, "They can be dangerous, m'lord. Don't know their own strength."

"I think it helps if you don't whip them! Now get out!" said my uncle. The jailer left and my uncle approached Peter slowly "Peter? Peter Streete?"

"He's the same as he was. You'll get nothing out of him," said Shakespeare.

The Doctor put a hand on Peter's shoulder, "Peter?" Peter's head jerked up and he looked at my uncle with wild, glassy eyes and it seemed like he wanted to speak. The Doctor placed his fingertips on Peter's face, "Peter, I'm the Doctor. Go into the past, one year ago. Let your mind go back, back to when everything was fine and shining. Everything that happened in this year since happened to somebody else. It was just a story. A winter's tale. Let go. Listen. That's it, just let go." Then he laid Peter down on his cot, "Tell me the story, Peter. Tell me about the witches."

Then, Peter spoke, "Witches spoke to Peter. In the night, they whispered. Got Peter to build the Globe to their design. THEIR design! The 14 walls — always 14. When the work was done," He laughed, "they sapped poor Peter's wits."

"Where did Peter see the witches? Where in the city?" asked my uncle, as he crouched beside Peter, "Peter, tell me. You've got to tell me where were they?"

" All Hallows Street."

Just then a witch appeared behind my uncle, "Too many words." she said.

The Doctor turned around, saw the witch, jumped up, and joined the rest of us."What the hell?" said Martha.

"Just one touch of the heart," said the witch and she laid her hand on Peter's chest.

"Noooo!" shouted the Doctor as Peter screamed and died.

"Witch!" said Shakespeare, "I'm seeing a witch!"

"Who would be next, hmm? Just one touch." said the witch, "Oh, oh, I'll stop your frantic hearts. Poor, fragile mortals."

Martha ran to the door and started to screamed, "Let us out! Let us out!"

"That's not gonna work. The whole building's shouting that." I said.

"Who will die first, hmm?" said the witch.

"Well, if you're looking for volunteers," said the Doctor as he walked toward the witch.

"No! Don't!" said Mom.

"Doctor, can you stop her?" asked Shakespeare.

"No mortal has power over me," said the witch.

"Oh, but there's a power in words. If I can find the right one — if I can just know you…"

"None on Earth has knowledge of us."

"Then it's a good thing we're here," I said, "Now let's see Humanoid female… uses shapes and words to channel energy…"

"Ah, 14! That's it! 14! The 14 stars of the Rexel planetary configuration!" said the Doctor.

I smiled I instantly knew what the 'witch' was, I looked at her and said, "Creature, I name you Carrionite!"

Then the witch wailed and disappears. "What did you do?" asked Martha.

"I named her. The power of a name. That's old magic."

"But there's no such thing as magic," said Mom.

"Well, it's just a different sort of science," said The Doctor, "You lot, you chose mathematics. Given the right string of numbers, the right equation, you can split the atom. Carrionites use words instead."

"Use them for what?" asked Shakespeare.

"The end of the world."

A short time later we were back at Shakespeare's room at the Inn, "The Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe," I said, "Nobody was sure if they were real or legend."

"Well, I'm going for real," said Mom.

"But what do they want?" asked Martha.

"A new empire on Earth," said The Doctor, "A world of bones and blood and witchcraft."

"But how?" asked Martha.

"I'm looking at the man with the words."

" Me? But I've done nothing," said Shakespeare.

"Hold on, though," said Martha, "What were you doing last night, when that Carrionite was in the room?"

"Finishing the play."

"What happens on the last page?" I asked.

"The boys get the girls. They have a bit of a dance. It's all as funny and thought provoking as usual — except those last few lines. Funny thing is... I don't actually remember writing them."

"That's it," said the Doctor, "They used you. They gave you the final words. Like a spell, like a code. 'Love's Labours Won' — it's a weapon! The right combination of words, spoken at the right place with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter! The play's the thing! And yes, you can have that."

Shakespeare got out a map of London and we started to look for the street that Peter named, "All Hallows Street," said The Doctor, "There it is. Martha, Teddy, Amy and I will track them down. Will, you get to the Globe. Whatever you do, stop that play!"

"I'll do it," said Shakespeare, as he shook my uncle's hand, "All these years I've been the cleverest man around. Next to you, I know nothing."

"Don't complain," I said.

"I'm not. It's marvelous. Good luck, Doctor."

"Good luck, Shakespeare," said my uncle, as we headed out of the door, "Once more unto the breach!"

"I like that. Wait a minute... that's one of mine."

"Oh, just shift! "

Soon we were at the street, "All Hallows Street, but which house?" I said.

"The thing is, though," said Mom, "Am I missing something here? The world didn't end in 1599. It just didn't. Look at me — I'm living proof."

"Oh, how to explain the mechanics of the infinite temporal flux?" said The Doctor, "I know! 'Back to the Future'! It's like 'Back to the Future'!"

"The film?" asked Martha.

"No, the novelization. Yes, the film," said the Doctor. I hit him on the shoulder, he gave me a look, then he continued, "Marty McFly goes back and changes history."

And he starts fading away," said Martha. Then her eyes got big when she realized what could happen, "Oh my God, am I gonna fade?"

"You, Amy and the entire future of the human race. It ends right now in 1599 if we don't stop it. But which house?" Just then we saw a door to a house open, "Ah, make that WITCH house."

We walked inside and saw the woman who was the maid at the inn Lilith, "I take it we're expected." said my uncle.

"Oh, I think Death has been waiting for you a very long time," Said Lilith.

"Now, it's my turn," said Mom, as she stepped forward, "I know how to do this." She pointed her finger at Lilith, "I name thee, Carrionite!" But nothing happened, ""What did I do wrong? Was it the finger?"

"The power of a name works only once. Observe." She pointed towards Martha and my Mom, "I gaze upon these bags of bones who are so outspoken and now I name thee Martha Jones and Amy Duncan."

Martha and Mom collapsed. My uncle and I caught them as they fell and lowered them to the ground, "What did you do to them?!" I yelled at Lilith.

"Only sleeping, alas," she said, "Curious, the name has less impact. She's somehow out of her time. And as for you, Sir Doctor! Lady Teddy!" she pointed at us but nothing happened, "Fascinating. There is no name. Why would two people hide their titles in such despair? Oh, but look. There's still one word with the power that aches."

"The naming won't work on us." I said with hate in my voice.

"But your heart grows cold. The north wind blows and carries down the distant... Rose."

"Oh, big mistake 'cos that name keeps us fighting!" said my uncle as we stood up, "The Carrionites vanished! Where did you go?"

"The Eternals found the right word to banish us into deep darkness." she said.

"And how did you escape?"

"New words. New and glittering from a mind like no other."

"Shakespeare," I said.

"His son perished. The grief of a genius. Grief without measure. Madness enough to allow us entrance."

"How many of you?"

"Just the three. But the play tonight shall restore the rest. Then the human race will be purged as pestilence. And from this world we will lead the universe back to the old ways of blood and magic."

"Hmm... busy schedule... but first you gotta get past us," said The Doctor as he stood face-to-face with Lilith.

"Oh, that should be a pleasure considering my enemy has such a handsome shape," she said seductively and ran her fingers along his face.

"Now, that's one form of magic that's definitely not gonna work on me," he said.

"Oh, we'll see," the she yanked a lock of hair from his head and backed away.

"What did you do?" he asked as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Souvenir."

"Well, give it back!" Lilith threw her arms up and the window behind her opened. Then she flew backwards out the window and levitated outside.

"Well, that's just cheating," I said, as The Doctor and I went to the window sill.

"Behold, Doctor. Men to Carrionites are nothing but puppets," she said. Then she took out a doll and wrapped his hair around it.

"Now, you might call that magic…," He said, "I'd call that a DNA replication module."

"What use is your science now?" she said, then she stabbed the doll and The Doctor screamed and fell to the floor.

"Doctor!" I called out, and went to his side. I heard Lilith cackle and fly way.

Martha and Mom woke up while we were talking to Lilith. Mom comforted me while Martha tended to my uncle, "Don't worry, I've got you," she said, as she rolled him onto his back and started to listen for a heartbeat, "Hold on, Mister… Two Hearts?"

"You're making a habit of this," said my uncle as he started to stand. He screamed and started to fall. Martha held him up and he said, "I've only got one heart working. How do you people cope? I've got to get the other one started. Hit me! Hit me on the chest!" She hit him, "Aahh! Other side!" She hit him again, "On the back! On the back!" she did, "Left a bit!" she hit him again, "Ahh, lovely." Then he was able to stand on his feet with out support, "There we go! Ba-da-boom! Well, what are you standing there for? Come one! The Globe!"

Then, we ran out of the house and headed for The Globe. We ran through the streets and as we got closer to The Globe we heard screaming we looked up at The Globe and we saw a red glow of energy pouring from the top of the theater. Then, the preacher we herd talking about the end of the world when we first arrived, was saying, "I told thee so! I told thee!"

"Stage door!" said The Doctor. As we ran we saw bolts of red lighting flash through the ominous clouds forming over the Globe. We burst through the stage door and saw Shakespeare rubbing his head, "Stop the play!" said The Doctor, "I think that was it. Yeah, I said, 'Stop the play'" I hit him on the shoulder.

"I hit my head." said Shakespeare.

"Yeah, don't rub it, you'll go bald." said my uncle, and I hit him again. He looked at me and then we hear thunder and screaming from the front. "I think that's our cue!" He said as he ran. Martha grabbed Shakespeare's hand as we followed.

When we got on stage, we saw Lilith and two other Carrionites in a box overlooking center stage. Lillith was holding a crystal ball, above her head and then more Carrionites started to fly around the Globe.

My uncle grabbed Shakespeare, "Come on, Will! History needs you!"

"But what can I do?" he asked.

"Reverse it!"

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"The shape of the Globe gives words power," I said, "But you're the wordsmith, the one true genius. The only man clever enough to do it!"

"But what words? I have none ready!"

"You're William Shakespeare!"

"But these Carrionite phrases, the need such precision!"

"Trust yourself. When you're locked away in your room, the words just come, don't they?" said my uncle, "Like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm — words that last forever! That's what you do, Will! You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise!"

He thought for a moment and then he spoke, "Close up this den of hateful, dire decay! Decomposition of your witches' plot! You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not Foul Carrionite spectres, cease your show! Between the points…"

He looked to my uncle, and The Doctor said, ""7-6-1-3-9-0!"

"7-6-1-3-9-0! And banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee…"

He again looked at my uncle, but he couldn't think of a rhyme either. I searched my brain when Martha shouted out "Expelliarmus!"

"Expelliarmus!" I said.

"Expelliarmus! Said Shakespeare.

"Good old JK!" said the Doctor. We could hear the Carrionites scream as they were sucked up into the cloud, then the doors from backstage opened and the copies of the play were sucked up as well, "'Love's Labours Won'. There it goes." The cloud dissipated with a blink of light. The audience sighed in relief and began applauding. I looked up in the box where the Lillith and the two Carrrionites were and saw it empty. I pointed this out to my uncle and he ran off stage. I followed up to the box. All that was left was the crystal ball with the three Carrionites trapped inside. I picked it up and we left the box.

The next morning at the Globe, Martha, Shakespeare, and Mom were sitting on stage while The Doctor and I did a search of The Globe for any remaining copies of the play. After coming up empty we decide to find the others. I was carrying the crystal and My uncle was wearing a ruff collar and carrying an animal skull.

"Good props store back there! I'm not sure about this though," said my uncle as he looked at the skill, "Reminds me of a Sycorax"

"Sycorax. Nice word. I'll have that off you as well." said Shakespeare.

"I should be on 10%. How's your head?"

"Still aching."

"Here, I got you this," said the Doctor as he took the collar off and put it around Shakespeare's neck, "Neck brace. Wear that for a few days till it's better."

"Although you might wanna keep it," I said, "It a good look for you. "

"What about the play?" asked Martha.

"Gone. We looked all over — every single copy of 'Love's Labours' Won went up in the sky."

"My lost masterpiece," said Shakespeare.

"You could write it again," said Mom.

"Yeah, you better not," I said, "There's still power in those words. Maybe it should best stay forgotten."

"Oh, but I've got new ideas. Perhaps it's time I wrote about fathers and sons. In memory of my boy — my precious Hamnet."

"Hamnet?" asked Martha.

"That's him."

"Ham-NET?" asked Mom.

"What's wrong with that? "

"Anyway, time we were off," said the Doctor, as he took the crystal from me, "I've got a nice attic in the TARDIS where this lot, can scream for all eternity and I've gotta take Martha and Amy back to Freedonia."

"You mean travel on through time and space." said Shakespeare

"You what?"

"You and Teddy are from another world like the Carrionites and Martha and Amy are from the future. It's not hard to work out."

"That's... incredible. You are incredible."

"We're alike in many ways, Doctor. Martha, let me say goodbye to you in a new verse. A sonnet for my Dark Lady. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate—"

Just then two of the actors walked in from the audience entrance to the pit, "Will! Will! You'll never believe it! She's here! She's turned up!"

"We're the talk of the town," Said the other actor, "She heard about last night! She wants us to perform it again."

"Who?" asked Martha.

"Her Majesty! She's here!"

There was a fanfare and The Queen entered The Globe, "Queen Elizabeth I!" said the Doctor excitedly.

"Doctor!" said The Queen.

"What?" said my uncle.

"My sworn enemy!"

"What?" I said.

"Off with his head!"

"What?" said the Doctor and I together.

"Never mind 'what', just run!" said Mom.

"See you, Will! And thanks!" said Martha as we ran out through the back of the stage.

"Stop that pernicious Doctor!" we heard the Queen shout. We also heard Shakespeare laughing.

We ran thorough the streets of London back to the TARDIS. We heard the soldiers calling out to us, "Stop in the name of the Queen!"

"What has he done to upset her?!" asked Mom.

"How should I know?" I said, "We haven't even met her yet!"

"That's time travel for you" said the Doctor, "Still, can't wait to find out." He unlocked the door and let Mom and Martha inside. "That's something to look forward to." he said with a smile.

I smiled back, "Yeah…" Then I turned and saw the archers firing at us, "Oh boy…" We ducked inside, just as an arrow embedded itself in the door of the TARDIS.