An oriental but clearly alien
marketplace. A narrow, crowded alley with various people selling their
strange wares. The Doctor walks away from a stall, sniffing his fingers -
he joins Donna. The pair of them make their way down the alley, laughing.
They each have a beverage in their hand.
THE DOCTOR
You are going to love this. One, two, three -
They swig and give themselves foamy
moustaches. Donna squeals with laughter.
THE DOCTOR (CONT'D)
(appreciatively)
Ah!DONNA
It's lovely!
They continue down the alley, browsing,
and go their separate ways.
STALL OWNER
(to Donna)
You want to buy Shukina?
The Doctor inspects what seems to be
some kind of fruit with long spikes.
STALL OWNER (CON'T)
Or Peshwami? Most beautiful
Peshwami in all of Shan Shen.
Donna glances over at the Doctor who is
chatting enthusiastically with the seller of this strange fruit.
DONNA
(politely)
No thanks.
She walks a little further and is
spotted by a fortune teller sitting outside her tent.
FORTUNE TELLER
Tell your fortune, lady?
(Donna turns)
Your future predicted, your life foretold.DONNA
Ah, no thanks.FORTUNE TELLER
Don't you want to know - if you're going to be happy?DONNA
(smiling)
I'm happy right now, thanks.FORTUNE TELLER
You've got red hair. Reading's free for red hair.DONNA
(laughs)
All right, then.
The Fortune Teller stands aside,
allowing Donna into the tent - after a furtive and slightly sinister
glance around, she follows her inside.
INT. TENT
Donna and the Fortune Teller sit at opposite sides of a table. The Fortune
Teller caresses Donna's palms with a nail-polished finger.
FORTUNE TELLER
You're fascinating. Oh no, but you're good. I can see... a man.
(Donna half laughs)
The most remarkable man. How did you meet him?DONNA
You're supposed to tell me.FORTUNE TELLER
I see the future. Tell me the past. When did your lives cross?DONNA
It's sort of complicated. I ended up in his spaceship on my wedding day.
There's a strange clicking noise in the
air which Donna hasn't noticed, but which the Fortune Teller responds to
with slightly narrowed eyes.
FORTUNE TELLER
But what led you to that meeting?DONNA
All sorts of things.
(after a moment's thought)
But my job, I suppose. It was on Earth... this planet called Earth, miles away. But I had this job as a temp. I was a secretary at this place called H.C. Clements.
(She gives a strange lurch)
INT. H.C. CLEMENTS OFFICE
DONNA
(answers a phone)
H.C. Clements.
Donna, sitting at her desk, looking around -
INT. TENT
And she's back. She exhales, slightly
shaken.
DONNA
Sorry.
The Fortune Teller is again, caressing
her palm.
FORTUNE TELLER
It's the incense. Just er - breathe deep.
A different point of view, something
close to the floor behind Donna, creeping up on her accompanied by the
clicking sound.
FORTUNE TELLER (CON'T)
This job of yours - what choices led you there?DONNA
There was a choice... six months before. The agency offered me this contract with H.C. Clements.
EXT. STREET
Donna and Sylvia walk from their house
to the car.
DONNA (V/O)
But there was this other job. My mum knew this man...SYLVIA
Jival, he's called. Jival Chowdry?
Donna and Sylvia get into the car.
INT. CAR
SYLVIA
He runs that little photocopy business. And he needs a secretaryDONNA
(with the air of someone who has been nagged)
I've - got - a job.SYLVIA
As a temp. This is permanent. It's twenty thousand a year, Donna.DONNA
(clicks in her seatbelt)
H.C. Clements is in the City. It's nice. It's posh. So, stop it.
Donna turns the key in the ignition.
INT. TENT
FORTUNE TELLER
Your life could have gone one way or the other. What made you decide?DONNA
I just did.
Again, the point of view from the
floor - it's getting closer to Donna's chair.
FORTUNE TELLER
But when was the moment? When did you choose?
EXT. LITTLE SUTTON STREET
A large blue van drives past. Donna
and Sylvia are waiting at the junction in their car.
SYLVIA
It won't take long, just turn right. We'll pop in and see Mr. Chowdry. Suzette can introduce you.DONNA
(clearly fed up)
I'm going left. If you don't like it, get out and walk.SYLVIA
(insistent)
If you turn right, you'll have a career. Not just filling in.DONNA
(raising her voice)
You think I'm so useless.SYLVIA
(mockingly)
I know why you want a job with H.C. Clements, lady - because you think you'll meet a man with lots of money and your whole life will change. Well, let me tell you, sweetheart: city executives don't need temps, except for practice.DONNA
Yeah. Well, they haven't met me.
She turns left.
FORTUNE TELLER (V/O)
You turned left.
INT. TENT
The crawling thing closes in. In Donna's mind, the headlights, the blinking arrow indicating her direction, flash in quick succession--FORTUNE TELLER
But what if you turned right? What then?
DONNA
(shaken and suspicious)
Let go of my hands.
FORTUNE TELLER
What if it changes? What if you go right? What if you could still go right?
The crawling, clicking thing darts up Donna's back.DONNA
(scared)
Stop it.
The Fortune Teller does not answer, but merely fixes her with an intense, somewhat greedy stare.DONNA (CON'T)
(freezes, whispers)
What's that?
(click, click)
What's on my back?
A black spindly something touches her shoulder.DONNA (CON'T)
What is it? What-- what's on my back?
The thing reaches her other shoulder.FORTUNE TELLER
(viciously)
Make the choice again, Donna Noble, and change your mind. Turn right.
DONNA
(whispers, entranced)
I'm turning...
FORTUNE TELLER
Turn right. Turn right.
INT. CARFORTUNE TELLER (CON'T)
Turn right.
Donna turns right.SYLVIA
Let me tell you, sweetheart: city executives don't need temps, except for practice.
DONNA
Yeah. S'pose you're right.
FORTUNE TELLER (V/O)
Turn right and never meet that man. Turn right and change the world!
OPENING CREDITSINT. PUB
A Christmas party - crowded with decorations and people singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". Donna elbows her way through them all with a tray of drinks. They finish their song with cheers and 'Merry Christmas Everyone' by Slade blares out.
They all laugh.DONNA
Get out of the way. Get out of the way!
(joins her friends at a table)
There we are! Feed at the trough.
VEENA
Mooky says let's go to the Boardwalk. It's two for the price of one.
DONNA
Christmas Eve? It'll be heaving.
MOOKY
Exactly! Get in and grab 'em.
Donna notices Alice has not joined in the toast and chinks glasses with her. What she has not noticed is that Alice has been regarding her somewhat nervously ever since she sat down. There is a faint clicking noise in the background.VEENA
(to Donna)
Hey, that's the second round of drinks you've bought. It was my turn!
DONNA
I can afford it. Promotion. You are talking to Jival Chowdry's personal assistant, I'll have you know. Capital P, capital A, twenty-three-thousand pounds per annum, merci beaucoup!
VEENA
(raises her glass)
Here's to Mr Chowdry!
ALL EXCEPT ALICE
(in a toast)
Mr Chowdry!
MOOKY
She gets all the luck.
Donna stares at her, unsettled.DONNA
(to Alice)
What's wrong? What is it?
ALICE
(bewildered)
Sorry?
DONNA
Has someone spilled a drink on me?
(strains round to look at her own shoulder)
Why do you keep looking at my shoulder? What's wrong?
ALICE
(wide eyed, whispers)
I don't know.
DONNA
Oh, don't tell me you're getting all spooky again. It was bad enough when you saw the ghost of Earl Mountbatten at the Boat show. What are you looking at? What is it?
ALICE
(undeterred by Donna's jibes)
It's like... it's like there's something I can't see!
Everyone stops chattering and focuses on him.MAN IN PUB
(from the door)
Shut up, all of you! Come and see! Just look at the sky!
MAN IN PUB (CON'T)
It's a star! A Christmas star!
VEENA
Come on, then.
EXT. STREET
Donna and her friends crowd outside with everyone else and look up at the sky.
What appears to be a large star glides over the rooftops with a low hum.MOOKY
What the hell is that?
VEENA
(irritated)
Ken Livingston, that's what - spending our money on decorations.
They hurry around the corner to keep the star in sight.VEENA (CONT'T)
I mean, how much did that cost??
MOOKY
Don't be so stupid, it's flying! It's really flying!
The clicking. Alice is completely ignoring the star as she is engrossed in Donna's back, staring at it, trying so hard to see... The web comes to a standstill above a busy street and out of each of its points, it shoots beams of electricity. All but Donna - who is staring wide eyed at the web, and Alice who is staring at Donna's back in horror - run and scream. The clicking. Donna becomes aware of Alice.DONNA
That's not a star. That's a web. It's heading east... the middle of the City.
And she runs. Donna hurries in the direction of the star.DONNA
(slightly fearful in her confusion)
Alice. There's a great big web-star thing shooting at people, and you're looking at me?
ALICE
(quiet terror)
There's something on your back.
But Mooky pulls Veena away and they don't follow her. In any case, Donna ignores them.VEENA
(shouting after her)
Donna! Where are you going? You're going to get yourself killed! Donna!
EXT. CITY CENTRE
An army tank rolls to a halt amidst the chaos.
The tank - and other strategically placed tanks - shoot at the web-star. It bursts into flames and shatters. Donna jogs into the action.SOLDIER #1
FIRE!
Donna joins the crowd, looking around.SOLDIER #1
Everyone stay back. The Thames has been closed. Return to your homes.
Donna sidles around some cars and is in hearing range of a UNIT soldier speaking to his captain on his walkie-talkie.SOLDIER #1 (CONT'D)
Keep away from the river - and that's an order.
A body on a stretcher, covered in a red blanket, is being carried into an ambulance.CAPTAIN
Trap 1 to Greyhound 15: what is your report? Over.
UNIT SOLDIER
From the evidence, I'd say he managed to stop the creature. Some sort of red spider. Blew up the base underneath the barrier, flooded the whole thing. Over.
CAPTAIN
And where is he now? Over.
UNIT SOLDIER
We found a body, sir. Over.
An arm clothed in a pinstriped suit falls uselessly over the side of the stretcher - a hand drops the sonic screwdriver onto the road.CAPTAIN
Is it him? Over.
UNIT SOLDIER
I think so. He just didn't make it out in time.
The sonic screwdriver twitches on the floor as they load the Doctor's body into the ambulance.UNIT SOLDIER (CONT'D)
The Doctor is dead. Must have happened too fast for him to regenerate.
The ambulance doors are shut. Donna walks slowly away from the scene and is met by a frantic blonde girl running from the opposite direction. She is Rose, but Donna does not know this.CAPTAIN
Escort the ambulance back to UNIT base.
Rose stops and stares at her.ROSE
(breathless)
What happened? What did they find?
(to Donna)
Sorry, did they find someone?
DONNA
I don't know. Um, bloke called the Doctor or something.
ROSE
(looking around)
Well, where is he?
DONNA
They took him away. He's dead.
Rose looks away in utter dismay.DONNA (CONT'D)
I'm sorry. Did you know him?
Rose looks at her as if she's only just seen her.DONNA (CONT'D)
I mean... they didn't say his name... it could be any doctor.
ROSE
I came so far.
DONNA
(reaches out and touches her arm)
It could be anyone.
The clicking noise. Rose seems mildly distracted by something on Donna's shoulder all the while she is speaking.ROSE
What's your name?
DONNA
Donna. And you?
She falters, for when she turns back around, Rose has disappeared. Donna looks about her in a state of bewilderment and then walks away.ROSE
Oh, I was just... passing by. I shouldn't even be here, this is... wrong. It's wrong. This is so wrong. Sorry, what was it? Donna what?
DONNA
(abruptly)
Why do you keep looking at my back?
ROSE
(averting her eyes)
I'm not.
DONNA
(angrily)
Yes, you are. You keep looking behind me. You're doing it now.
(raises voice, strains to see her own back)
What is it? What's there? Has someone put something on my back?
INT. CHOWDRY'S OFFICE
Before Cliff can answer, the whole office shakes as there is what sounds like an explosion from outside.
DONNA
(stamping her foot in her temper)
You can't sack me. I'm your personal assistant.
CHOWDRY
You don't have to make a scene. Just come downstairs and we can have a little talk.
DONNA
Oh, I'll make a scene, all right. Right in front of a tribunal - and the first thing I'm going to say is "wandering hands"!
CHOWDRY
Now, come on Donna - you know what it's been like for the past few months, ever since that Christmas thing! Half my contracts were on the other side of the river and the Thames is still closed off. Look, I can't deliver. I'm losing a fortune.
DONNA
Well, sack one of this lot! Sack Cliff! He just sits there! Don't know what he does all day - sorry Cliff -
(turns to Cliff)
Actually, I'm not sorry - what DO you do all day?
All the staff rush to the window to see what's going on, except Donna, who merely shakes her letter open with an irritated sigh.CHOWDRY
(runs to window)
What the hell?
A thunderous black cloud has positioned itself over a hospital a short distance away.CHOWDRY (CONT'D)
It's like an earthquake!
The staff exchange glances, clearly bemused at her lack of prioritising.CHOWDRY (CONT'D)
That's weird! Funny sort of clouds.
DONNA
(of her letter, outraged)
Who typed this? I'm your PA! Did you get someone else to type this?
Beatrice turns and looks at her.DONNA (CONT'D)
(furious)
Beatrice!
A short while later, the TV has been switched on - a reporter on BBC News 24, standing in the rain under an umbrella. The headline reads "ROYAL HOPE HOSPITAL VANISHES IN UPWARD RAIN MYSTERY".
Footage of broken pipelines still churning out water in the empty crater where the hospital once stood.REPORTER
It sounds impossible, but the entire hospital has vanished.
A wide shot of the enormous crater near the London Eye.REPORTER (CONT'D)
The Royal Hope no longer exists.
The office staff, with the exception of Donna, are crowded around the TV, listening.REPORTER (CONT'D)
It's not been destroyed - there's no wreckage. It's simply gone.
She chucks the toy cactus to Beatrice and it squeaks ineffectually as she catches it.REPORTER (CONT'D)
Reports from bystanders say that the rain lifted up around the hospital...
DONNA
(packing office supplies into a cardboard box, completely ignoring the TV)
Hole-punch - having that. Stapler - mine. Toy cactus - you can have that Beatrice, catch.
A rumble, again shaking the office.DONNA (CON'T)
Cliff - I'd leave you the mousemat, but I'm worried you'd cut yourself.
(it goes into the box)
CHOWDRY
(angrily)
All right, Donna, have some respect. There's two thousand people in the hospital and it's vanished.
DONNA
Oh, I'll show you vanishing. Thanks for nothing. Oh, and you know when that money went missing from the kitty? Anne-Marie. That's all I'm saying.
(yells)
Anne-Marie!
DONNA (CONT'D)
(sarcastically)
Oh, don't tell me. The hospital's back. Well, isn't that wizard?
(kicks the drawer shut)
INT. NOBLE'S SITTING ROOM
Donna and Wilfred are watching BBC News 24 in the evening whilst Sylvia goes through the box of supplies Donna stole from the office.
She doesn't sound angry, just disappointed. Donna looks away guiltily.REPORTER (BBC NEWS)
To confirm, the Royal Hope Hospital was returned to its original position, but with only one survivor. The only person left alive is medical student Oliver Morgenstern.
MORGENSTERN
(wrapped in shock blanket)
There were these creatures...
(he swallows)
Like... rhinos, talking rhinos, in-- in-- in black leather.
DONNA
Rhinos?
WILFRED
(brow furrowed)
Rhinos could be aliens.
DONNA
Shh...
MORGENSTERN
There were hundreds of them. We couldn't breathe. We were running out of air. A colleague of mine gave me the last oxygen tank. Martha. Martha Jones. And she-- she died.
SYLVIA
(removing said items from the box)
At least you got a hole-punch. And a raffle ticket.
DONNA
Yeah, well they can keep the raffle. I wouldn't take a penny off that man.
WILFRED
(reprimanding)
Honestly, you two-- there's aliens on the news. They took that hospital all the way to the moon and you're banging on about raffle tickets.
DONNA
Don't be daft, Gramps. It wasn't the moon! It couldn't be.
WILFRED
Yes, well, I'm telling you - it's getting worse. These past few years, it's like, all of a sudden, they suddenly know all about us and... there's keen eyes up there and they're not friendly.
SYLVIA
(examining a label on the stapler)
This stapler says 'Bea'.
DONNA
Can't believe how well you're taking it, me getting sacked. Thought you'd hit the roof.
SYLVIA
I'm just tired, Donna, what with your father and everything. To be honest, I've given up on you.
Photographs of Sarah Jane Smith are displayed on the screen, one more recent, one slightly older.REPORTER
... This further report just in, from Oliver Morgenstern.
MORGENSTERN
There was this woman who took control who said she-- she knew what to do, said she could stop the MRI or something-- Sarah Jane, her name was. Sarah Jane Smith.
REPORTER
Sarah Jane Smith was a freelance investigative journalist formally of Metropolitan Magazine.
Her smile falters as neither Sylvia or Wilfred responds, Sylvia adjusting a vase of flowers, Wilfred watching the TV miserably.REPORTER (CONT'D)
Her body was recovered from the hospital late this afternoon. Miss Smith had a son called...
DONNA
What's for tea?
SYLVIA
I've got nothing in.
DONNA
(forced cheeriness)
I'll get chips. Last of my wages. Fish and chips, yeah?
REPORTER (CONT'D)
... along with his teenage friends Maria Jackson and Clyde Langer. It is feared that they also perished.
EXT. STREET AT NIGHT
Donna is walking down the street, alone, when she sees a flash of light and hears buzz of electricity coming from an alleyway. She flinches. The next moment, Rose is propelled out of the alleyway into the street.
Donna recognises Rose from the previous Christmas. She looks her up and down.DONNA
Blimey! Are you all right?? What was that, fireworks or...?
ROSE
I dunno! I was just walking along and... that's weird.
The clicking. Again, Rose appears to be distracted by something on Donna's shoulder.DONNA
You're the one. Christmas Eve - I met you in town.
ROSE
Donna, isn't it?
DONNA
What was your name?
ROSE
(smiling evasively)
How are you doing? You're looking good...
Rose's eyes involuntarily drift behind Donna again.ROSE (CONT'D)
How've you been doing? What have you been up to?
DONNA
You're doing it again.
ROSE
What?
DONNA
Looking behind me. People keep on doing that - looking at my back.
ROSE
What sort of people?
DONNA
People in the street. Strangers. I just catch them, sometimes, staring at me... like they're looking at something.
No answer. Donna walks around her threateningly.DONNA
And then I get home and look and there's nothing there.
(swipes at something on her back)
See, look, now I'm doing it!
ROSE
What are you doing for Christmas?
DONNA
What am I what?!
ROSE
Next Christmas. Any plans?
DONNA
(clearly stuck to see the relevance of this)
I don't know, that's ages away! Nothing much I suppose. Why?
ROSE
(casually)
Just... I think you should get out. You and your family, don't stay in London, just... leave the City.
DONNA
What for?
ROSE
A nice hotel... Christmas break?
DONNA
Can't afford it.
ROSE
(eagerly)
Well, no, you've got that raffle ticket.
DONNA
How do you know about that?
ROSE
First prize... luxury weekend break.
(emphatically)
Use it, Donna Noble.
DONNA
(coldly)
Why won't you tell me your name?
She walks away. Rose does not try to stop her, but walks back into the alleyway where she is greeted by the flashes of blue light and the loud humming - which Donna steadfastly ignores.DONNA (CONT'D)
(darkly)
I think you should leave me alone.
EXT. COUNTRY MANSION HOUSE
The Nobles park in the driveway of a mansion house, Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody' on the radio. A couple of footmen appear to be waiting for them in the doorway.
Wilfred is wearing a pair of antlers on his head as he unloads the boot of the car.WILFRED
Cor, blimey - that's what I call posh!
Donna and Sylvia stroll leisurely up the drive.WILFRED
(to Donna)
I said you were lucky, didn't I? I always said, my lucky star!
SYLVIA
(in a low voice)
For God's sake, don't tell them we won it in a raffle. Be classy.
(sees the antlers)
Dad! Take those things off!
WILFRED
No, I shan't! It's Christmas.
(stops one of the footmen from taking a bag from the boot)
Oi, I'll have that one, thank you. It's got my liniment in it.
Donna puts her arm around Sylvia and they go inside together.DONNA
I reckon we deserve this. It's been a hell of a year.
SYLVIA
Your dad would have loved this.
DONNA
Yeah. He would've.
INT. HOTEL ROOM
Wilfred's feet are sticking out of the end of his blanket in which he is wrapped on the sofa, and he's waving them in time to 'Good King Wenceslas". Someone knocks on the door.
Wilfred shifts himself. Sylvia is tucked up in bed kitted out with a silk nightdress and dressing gown and making her way through a box of chocolates.DONNA
(from the bathroom)
Oi, Gramps! Get that! That'll be breakfast. Croissants!
Wilfred rubs his bleary eyes.WILFRED
(grudgingly, to Sylvia)
Why can't you get it, Lady Muck?
SYLVIA
(flicking through the channels)
It's Christmas Day - I never get up before ten.
(nodding towards Donna)
Only, madam there was up with the dawn chorus, like when she was six years old.
Wilfred groans as he stands up, massaging his back.DONNA
(enthusiastically)
I'm not wasting a second of this place. How was the sofa?
WILFRED
Oh, yeah... not so good, really.
Knocking on the door again.WILFRED (CONT'D)
You know, we could have paid for a second room. Oi!
(whistles, points at Donna)
Merry Christmas!
DONNA
(chuckles, points back)
Merry Christmas!
SYLVIA
(grinning)
Merry Christmas, Dad.
He stands aside to let in the maid with the breakfast tray.WILFRED
Yeah, all right, come in, my darling. Grub's up.
The maid has set the tray down, smiling. But then she sees Donna, brushing her hair in the bathroom, and freezes in fear.WILFRED (CON'T)
Merry Christmas!
SPANISH MAID
Merry Christmas, sir!
BBC NEWS READER (TV)
We have interrupted your programme to bring you breaking news.
SYLVIA
Have you seen this?
DONNA
Because I thought, nice early breakfast and then we'll go for a walk. People always say at Christmas, "oh, we all went for a walk". I've always wanted to do that.
And now Donna sees it, out of the corner of her eye, in the mirror. Something black on her back, something that might be a spindly leg, could be a feeler... the clicking starts to sound like the pincers of a beetle tapping together. The maid runs from the room as fast as she can, but is largely ignored because of the nature of the news on the television.DONNA (CONT'D)
So, walk first, presents later, yeah?
SYLVIA
(eyes riveted to the TV)
Donna, come and see.
SPANISH MAID
(to Donna)
Tienes algo en tu espalda.
DONNA
What?
SYLVIA
(urgently)
Donna, look at the telly.
SPANISH MAID
(just as urgently)
Tienes algo en tu espalda!
DONNA
What does that mean? I don't know what you're saying.
SYVLIA
Donna, look at the TV!
SPANISH MAID
(fearful and suspicious of Donna)
Tienes algo en tu espalda!
Donna strains to see her back in the mirror, turning, feeling herself, but whatever it was appears to have gone.SYLVIA
For God's sake, Donna, don't just stand there - come and look!
Footage of, as he said, what appears to be the Titanic falling from the sky, with the headling 'TITANIC REPLICA HEADING FOR LONDON'.BBC NEWS READER
It seems impossible, but this footage is live and genuine.
(finally, the family give their undivided attention to the TV)
The object is falling on Central London. Repeat: this is not a hoax. A replica of the Titanic has fallen out of the sky and it's heading for Buckingham Palace.
The replica of the Titanic is mere feet above Buckingham Palace.BBC NEWS READER (CONT'D)
We're getting this footage from the Guinevere range of satellites.
DONNA
Is that... a film or something?
The Titanic crashes straight through the roof of the Palace and seconds later, the screen turns to white noise. Another few seconds, and the blast shakes the hotel room.BBC NEWS READER
The Royal Air Force has declared anarchy--
SYLVIA
(trying to get the channel back)
It's gone dead. All of them.
DONNA
(smiling nervously at the absurdity of the situation)
No, but the Titanic... well, don't be daft. Is that like a... sequel?
WILFRED
(peering through the window and is in absolute revulsion at what he is seeing)
Oh... oh, God rest their souls.
EXT. COUNTRY MANSION HOUSE
The Nobles gather outside with the other guests and staff and find themselves looking at the large mushroom cloud that has replaced London.
Donna's mouth has fallen open but she becomes aware of someone looking at her. She turns to see the Spanish Maid pointing at her, eyes narrowed as though she is seeing an unholy demon, shaking her head.WILFRED
I was supposed to be out there selling papers. I should have been there, we all should. We'd be dead.
SYLVIA
(uncomprehending)
That's everyone. Every single person we know. The whole City.
DONNA
(disbelief)
It can't be.
SYLVIA
But it is, it's gone! London's gone!
WILFRED
(to Donna)
If you hadn't won that raffle...
INT. DINGY OFFICE
Donna, Wilfred and Sylvia are crowded around a small desk, speaking to a housing officer. The buzz of people talking and babies crying add to the sense of claustrophobia and chaos.
She stamps the word 'LEEDS' in large red letters on their papers in a very final sort of way.DONNA
(in horror)
Leeds?? I'm not moving to Leeds!
HOUSING OFFICER
(in a no-nonsense tone)
It's Leeds - or you can wait in the hostel for another three months.
SYLVIA
(woefully)
All I want is a washing machine.
DONNA
What about Glasgow? I heard there were jobs going in Glasgow.
HOUSING OFFICER
(irritated)
You can't pick and choose! We have the whole of Southern England flooded with radiation. Seven million people in need of relocation, and now France has closed its borders. So, it's Leeds - or nothing. Next!
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD
The Nobles and other refugees are being driven to Leeds in an army bus.
EXT. ROAD IN LEEDS
The army bus arrives in a street crowded with small terraced houses.
A soldier is using a loud speaker to let the waiting families, who have now alighted, know where their allocated houses are. They move along when he calls out their names.
A woman standing with her arms folded in the doorway next-door to theirs, regards them with some hostility.SOLDIER
The Daniels Family, billetted at number 15. Mr & Mrs Obego, billetted at number 31. Miss Contrane, you're in number 8. The Noble family billeted at number 29.
WILFRED
(picking up their cases)
That's us. Come on, off we go. Oh. All right?
They find number 29. The door's closed.WOMAN IN DOORWAY
Used to be a nice little family in number 29. They missed one mortgage payment - just one - they got booted out. All for you lot.
DONNA
(more than a match for her)
Don't get all chippy with me, Vera Duckworth. Pop your clogs on and go and feed whippets.
WILFRED
Sweetheart, come on. You're not going to make the world any better by shouting at it.
DONNA
I can try.
The door is opened by a beaming Italian man.SYLVIA
What happens? Do we get keys?
WILFRED
I don't know, do I?
SYLVIA
(looking around for help)
Well, who do we ask? The soldiers?
Two little boys watch them from the stairs as they crowd into the tiny hallway.ROCCO
(smacking the wall enthusiastically)
Hey-ey-ey! Is a big house! Room for all. Welcome! In you come.
DONNA
I thought this was our house.
ROCCO
Is many people's house! Is wonderful! In, in, in.
(ushers them into the narrow hallway)
We've been here for eight weeks already. Had a nice little paper shop in Shepherd's Bush - all gone now!
He shows them into the narrow kitchen, which has a curtain instead of a door. Beds have been made up on the floor.ROCCO (CONT'D)
So, upstairs, we have Merchandani family, seven of them. Good family. Good kids.
(eyes one of the boys)
Except that one. You be careful of him.
(bursts out laughing and ruffles the boy's hair)
Ah, that's a joking! Where's that smile, eh?
(gestures himself)
Rocco Colasanto. I'm here with my wife and her sister and her husband and their kids and her daughter's kids. We've got the front room.
(apologetically)
My mother, she's got the back room. She's old. You'll forgive. And this, this is you. This is your palace!
Donna, Wilfred and Sylvia take in their surroundings with some despair.SYLVIA
(apprehensively)
What do you mean, this is us?
ROCCO
(with apparent delight)
You live here!
DONNA
We're living in the kitchen?
ROCCO
You got camp-beds. You got the cooker, you keep warm, you got the fridge, you keep cool. Is good!
SYLVIA
What about the bathroom?
ROCCO
Nobody lives in the bathroom.
SYLVIA
No, I mean, is there a rota?
ROCCO
Is pot-luck!
(laughs)
Is fun! I go wake Mamma. She likes new people.
(pushes past them into the hallway, shouting -)
Mamma! Is people! Nice people!
WILFRED
(heartily)
Oh, well. We'll settle in, won't we? Make do? Bit of wartime spirit, eh?
DONNA
Yeah, but there isn't a war. There's no fight. It's just... this.
WILFRED
(refusing to be brought down)
Well, America, they'll save us. It was on the news. They're going to send Great Britain fifty-billion quid in financial aid. God bless America!
INT. KITCHEN
The inhabitants of number 29 are crowded around the television in the kitchen, eating food out of tins.
Footage of what looks like hundreds of little blobs of fat with faces - but what we know to be the Adipose - are waddling down the streets.STUDIO NEWS READER
America is in crisis, with sixty million reported dead. Sixty million people have dissolved into fat. And the fat is walking.
Sylvia watches the report miserably. Footage of spaceships hovering over the buildings.STUDIO NEWS READER (CONT'D)
People's fat has come to life and is walking through the streets.
They're not even surprised anymore. Just depressed.STUDIO NEWS READER (CONT'D)
And there are spaceships. There are reports of spaceships over every major US city. The fat is flying. It's leaving...
WILFRED
Aliens.
DONNA
Yeah.
STUDIO NEWS READER
The fat creatures are being raised into the air...
INT. KITCHEN AT NIGHT
Donna and Sylvia are tucked up on their camp beds on the kitchen floor. They have lit the room with candles.
The sound of voices carrying from the living-room, the Colasanto family and possibly the family upstairs singing a drinking song loudly.SYLVIA
(reflectively)
Mary McGinty. Do you remember her?
DONNA
Who was she?
SYLVIA
Worked in the news agent on a Sunday. Little woman. Black hair.
DONNA
Never really spoke to her.
SYLVIA
She'll be dead. Every day, I think of someone else. All dead.
DONNA
Maybe she went away for Christmas.
SYLVIA
Maybe.
DONNA
(reassuringly)
I'll go out, tomorrow. I'll walk into town. There's got to be work. Everyone needs secretaries. As soon as I'm earning, we'll get a proper place. Just you wait, Mum.
SYLVIA
What if it never gets better?
DONNA
Course it will.
SYLVIA
Even the bees are disappearing. You don't see bumble-bees anymore.
DONNA
They'll sort us out. The emergency government. They'll do something.
SYLVIA
What if they don't?
DONNA
(positively)
Then... we'll complain.
SYLVIA
Who's going to listen to us? Refugees. We haven't even got a vote. We're just no-one, Dona. We don't exist.
She gets up, meaning business.COLASANTO'S
# And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer...
DONNA
(dangerously)
I am going to KILL that man!
INT. SITTING ROOM
Donna bursts into the sitting room.
She trails off as she notices Wilfred sitting in the corner.DONNA
(shouts)
Now, listen, Mussolini -
(voices falter)
I am telling you for the last time, to BUTTON IT. If I hear one more SEA SHANTY...
Next moment, the whole household, including Donna and Sylvia, are crowded in the sitting room singing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.WILFRED
I always loved a sing-song!
And they falter as they register the sound of the guns from outside.EVERYONE
# I'm just a poor boy from a poor family, he's just a poor boy from a poor family, spare him his life from this monstrosity -
(laughter)
# Doo doo doo doo doo, easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
(gunshots from outside)
Bismillah! No--
ROCCO
(getting up)
Stay here - everyone, stay!
EXT. STREET
A soldier is shooting at the back of an army van in the area of the exhaust - the whole street is clouded with smoke. The inhabitants of number 29 crowd outside.
The clicking sound. The soldier's eyes widen and he points his gun straight at Donna.ROCCO
(yelling at the soldier)
Hey-ey-ey! Firing at the car is not so good! You-- you crazy or what??
SOLDIER
It's this ATMOS thing, it won't stop! It's like gas, it's toxic.
WILFRED
Well, switch it off!
SOLDIER
I have done, it's still going. It's every car. Every single ATMOS car, they've gone mad.
Wilfred and Rocco automatically move in front of Donna protectively.SOLDIER
You, lady, turn around!
Donna turns around with her hands in the air - and there's nothing on her back. The soldier lowers his back, eyes wide in terrified confusion.ROCCO
Are you crazy, boy?
SOLDIER
Turn around!
WILFRED
Put the gun down!
SOLDIER
(insistently)
Turn around! Turn around!
SYLVIA
(in distress)
Do what he says! Turn around, now!
SOLDIER
Turn around, now! Show me your back!
But Donna's not angry, because she has an idea of what the soldier might have seen. Around the corner, she notices the flash of blue light and buzz of electricity that signalled Rose's appearance when they last met.SOLDIER (CONT'D)
(shakily)
Sorry... I thought I saw...
WILFRED
(approaching him angrily)
Call yourself a soldier? Pointing guns at innocent women?
Donna walks silently in the direction of the blue flash.WILFRED (CONT'D)
You're a disgrace. In my day, we would've had you court marshalled!
Donna rounds the corner.SYLVIA
(shouting after her, scared)
Donna? Where are you going? It's not safe at night! Donna! Donna!
(but she makes no move to follow her)
Rose is standing there, waiting for her.DONNA
Hello.
ROSE
Hi.
EXT. PARK
Rose and Donna are sitting beside one another on a park bench.
The sky turns to fire briefly, and then calm is restored. Donna's mouth falls open.
ROSE
(looking up at the sky as she speaks)
It's the ATMOS devices. We're lucky it's not so bad here, Britain hasn't got that much petrol. But all over Europe... China, South Africa... they're getting choked by gas.
DONNA
Can't anyone stop it?
ROSE
Yeah, they're trying right now, this little band of fighters... on board the Sontaran ship... any second now...
She sounds so tired, so numb. Donna looks her up and down.DONNA
And that was...?
ROSE
That was the Torchwood team. Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones - they gave their lives. And Captain Jack Harkness has transported to the Sontaran home world. There's no-one left.
Donna stares at her, and for a second, it seems like she remembers -DONNA
(testily)
You're always wearing the same clothes. Why won't you tell me your name?
ROSE
None of this was meant to happen. There was a man. This... wonderful man, and he stopped it. The Titanic, the Adipose, the ATMOS, he stopped them all from happening.
DONNA
That... Doctor?
ROSE
You knew him.
DONNA
Did I? When?
ROSE
I think you dream about him, sometimes. It's a man in a suit? A tall, thin man, great hair.
(stares at nothing in particular, remembering)
Some... really great hair.
DONNA
(with great restraint)
Who are you?
ROSE
I was like you. I used to be you. You've travelled with him, Donna. You've travelled with the Doctor in a different world.
DONNA
I never met him, and he's dead.
ROSE
He died underneath the Thames on Christmas Eve, but you were meant to be there. He needed someone to stop him, and that was you. You made him leave. You saved his life.
INT. UNDER THE THAMES BARRIER
The Doctor, amidst a storm of fire and water - the Empress of the Racnoss screaming, glass smashing, the tunnels flooding, and Donna, standing there in her wedding dress.
The Doctor looks at her as though he has snapped out of a trance.DONNA
Doctor!
And he does.DONNA (CONT'D)
You can stop now!
EXT. PARK
She turns to leave.
DONNA
(stands, walks away, afraid)
Stop it. I don't know what you're talking about, leave me alone!
ROSE
(rising)
Something's coming, Donna. Something worse.
DONNA
(angry skepticism)
The whole world is stinking. How can anything be worse than this?
ROSE
Trust me. We need the Doctor more than ever. I've--
(she swallows, puts a hand to her heart)
I've been pulled across from a different universe, because every single universe is in danger. It's coming, Donna. It's coming from across the stars and nothing can stop it.
DONNA
(tears of frustration in her eyes)
WHAT is?
ROSE
The darkness.
DONNA
(angry and bewildered)
Well, what do you keep telling ME for? WHAT am I supposed to do? I'm nothing special. I mean, I'm-- I'm not-- I'm nothing special, I'm a temp. I'm not even that, I'm NOTHING.
ROSE
(trying to make her see, almost laughing at the notion that Donna is nothing)
Donna Noble, you're the most important woman in the whole of creation.
DONNA
(short, mirthless laugh)
Oh, don't. Just...
(shakes her head, smile's gone)
Don't. I'm tired. I'm so... tired.
Again, Donna turns back - how does she know about that?ROSE
I need you to come with me.
DONNA
(turns back with a derisive laugh)
Yeah. Well. Blonde hair might work on the men, but you ain't shifting me, lady.
ROSE
(smiles)
That's more like it.
DONNA
I've got plenty more.
ROSE
I know you'll come with me. Only when you want to.
DONNA
(walking away)
You'll have a long wait, then.
ROSE
(assuredly)
Not really, just three weeks. Tell me, does your grandfather still own that telescope?
Donna stares at her. Before her eyes, Rose fades away.DONNA
He never lets go of it.
ROSE
Three weeks time. But you've got to be certain. Because, when you come with me, Donna... sorry... so sorry, but... you're going to die.
EXT. STREET
Rocco hugs Donna in farewell, spinning her around - they're both laughing.
Rocco faces Wilfred.ROCCO
And you! I'm going to miss you most of all, all flame-haired and firey.
DONNA
Oh, but why do you have to go?
ROCCO
It's the new law! England for the English, et cetera.
(Behind Donna, Wilfred closes his eyes)
They can't send us home, the oceans are closed! They build labour camps.
(he smiles)
DONNA
I know, but... labour doing what? There aren't any jobs.
ROCCO
(wrong-footed for only a split second)
Sewing! Digging! Is good!
(kisses Donna on the cheek)
Now, stop it before I kiss you too much.
(another kiss)
He salutes Wilfred. Wilfred stands to attention and salutes back. The two men share an intense look which says something that Donna can't quite understand. The smile is gone from Rocco's face, the twinkle vanished from his eyes. Wilfred's eyes are red and moist. Rocco nods and joins the other foreigners on the van.ROCCO (CONT'D)
Wilfred. My Captain.
She looks at Rocco and his family on the back of the van. He has his arms around his sobbing wife. They're all quite obviously terrified.DONNA
It'll be quiet with him gone. Still, we'll have more room.
WILFRED
(voice shaking)
'Labour camps'. That's what they called them last time.
DONNA
What do you mean?
But the van has gone. Wilfred shakes his head.WILFRED
It's happening again.
DONNA
What is?
(looks from Wilfred's distraught expression to the van, uncomprehending - approaches soldiers)
Excuse me? Excuse me, where are you taking them?
(runs after the van)
Where are you going? Rocco, where are you going? Where are you going?
(van turns the corner. Shouts desperately -)
Where are you going??
INT. HALLWAY
Donna enters. Sylvia is sitting with her back to her, deep in thought - so tired, so depressed. Donna closes the door behind her. The air seems to be charged with tension.
No answer from Sylvia, not even a change of expression.DONNA
I asked about jobs, with the army. They said I wasn't qualified.
Donna pauses a moment, then leaves her.DONNA (CONT'D)
(lightly)
You were right. You said I should have worked harder at school.
(no answer)
I suppose I've always been a disappointment.
SYLVIA
Yeah.
EXT. YARD
Wilfred and Donna are bundled up in their winter coats around a little fire in a bucket. Donna is resting her head against his shoulder, staring into space, and Wilfred is sipping a cup of tea and considering his telescope which is set up in front of him.
Wilfred squints through the eyepiece of the telescope.WILFRED
You know, we'd get a bit of cash if we sold this thing.
DONNA
Don't you dare!
(sighs)
I always imagined, your old age... I'd have put a bit of money by, make you comfy.
(full of self-disappointment)
Never did. I'm just useless.
Donna peers through the telescope.DONNA (CONT'D)
You're supposed to say "no, you're not"!
WILFRED
(not really listening)
Ah, it must be the alignment.
DONNA
What's wrong?
WILFRED
Well, I don't know - I mean, it can't be the lens. I was looking at Orion, the constellation of Orion-- you take a look.
(shifts to let Donna look)
And tell me, what can you see?
DONNA
Where?
WILFRED
Well, up there in the sky!
As he points, the stars start to blink out as though someone is turning them off.DONNA
Well, I can't see anything, it's just... black.
WILFRED
(annoyed and confused)
Well, I mean it's working! The telescope is working.
DONNA
Well... maybe it's the clouds.
WILFRED
There's no clouds!
DONNA
Well, there must be!
WILFRED
There's not! It was there.
(indicates the sky)
An entire constellation.
The stars disappear, one constellation at a time.WILFRED (CONT'D)
Look... look there...
Donna is perturbed, but not surprised. She knows what she has to do. She turns around.WILFRED
(horrified)
They're going out. Oh, my God, Donna! The stars are going out.
For Rose is already waiting for her.DONNA
I'm ready.
INT. UNIT VAN
Rose and Donna are being driven in a UNIT van. They do not speak.
EXT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS
The van comes to a halt and they jump out. Rose strides purposefully towards what looks like an enormous warehouse. Donna follows her.
INT. UNIT WAREHOUSE
Rose pushes a curtain aside to allow Donna and herself to enter the enormous warehouse. Inside, there is a circle of mirrors with lights at intervals between them. The TARDIS stands a short distance away from this circle, linked to it by bunches of wires.
Rose contemplates the TARDIS, arms folded.LOUDSPEAKER
Loadstone testing now at 15.4. Repeat: 15.4.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
(salutes Rose)
Ma'am.
ROSE
(irritably)
I've told you, don't salute.
(tampers with computer)
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
Well, if you're not going to tell us your name...
DONNA
What, you don't know either?
ROSE
There's too many different realities. Trust me, the wrong word in the wrong place can change an entire causal nexus.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
(to Donna)
She talks like that. A lot. And you must be Miss Noble.
DONNA
Donna.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
(shaking her hand)
Captain Erisa Magambo. Thank you for this.
DONNA
I don't even know what I'm doing.
ROSE
(finishes her business on the computer, turns to Magambo)
Is it awake?
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
It seems to be quiet today. Ticking over. Like it's waiting.
Donna does as she's told, but clearly doesn't understand the logic. She gives Rose a strange look before stepping over the threshold of the TARDIS. Rose smiles, waiting for it -ROSE
(to Donna)
Do you want to see it?
DONNA
What's a police box?
ROSE
They salvaged it from underneath the Thames. Just go inside.
DONNA
What for?
ROSE
Just go in!
Rose smiles as Donna comes back out and then does the obligatory walk around the outside of the TARDIS, reassuring herself that it really is that small, feeling the sides, mouth hanging open. She goes back inside.DONNA
(from inside the TARDIS)
No. WAY.
(laughs incredulously)
INT. TARDIS
The TARDIS is completely dark and strangely silent. It looks very different, almost as though the life has been taken from it. Donna realises her mouth is still hanging open, so she closes it. She looks around for a moment, then comes back out.
INT. UNIT WAREHOUSE
INT. TARDISROSE
(grinning)
What do you think?
DONNA
... can I have a coffee?
Rose and Donna walk around the TARDIS rota, Donna clutching a steaming cup of coffee. Wires are spilling out all over the console.
She reaches out and rubs the console. The rota rises a feeble inch or two in response.ROSE
Time And Relative Dimension In Space. This room used to shine with light.
(gazes up at the rota)
I think it's dying.
Donna watches her for a moment, seeming to sense something.ROSE
It's still trying to help.
DONNA
And... and it belonged to the Doctor?
ROSE
He was a Time Lord. Last of his kind.
DONNA
(genuinely puzzled)
But if he's so special, what's he doing with me?
ROSE
(simply)
He thought you were brilliant.
DONNA
Don't be stupid.
ROSE
Well, you are! It just took the Doctor to show you that, simply by being with him.
(looks away)
He did the same to me. To everyone he touches.
Rose looks at her. In all the times she has been asked this question, this is the first time she doesn't have an answer. She is distracted again by the clicking noise and reaches out, smoothing her hand over Donna's shoulder and back.DONNA
Were you and him...?
ROSE
(daringly)
Do you want to see it?
DONNA
(immediately)
No.
(Rose peers at her back)
Go on, then.
INT. UNIT WAREHOUSE
Rose takes Donna into the centre of the circle of mirrors.
Rose does not answer.ROSE
We don't know how the TARDIS works, but we've managed to scrape off the surface technology - enough to show you the creature.
DONNA
(alarmed)
It's a creature?
ROSE
(straightens Donna up)
Just stand here.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
(to Rose)
Out of the circle, please.
ROSE
Yes, ma'am.
(leaves the circle)
DONNA
(fearfully)
Can't you stay with me?
The whirring of machinery - the lights around the circumference of the circle snap on, one by one. Donna screws her eyes tight shut.CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
Ready? And... activate.
Slowly, Donna opens her eyes. And in the mirrors, she sees what's on her back - a massive, black beetle. She gasps in horror, spinning around frantically.ROSE
(calmly)
Open your eyes, Donna.
DONNA
Is it there?
ROSE
Yeah-- open your eyes. Look at it.
DONNA
(shakes her head)
I can't.
ROSE
It's part of you, Donna. Look.
Donna, taking deep breaths, looks at the beetle with trepidation. It takes up most of her back, its pincers nuzzling her hair. Upon closer inspection, Donna realises that it's not causing her any physical pain. It's just clinging there like a parasite, clicking away.ROSE
(reassuringly)
It's okay, it's okay, it's okay - calm down. Donna? Donna? Donna!
(Donna stops spinning)
Okay.
She laughs, perhaps forgetting that Donna isn't in on this particular joke yet.DONNA
(trying to stay calm)
What is it?
ROSE
(apologetically)
We don't know.
DONNA
(an impressive mix of dripping sarcasm and terror)
Oh. Thanks.
ROSE
It feeds off time. By - by changing time, by making someone's life take a different turn, like er... meetings never made... children never born... a life never loved. But with you, it's...
(shakes her head)
DONNA
(frozen with fear)
But I never did-- anything important.
ROSE
Yeah, you did. One day, that thing made you turn right instead of left.
DONNA
When was that?
ROSE
Oh, you wouldn't remember. It was the most ordinary day in the world, but by turning right, you never met the Doctor and the whole world just changed around you.
DONNA
Can you get rid-- of it?
ROSE
(helplessly)
I can't even touch it.
(peers at it)
It seems to be in a state of flux.
DONNA
(with the air of someone who's had enough of techno-babble thrown at her)
What - does that - mean?
ROSE
I don't know. It's the sort of thing the Doctor would say!
Rose gives an almost imperceptible shake of her head and cannot answer. Donna half glances at the beetle, but cannot bring herself to look directly at it again.DONNA
(furiously)
You liar!
(her eyes are filling with tears, she's becoming hysterical)
You told me I was special! But it's not me! It's this thing! I'm just a host!
ROSE
(staying calm)
No, there's more than that. The readings are strange it's... it's like reality's just bending round you.
DONNA
(not remotely reassured)
Because of this thing!
ROSE
No, no! We're getting separate readings from you. And they've always been there, since the day you were born.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
(aside, to Rose)
This is not relevant to the mission.
ROSE
(quietly)
I thought it was just the Doctor we needed, but it's the both of you. The Doctor and Donna Noble. Together. To stop the stars from going out.
DONNA
(roaring hysterically, shaking with fear and sheer confusion)
Why?? What can I do?!
As soon as the lights power down, Rose goes to Donna, who is shaking uncontrollably, although the beetle is no longer visible. She touches her arm comfortingly.DONNA (CONT'D)
(whimpers)
Turn it off. Please.
ROSE
(quickly)
Captain.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
Power down.
DONNA
(shakily)
It's... it's still there, though. What can I do... to get rid of it?
ROSE
You're going to travel in time.
INT. UNIT HEADQUARTERS
Rose has taken charge - she's very quickly explaining to Donna what she needs to do. Donna is wearing a thick green jacket and a load of wires.
ROSE
The TARDIS has tracked down the moment of intervention, Monday the 25th, one minute past ten in the morning. Your car was on Little Sutton Street Ealing Road, but you turn right heading for Griffin's Parade. You need to turn left. That's the most important thing. You've got to go back and turn left. Have you got that, Donna? One minute past ten. Make yourself turn left, heading for the Chiswick Highroad.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
Keep the jacket on at all times - it's insulation against temporal feedback.
(a digital watch is placed on Donna's wrist)
This will correspond to local time wherever you land.
(presents her with glass of water)
This is to combat dehydration.
INT. UNIT WAREHOUSE
Donna is led to the edge of the circle by several UNIT soldiers, Magambo and Rose. Rose turns to her.
Rose smiles at Donna encouragingly, giving her arm one last squeeze, before she steps into the circle once more.ROSE
This is where we leave you.
DONNA
(quickly)
I don't want to see that thing on my back.
ROSE
No! The mirrors are just incidental. They bounce chronon energy back into the centre which we control and decide the destination.
DONNA
(awed)
It's a time machine.
ROSE
(smiles)
It's a time machine.
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
If you could?
The machinery bursts into life again, the lights snap on.CAPTAIN MAGAMBO (CONT'D)
Powering up.
A switch is flicked and the lights blink - the light on top of the TARDIS is flashing in the background.DONNA
How do you know it's going to work?
ROSE
(sounding uncannily like the Doctor)
Hmm? Oh... yeah... we-- we don't. We're just... we're just guessing.
DONNA
(laughs apprehensively)
Yeah. Oh, brilliant!
ROSE
Just remember, when you get to the junction, change the car's direction by one minute past ten.
DONNA
(urgently)
How do I do that?
ROSE
It's up to you.
DONNA
Well, I just have to... run up to myself and... have a good argument.
ROSE
(laughs)
I'd like to see that!
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
Activate loadstone.
She smiles at Rose expectantly, needing reassurance. Rose cannot lie to her.ROSE
Good luck.
DONNA
(enthusiastically)
I'm ready!
ROSE
One minute past ten.
DONNA
(tearful, but brave)
Because I understand, now. You said I was going to die, but you mean this whole world is going to blink out of existence.
(We can tell by Rose's face that this is not the case)
But that's not dying. Because a better world takes its place. The Doctor's world. And I'm still alive!
(she smiles courageously. Rose doesn't answer)
That's right, isn't it? I don't die? If I change things, I don't die? That's... that's right, isn't it?
The lights reach full intensity, a strong wind billows Donna - the beetle is once again visible on her back - sparks fly from the TARDIS, the mirror, the wires - and she disappears into smoke.ROSE
I'm sorry.
DONNA
(her courage wavering)
But I can't die! I've got a future! With the Doctor - you told me!
CAPTAIN MAGAMBO
Activate!
EXT. SUTTON COURT
Donna reappears, on all fours on a pavement, still covered in wires and wearing the thick green coat. Everything seems so normal - a normal day, a man strolling by with a radio, an ice cream shop... Donna stands, hardly able to believe it. She looks around and throws her arms up into the air, laughing with incredulity. Then she takes in her surroundings properly.
She checks the wristwatch. It is 9:57.DONNA
Hold on... but this is... I'm not... this is Sutton Court! I'm half a mile away!
(yells to the sky)
I'm half a mile away!
She runs for it.DONNA (CONT'D)
(sick with horror)
Four minutes? Oh, my God...
EXT. STREET
Donna and Sylvia approach the car.
SYVLIA
Jival Chowdry?
INT. CAR
They get into the car.
SYLVIA (CONT'D)
He runs that little photocopy business in Merchant's Street. And he needs a secretary.
DONNA
(with the air of someone who has been nagged)
I've - got - a job.
EXT. STREET
Donna runs as fast as she can down the road, panting for breath but not daring to stop.
INT. CAR
Donna turns the key in the ignition.
DONNA
(clicks in her seatbelt)
H.C. Clements is in the City. It's nice. It's posh. So, stop it.
EXT. STREET
Donna pauses by a lamp-post for a second to check her watch. Then she carries on running.
EXT. LITTLE SUTTON STREET
A large blue van drives past. Donna and
Sylvia are waiting at the junction in their car.
SYLVIA
It won't take long, just turn right.
EXT. STREET
Donna is sprinting down the road, gasping for breath.
INT. CAR
DONNA
(clearly fed up)
I'm going left. If you don't like it, get out and walk.
EXT. STREET
Donna, running...
INT. CAR
DONNA
(raising her voice)
You think I'm so useless.SYLVIA
(mockingly)
I know why you want a job with H.C. Clements, lady - because you think you'll meet a man...
EXT. STREET
Donna stops running for a moment, gasping - she checks her watch which reads 9:59.
DONNA
I'm not going to get there.
She stands, almost given up, when she remembers...
EXT. PARK
ROSE
You're going to die.
EXT. STREET
Now, Donna seems strangely resigned. She sees the blue lorry driving up the road.
INT. CAR
SYLVIA
... city executives don't need temps, except for practice.
The indicator blinks left.
DONNA
Yeah. S'pose you're right .
She indicates right.
EXT. STREET
Donna gazes at the approaching lorry.
DONNA
Please.
She steps right out in front of it. The
driver slams the break on, but it's too late. A woman watching screams.
INT. CAR
Donna and Sylvia hear the screams from the junction.
SYLVIA
Can you hear that??
EXT. STREET
The lorry driver jumps out and waves to the traffic building up behind him to stop.
LORRY DRIVER
Hold on! Back up!TAXI DRIVER
Oi! Get a move on!
INT. CAR
Donna and Sylvia observe how the traffic is building up to their right.
DONNA
The traffic's stopping.SYLVIA
Something must have happened!
EXT. STREET
Donna is lying motionless on the road. She opens her eyes blearily and Rose comes slowly into focus above her. She kneels besides her.
ROSE
Tell him this: two words.
She whispers something into Donna's ear.
Donna's eyes close and her head falls to the side.
INT. CAR
DONNA
(looking at the traffic building up with distate)
Well, that decides it. I'm not sitting in a traffic jam. I'm going left.
With that, she switches the indicator
again, and turns left.
INT. TENT
Donna screams. The beetle on her back flails. The events she experienced in the alternate world rewind very quickly, images flashing through her head - UNIT, Rocco, the web-star, the Doctor wreathed in fire and water, the Doctor's sonic screwdriver flying back into his hand, the sky on fire, the words 'LEEDS' stamped across a document, the mushroom cloud, the Titanic falling from the sky, the thunder cloud over the hospital - the beetle falls off her onto its back. The Fortune Teller is cowering the the corner, staring at Donna, her eyes full of fear. Donna stands, looking at the beetle which twitches and clicks feebly before it dies on the floor.
DONNA
What the hell is that?FORTUNE TELLER
(terrified of her)
You were so strong. What are you? What will you be?
(scrambles for the exit, whimpering)
What will you be?
The beetle gives one last click and then
it is still. The Doctor wanders into the tent obliviously.
THE DOCTOR
(mildly)
Everything all right?
Donna looks at the Doctor as though she
hasn't seen him in years - which in a way, she hasn't.
DONNA
(throws her arms around him, gasping with relief)
Oh, God...!THE DOCTOR
(laughing)
What was that for?DONNA
(so happy to see him)
I don't know!
(hugs him again)
Donna is sitting on the Fortune
Teller's box and the Doctor is examining the beetle, poking it with an
incense stick.
DONNA
I can't remember. It's slipping away. You know like when you try and think of a dream and it just sort of... goes.THE DOCTOR
(of the beetle)
It just got lucky, this thing. It's one of the Trickster's Brigade. Changes a life in tiny little ways. Most times, the universe just compensates around it, but with you...
(almost proudly)
Great big parallel world!DONNA
(smiles. Then -)
Hold on, you said parallel worlds are sealed off.THE DOCTOR
They are. But you had one created around you. Funny thing is, it seems to be happening a lot. To you.DONNA
How do you mean?THE DOCTOR
Well, The Library and then this...DONNA
Just... goes with the job. I suppose.THE DOCTOR
(observing her, brow furrowed)
Sometimes I think there's way too much coincidence around you, Donna. I met you once. I met your grandfather. Then I met you again. In the whole wide universe, I met you for a second time.
(pensively)
It's like something's binding us together.DONNA
(skeptically)
Don't be so daft. I'm nothing special.THE DOCTOR
(fondly)
Yes, you are, you're brilliant.
Donna smiles modestly, but then she
remembers -
EXT. PARK
ROSE
He thought you were brilliant.
INT. TENT
DONNA
(remembering)
She said that.THE DOCTOR
Who did?DONNA
That woman.
(straining, gives up)
I can't remember.THE DOCTOR
Well, she never existed now.DONNA
(something inside her sensing the importance of this)
No, but she said... the stars... she said the stars are going out.THE DOCTOR
Yeah, but that world's gone.DONNA
No, but she said it was all worlds. Every world.
(slowly, as the details come back to her)
She said the darkness is coming, even here.THE DOCTOR
(his attention caught)
Who was she?DONNA
I don't know.THE DOCTOR
(already with his suspicions)
What did she look like?DONNA
She was...
(remembers Rose tucking a blonde hair behind her ear)
Blonde.THE DOCTOR
(quietly, with great restraint)
What was her name?DONNA
I don't know!THE DOCTOR
(insistently, his voice trembling)
Donna, what was her name?DONNA
(remembers Rose kneeling beside her on the road)
But she told me... to warn you. She said... two words.THE DOCTOR
(quiet, suppressed urgency, voice slightly hollow)
What two words? What were they? What did she say?
Donna remembers how Rose whispered the
words into her ear. After a moment -
DONNA
Bad Wolf.
The Doctor's eyes widen - he's shaking -
because now he knows for sure -
DONNA (CONT'D)
(uncomprehending)
Well, what does it mean--?
The Doctor leaps to his feet and bursts
from the tent in one swift move. Donna runs after him.
EXT. MARKET PLACE
Everywhere the Doctor looks, there's posters, banners, flags, 'Bad Wolf', 'Bad Wolf', 'Bad Wolf', printed over and over again. The notice on the door of the TARDIS reads only 'Bad Wolf', repeatedly, the glowing letters over the door also proclaiming these foreboding words. The Doctor stares at them, in the utmost shock - he wrenches the doors open -
INT. TARDIS
The inside of the TARDIS is flooded with a hellish red light. Donna slams the door shut behind them.
DONNA
Doctor, what is it? What's Bad Wolf?THE DOCTOR
(breathing heavily)
It's the end of the Universe.
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