Miss Independant

(More)

Missy: “Look at them! My boys.

The Doctor: “Cybermen in broad daylight? You think people won’t notice?

(They notice, and out come the smart phones to take the photographs. Missy unpins her hat and puts it on the ground at a Cyberman’s feet.)

Missy: “Photos with the big metal men, one pound.

(Several coins are thrown into her hat.)

Missy: “Oh, honey!

(One teenage lad takes a selfie of himself, a Cyberman and his girlfriend.)

BOY: “There you go.

GIRL: “Oh, cool. Cool!

(Suddenly the location changes to Cardiff, between The Friary and Queen Street. You can tell because the steps have vanished and a Travelodge and shopping area have appeared, with Live Lounge on the corner.)

Missy: “New York. Paris. Rome. Marrakesh. Brisbane. Glasgow. Everywhere. Anywhere. Me and my boys. We’re going viral.

(Missy shows him on her steampunk style smart phone.)

Osgood: “Would you like me to take a picture? Sorry, selfies are never as good, are they? And you’re having a lovely moment. Hang on!

(Osgood snatches Missy’s ‘phone’. The Doctor grabs Missy’s arm.)

Missy: “No, just

The Doctor: “Nice bow tie.

Osgood: “Bow ties are cool. Big smiles, and now!

(Weapons are taken from pushchairs and backpacks. Soldiers come out of the buildings on both sides.)

SOLDIERS: “Move, move, move! Stand by. Surround target. Hold back!

(Once the scene is secure, a blonde woman walks up holding something behind her back.)

Kate: “Afternoon. You’ve picked a lovely day for it. My, don’t you look shiny. (to the Doctor) Haircut?

The Doctor: “Bit of a trim.

Kate: “Might want to do your roots. The woman.

SOLDIER: “Yes, ma’am.

(Missy is held by two soldiers. Kate Lethbridge Stewart addresses the serried ranks of Cybermen.)

SOLDIER: “Yes, ma’am.

(Missy is held by two soldiers. Kate Lethbridge Stewart addresses the serried ranks of Cybermen.)

Kate: “Kate Stewart. Divorcee, mother of two, keen gardener, outstanding bridge player. Also Chief Scientific Officer, Unified Intelligence Taskforce, who currently have you surrounded.

CYBERMAN: “Human weaponry is not effective against Cyber technology.

Kate: “Sorry, you left this behind on one of your previous attempts.

(She throws down a battered Mondas Cyberman head. A soldier brings the Doctor forward to stand next to her.)

Kate: “So now that I have your attention, welcome to the only planet in the universe where we get to say this. He’s on the payroll.

The Doctor: “Am I?

Kate: “Well, technically.

The Doctor: “How much?

Kate: “Shush. Any questions?

(As one, the Cybermen thump the blue disc in the middle of their chests and stamp their feet on the ground. Dust is blown everywhere as little engines in their feet start up. Missy smiles.)

(As one, the Cybermen thump the blue disc in the middle of their chests and stamp their feet on the ground. Dust is blown everywhere as little engines in their feet start up. Missy smiles.)

SOLDIER: “Back, back, everyone, back!

(The Cybermen zoom up into the air, and out of sight. Osgood turns around to see the lead covering of the dome of St Paul’s peeling back like a Chocolate Orange.)

Osgood: “Oh, my God! Is it supposed to do that? Is that new?

The Doctor: “A sun roof on Saint Paul’s? Yes, I’d say that was new.

Kate: “There’s going to be mass panic. Everyone in London can see that.

(More Cybermen fly out of the dome.)

The Doctor: “Everyone in London just clapped and went whee. Hush, I’m trying to count.

Osgood: “Eighty seven, I think. OCD.

Missy: “Ninety one. Queen of evil.

Kate: “How could Saint Paul’s be full of ninety one Cybermen and nobody noticed?

The Doctor: “Dimensional engineering. One space folded inside another. Bigger on the inside. Easy if you’re a Time Lord.

Osgood: “Mostly deploying south, a smaller number east.

The Doctor: “Yep, but one straight up.

Osgood: “So ninety one isn’t a coincidence?

The Doctor: “Of course it isn’t.

(He takes Missy’s ‘phone’ from Osgood.)

Kate: “Osgood? Ninety one. Explain.

Osgood: “Ninety one areas of significant population density in the British Isles.

The Doctor: “That’s one Cyberman for every city and major town. It’s happening everywhere, all over the world, right now.

Missy: “Sweet planet, this. I think I might keep it.

Kate: “One Cyberman per city. What could they hope to accomplish?

Osgood: “Doctor!

(The Cyberman that flew straight up has detonated itself.)

Kate: “Has it exploded?

Missy: “More than that. Cybermen don’t just blow themselves up for no good reason, dear. They’re not human.

The Doctor: “If it’s not exploding, what’s it doing?

Missy: “Pollinating. Falling like rain into the cracks of the Earth.” “The dead are coming home, Doctor. All shiny and new. In twenty four hours the human race as you know it will cease to exist.

(More)

The Doctor: “What are you doing? Explain. Tell me now.

(A soldier fires a dart into Missy’s neck and she crumples at the knees.)

Missy: “Oh! That was nice. Must do it again.

The Doctor: “No. No, no, no, no, I need to talk to her! I need her awake.

(The Doctor gets sedated too, but he manages to remove the dart before collapsing. Two soldiers gently lower him to the ground.)

The Doctor: “Argh! No. No, no. Stupid. Stupid! No, no. Argh!

(Osgood kneels over the Doctor. Kate phones in the situation.)

Kate: “The first protocol is implemented. We’re good to go.

Osgood: “You just have to let it take you.

(The Doctor pulls her close and whispers in her ear before finally passing out.)

Kate: “What did he say?

Terra: “Guard the graveyards.

(More)

==NE==

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MAN: “Right. Be careful with it. Be careful. Take your time.

The Doctor: “Kate? What’s with the handcuffs?

Kate: “I’m sorry. In the event of an alien incursion on this scale, protocols are in place. Your co-operation is to be ensured and your unreliability assumed. You have a history.

The Doctor: “You don’t have a future without me. Do you think your father would’ve done this?

Kate: “We both know he absolutely would.” (Still unconscious Missy is wheeled in on her box trolley.) “Who is she?

The Doctor: “Long story. Where’s Clara?

Kate: “Clara Oswald, your assistant?

The Doctor: “My friend. She was with me in Saint Paul’s.

Kate: “The team’s still on site but they’ve been unable to gain access to the building.

The Doctor: “I want her found and brought here. I need her with me.

Kate: “Then give the order. As soon as you’re on board Boat One your word is law. Quite literally.

(They go up the steps with the UNIT logo on them to the airplane. The Doctor stops halfway and looks around.)

The Doctor: “You got the TARDIS out, though?

Kate: “Yes, and Saint Paul’s locked down.

(More)

==NE==

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The Doctor: “Where are we going? Cloudbase?

Kate: “You mean the Valiant?

Osgood: “Cloudbase was Thunderbirds.

Kate: “Too conspicuous. We need your location concealed, not advertised. From now on you’re a moving target.

(The Doctor looks at a portrait of Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart on the bulkhead.) The Doctor: “Ah, I see you’re bringing Daddy along, too. That’s very sweet.

(An Indian Army officer salutes the Doctor.) AHMED: “Sir.

The Doctor: “Oh, don’t do that. You look like you’re self-concussing, which would explain all of military history, now I think about it.

AHMED: “Colonel Ahmed, sir. Privileged to meet you.

The Doctor: “Love your outfit, Colonel Ahmed. Are you in the Scouts? Are you a Man Scout? I didn’t know they had those.” (The Doctor walks away to get a hot drink from the sideboard. Osgood walks past Ahmed.)

AHMED: “It was Captain Scarlet.

Osgood: “Sorry?

AHMED: “Not Thunderbirds.

Osgood: “Oh God, so it was,

The Doctor: “My confidence is growing every minute.

(Kate informs the cockpit of their status.) Kate: “The President and the First Lady are on board.”

The Doctor: “Mind you, me and Sylvia Anderson, you’ve never seen a foxtrot like it. Hang on a second. The President and the President’s wife? We don’t want Americans bobbing around the place. They’ll only start praying.”

I sat up, glaring at him. “Well that was hearts warming.”

AHMED: “Not the President of America, sir. The President of Earth.”

(The Doctor sits at the head of the table and puts a large quantity of sugar lumps into his cup of frothy coffee.)

The Doctor: “There isn’t one.

AHMED: “There is now.

Kate: “The incursion protocols have been agreed internationally. In the event of full-scale invasion, an Earth President is inducted immediately, with complete authority over every nation state. There was only one practical candidate.

“That’s your answer for everything, isn’t it? Vote for an idiot.” The Doctor sipped his tea.

“Whatever you think, Mister President.” I took a gulp of my tea.

The Doctor paused, looking up at the lot of us.

“So long as you’re on this plane, you’re the Commander in Chief of every army on Earth. Every world leader is currently awaiting your instructions. You are the Chief Executive Officer of the human race. Any questions?

CAPTAIN: “This is your captain speaking. Please prepare for take-off.

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==NE==

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The Doctor: “Why are you still alive?

Missy: “You saved me.

The Doctor: “I saved Gallifrey.

Missy: “Yes, Gallifrey too, I suppose. There’s always collateral damage with you and me. It’s our Paris.

The Doctor: “Gallifrey’s lost in another dimension.

Missy: “Yes and no.

The Doctor: “Meaning?

Missy: “Yes, it’s in another dimension. No, it’s not lost.

The Doctor: “You know where it is?

Missy: “Yep! You know the best part about knowing? (sotto) Not telling you.

AHMED: “Mister President, sir, we’re ready for you up here.

The Doctor: “Remember all those years when all you wanted to do was to rule the world? On my way.

AHMED: “Thank you, Mister President.

The Doctor: “Piece of cake.

(He goes to see what Osgood is working on.)

Osgood: “Oh, er, it’s her little device thingy. I thought there might be useful information on it. Who is she?

The Doctor: “You’d never believe me if I told you.

Osgood: “Cos I thought she might be the Master, regenerated into female form? Your childhood friend, responsible for a number of previous incursions.

The Doctor: “That was fairly quick.

Osgood: “We do have files on all our ex-prime ministers. She wasn’t even the worst. Doctor, there’s something nobody’s talking about.

The Doctor: “Which is?

Osgood: “The clouds caused by the exploding Cybermen, they haven’t dispersed. They’re still there. In fact, they’ve expanded and are covering almost all the land masses. We’re all looking at the graveyards. Maybe we should be looking up? What do you think?

The Doctor: “All of time and space?

Osgood: “Sorry?

The Doctor: “Just something for your bucket list.

(More)

==NE==

NEWS REPORT: “Localised rain in the cemeteries has resulted in what can only be described as disturbances to the soil. Extraordinary eyewitness accounts are claiming that silver creatures are climbing from the graves.

(Other people, both military and civilian, are also at this briefing.)

Kate: “These scenes are being repeated everywhere. Every cemetery, every mortuary, every funeral home, every hospital, the dead are returning to life as Cybermen.

NEWS REPORT: “The public are being advised to stay away from all cemeteries.

Kate: “We’ve done heat scans of some of the cemeteries and, in each case only a handful of Cybermen have so far emerged. But every individual burial site is active.”

AHMED: “Active?

The Doctor: “Hatching.

Kate: “More are coming. Potentially millions.

AHMED: “So the rain caused all that in just a few hours?

The Doctor: “It wasn’t rain, Man Scout. It was pollen. Cyber-pollen. Every tiny particle of a Cyberman contains the plans to make another Cyberman. All it has to do is to make a contact with compatible living organic matter and bang! Full conversion. But if they have learned how to convert the dead.

(He looks at the monitor showing Missy down in the Cargo Hold.)

The Doctor: “That’s what she was doing. That’s what 3W was for. She creates an all-new paranoia among the super-rich about dying. She exploits the wealth and the mortal remains of selected idiots so she can create a whole new race of Cybermen. Cybermen who can recruit corpses. Throw away your guns, Man Scout, it’s all over. How can you win a war against an enemy that can weaponise the dead?

AHMED: “They’re not attacking, apart from isolated incidents. They’re just wandering about.

The Doctor: “They’re newborns. Give them time. Why were you there this morning? Why were you already attacking?

Kate: “Been investigating 3W for a while, then we got a tip-off.

AHMED: “From a woman with a Scottish accent.

The Doctor: “Can’t play to the gallery unless there’s a gallery, and here I am.

(Missy sticks her tongue out.)

The Doctor: “Dead bodies don’t have minds, of course, but she’s been upgrading dying minds to a hard drive for a long time. So she upgrades the hardware, and then she updates the software.

Kate: “What do you mean, a long time? How long?

The Doctor: “Well, she must have a TARDIS somewhere, so as long as she likes. The past, the future

Kate: “How long, Doctor?

The Doctor: “How long has the human race had a concept of an afterlife? Turns out the afterlife is real, and it’s emptying. Every graveyard on planet Earth is about to burst its banks.

Kate: “Mister President, you need to get back in your seat.

The Doctor: “I don’t like being the president. People keep saluting. I’m never going to salute back.

(The Doctor inhales the fragrance of a lily he has taken from a vase in front of the Brigadier’s portrait.)

Kate: “Do you know, that was always my dad’s big ambition, to get you to salute him just once.

The Doctor: “He should’ve asked.

Kate: “Doctor, what are you looking at?

The Doctor: “The clouds. Still there. So what else have they got?

(A silver face appears at the porthole. 11 Oct 1963 - Nightmare at 20,000 feet Twilight Zone episode starring William Shatner, anyone?)

Kate: “Oh, dear Lord!

The Doctor: “There’s a Cyberman out there on the fuselage. But on the plus side, it’s not turbulence.

(Then he looks at the monitor showing the laboratory.)

The Doctor: “She’s out. Who let her out?

Ahmed: “What’s it doing? Where did it go? What can one Cyberman do to a plane

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==NE==

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Missy: “Oh, she was really scared. It’s classic. Have you got any more friends I can play with?”

“Oh, oooh. Ask me.”

The Doctor: “Shut up!”

Missy: “Ask me! Come on, you know you want to. You want to know what my plan is. You’ll be surprised. I’ve got a gift for you. You know, I’ve been up and down your timeline, meeting all those silly people who died to keep you alive. And you know what I worked out? What you really need.”

The Doctor: “For what?”

Missy: “To know that you’re just like me!”

(The TARDIS phone rings.)

Missy: “Oh, and now it begins. Doctor, I do believe you’re on call. Miss Oswald expects. Who else but the girl who’s got your number? Whoops!”

The Doctor: “It was you!”

Missy: “(Cockney) Computer helpline, love. That’s the one. Best helpline in the universe.”

The Doctor: “You put us together.”

Missy: “No, I put you and your wife together. Clara was the one who kept you that way.”

The Doctor: “Why?”

Missy: “Cos she’s perfect, innit? The control freak and the man who should never be controlled. You’d go to hell if she asked. And she is. The phone’s ringing, Doctor. Can you hear that? Now that is the sound of your chain being yanked. Heel, Doctor! (as Clara) Help me, Doctor. Help me. Help me, Doctor.”

The Doctor: “Clara?”

Clara: “Doctor. With Danny.”

The Doctor: “Danny’s dead, Clara.”

Clara: “Not yet. Not quite. But he wants to be.”

The Doctor: “Clara-”

(Danny is crying nearby.)

The Doctor: “Clara?

Clara: “He’s a Cyberman. Doctor, Danny’s a Cyberman, and he’s crying. Doctor, he feels it. He’s crying.

The Doctor: “I know what it does. If you turn it on he’ll become a Cyberman.

Clara: “He’s already a Cyberman.

The Doctor: “Not yet, he isn’t.

Clara: “He’s hurting because I hurt him and he wants it to stop.

The Doctor: “Stop the pain and he’ll kill you!

Clara: “Look, are you going to help me, because I can’t do this alone.

The Doctor: “I’m not going to help you commit suicide.

Clara: “Look, the TARDIS can home in on this call, right? Either you help me, or you leave me alone.

The Doctor: “Clara? Clara, no

Kate: “Doctor! The Cybermen are in. The plane’s going down.

Missy: “Oh, great. It’s the daughter one. Do you like her? I like her.

(Kate grabs onto a cargo strap as Missy makes the airplane veer sharply. The Doctor grabs another one. Then Missy opens the cargo hatch and Kate is sucked out, screaming.)

Kate: “Aaaaaargh!

The Doctor: “Why did you do that? You didn’t have to do that!

Missy: “Oh, don’t be so selfish. I’m going to miss her, too. In fact, you know what? Just for that, I’m leaving. Boys, blow up this plane and, I don’t know, Belgium, yeah? Kill some Belgians. Might as well. They’re not even French. Byeeee!

(Missy teleports herself away. The Doctor is hanging on for dear life.)

The Doctor: “Aaah! Aaah!

(The airplane goes BOOM!)

The Doctor: “Argh! Argh!

(More)

==NE==

(More)

The Doctor: “Clara, don’t!

(The other Cybermen are standing around, watching.)

Clara: “Help me.

The Doctor: “If you do what you’re trying to do, if you succeed, he will snap you.

Clara: “No.

The Doctor: “Then he will step over your broken body and break another and another and another. He will never stop.

Cyber-Danny: “I will not harm her.

The Doctor: “P E. P E. P E.

Cyber-Danny: “Sir.

The Doctor: “I had a friend once. We ran together when I was little. And I thought we were the same. But when we grew up, we weren’t. Now, she’s trying to tear the world apart, and I can’t run fast enough to hold it together. The difference is this. (The Doctor puts his hand over Danny’s chest disc.) “Pain is a gift. Without the capacity for pain, we can’t feel the hurt we inflict.

Cyber-Danny: “Are you telling me seriously, for real, that you can?

The Doctor: “Of course I can.

Cyber-Danny: “Then shame on you, Doctor.

The Doctor: “Yes. Oh, yes.

(The dark clouds rumble overhead.)

The Doctor: “Danny, Danny, I need you to tell me. What are the clouds going to do? What is the plan?

Cyber-Danny: “How would I know?

The Doctor: “You’re part of a hive mind now. Presumably that’s how you found Clara. Just look.

Cyber-Danny: “I can’t see much.

The Doctor: “Look harder.

Cyber-Danny: “Clara, watch this. This is who the Doctor is. Watch the blood-soaked old general in action. I can’t see properly, sir, because this needs activating. If you want to know what’s coming, you have to switch it on. And didn’t all of those beautiful speeches just disappear in the face of a tactical advantage? Sir.

The Doctor: “(sighs) I need to know. I need to know.

Cyber-Danny: “(sotto)Clara:(normal) Yes, you do.

Clara: “Give me the screwdriver.

The Doctor: “No.

Clara: “Just do it, Doctor. Do as you are told.

Cyber-Danny: “Typical officer. Got to keep those hands clean.

(The Doctor walks away.)

Clara: “Just point and think, yeah?

The Doctor: “Yes.

Clara: “Okay. I wasn’t very good at it, but I did love you.

Cyber-Danny: “I love you too.

Clara: “I’m never going to say that again.

Cyber-Danny: “Me neither.

Clara: “Ready?

Cyber-Danny: “Yeah.

(Clara cries.)

Clara: “I feel like I’m killing you.

Cyber-Danny: “I’m already dead. You’re here this time at least.

Clara: “Goodbye, Danny.

Cyber-Danny: “Goodbye, Clara.

(She activates the screwdriver. Danny’s face goes blank and he straightens up. Clara turns off the screwdriver and goes to hug him.)

The Doctor: “Clara, no! Step away! He’s activating! Clara, step away now! Don’t. Danny. Danny, if you can hear me, if you’re still there, what are the clouds going to do?

Cyber-Danny: “The rain will fall again. All humanity will die.

The Doctor: “And rise again as Cybermen.

Cyber-Danny: “Correct.

The Doctor: “How do we stop it?

Cyber-Danny: “We cannot be stopped.

(Missy beams herself in as Mary Poppins, floating gently to the ground under her umbrella.) Missy: “Oh, that was brilliant! Oh, I love the telly here, but did you see that? Oh, Clara, you poor thing. You must feel like death. Let me pop away the pain.”

(Missy starts to tap at her thingy. The Doctor grabs it and throws it away.)

The Doctor: “Don’t you dare! Don’t you think about it!”

Missy: “Oh, sorry, hon, I’m just getting a bit carried away. It’s your friends, they’re so more-ish. Hmm?”

(Clara picks up Missy’s thingy and returns to Cyber-Danny’s manly metal chest.)

Missy: “Oh, stop looking all cross-pants. I’m here to give you a gift. Could you at least try and be excited?”

The Doctor: “What gift?”

(Missy speaks into her bracelet.)

Missy: “Cyberdears!

Missy: “Look at Mummy! Raise your arms. Lower your arms. Raise your right. Lower your right. Turn on the spot. There are exits at the front and rear of the aircraft. Please follow the lights up the aisle. You see, Doctor? The power to slaughter whole worlds at a time, then make them do a safety briefing. Everyone who ever lived, man, woman and child, is now at my command. An indestructible army to rage across the universe. The more they kill, the more they recruit. Happy birthday. Oh! You didn’t know, did you? It’s lucky one of us remembers these things. Happy birthday (as Marilyn Monroe) Mister President.

(She puts her control bracelet on the Doctor’s wrist then backs away and curtseys.)

CYBERMAN: “Doctor.

(The Cybermen bow their heads to him.)

Missy: “Tiny bit pleased? Oh, go on, crack a smile. I want to see if your eyebrows drop off.

The Doctor: “All of this. All of it, just to give me an army?

Missy: “Well, I don’t need one, do I? Armies are for people who think they’re right. And nobody thinks they’re righter than you. Give a good man firepower, and he’ll never run out of people to kill.

The Doctor: “I don’t want an army!”

Missy: “Well, that’s the trouble! Yes, you do! You’ve always wanted one! All those people suffering in the Dalek camps? Now you can save them. All those bad guys winning all the wars? Go and get the good guys back.

The Doctor: “Nobody can have that power.

Missy: “You will, because you don’t have a choice. There’s only way you can stop these clouds from opening up and killing all your little pets down here. Conquer the universe, Mister President. Show a bad girl how it’s done.

(Missy gives the Doctor a deep curtsy. The Doctor rips the bracelet off.)

The Doctor: “Why are you doing this?

Missy: “I need you to know we’re not so different. I need my friend back. Every battle, every war, every invasion. From now on, you decide the outcome. What’s the matter, Mister President? Don’t you trust yourself?

(More)

The Doctor: “Thank you. Thank you so much.” He kissed her cheek.

“Jealous rage.” I coughed.

The Doctor grinned at me. I knew he may not have realized he was smiling at me, but I felt butterflies.

No. He did realize. He was giving me that smile. The smile the Doctor only gave me when he was just so in disbelief that I was his. He was giving that look to me. Me. Meredith Gafford.

No. Terra Two.

“I really didn’t know. I wasn’t sure. You lose sight sometimes. Thank you! I am not a good man!” The Doctor excitedly ranted. “I am not a bad man. I am not a hero. And I’m definitely not a president. And no, I’m not an officer. Do you know what I am? I am an idiot!”

“About time.” I grinned.

The Doctor smiled at me. “You’ve been calling me that as long as I have known you. It just took me a bit longer than usual to get.”

I laughed. “Finally! Something we can agree on.”

The Doctor nodded, “I am an idiot, with a box and a screwdriver. Just passing through, helping out, learning. I don’t need an army. I never have, because I’ve got them. Always them.

“Love isn’t an emotion.” I looked at the Doctor. “It’s a promise. And he could never hurt her.”

I wasn’t talking about Danny and Clara.

The Doctor nodded. “P E, catch!”

(The control bracelet lands in Cyber-Danny’s hand.)

The Doctor: “You didn’t notice, did you? While you were doing all your silly orders, while you were showing off, the one soldier not obeying.

Missy: “No, that’s wrong. That’s impossible.

CYBER-DANNY: “The rain will not fall.

(He lets go of Clara and puts on the control bracelet as he walks towards Missy.)

Missy: “Oh? Why won’t it?

CYBER-DANNY: “The clouds will burn.

Missy: “And who’ll burn them?

CYBER-DANNY: “I will burn them.

Missy: “How?

CYBER-DANNY: “I will burn.

Missy: “One burning Cyberman is hardly going to save the planet.

CYBER-DANNY: “Correct.

(He speaks into the bracelet.)

CYBER-DANNY: “Attention!

(The Cyber-Army spring to attention.)

CYBER-DANNY: “This is not a good day. This is Earth’s darkest hour. And look at you miserable lot. We are the Fallen. But today, we shall rise. The army of the dead will save the land of the living. This is not the order of a general, nor the whim of a lunatic.

Missy: “Excuse me?

CYBER-DANNY: “This is a promise. The promise of a soldier! (to Clara) You will sleep safe tonight.

(Cyber-Danny ignites his rocket boots and rises from the ground. All the Cybermen do the same. They fly off into the clouds and explode, burning them away and letting the sunshine through. London, New York, the night sky at Sydney clears The Doctor:ll of flame.)

The Doctor: “Yes, burned up. Totally burnt. Burnt to nothing. Sorry.

Missy: “Ten zero eleven, zero zero by zero two.”

The Doctor: “What did you say?”

Missy: “The current coordinates of Gallifrey. It’s returned to it’s original location. Didn’t you ever think to look?

The Doctor: “You are lying!

Missy: “We can, we can go together, just you and me. Just like the old days.

The Doctor: “You’d be clapped in irons.

Missy: “If you like.

Clara: “Doctor, I’m assuming you’ll remember those coordinates?” (Clara holds out Missy’s thingy towards her.)

The Doctor: “No. No, don’t you dare. I won’t let you.

Clara: “Old friend, is she? If you have ever let this creature live, everything that happened today, is on you. All of it, on you. And you’re not going to let her live again.

The Doctor: “Clara, all I’m doing is not letting you kill her. I never said I was letting her live.

Clara: “Really?

The Doctor: “If that’s the only thing that will stop you, yes.

(Clara hands over the thingy.)

Missy: “Seriously. Oh, Doctor. To save her soul? But who, my dear, will save yours? Say something nice. Please?

The Doctor: “You win.

Missy: “I know.

(The Doctor prepares to vaporise Missy, but another energy bolt gets there first. It was a Cyberman with a dark chest disc. It points to something lying amongst the gravestones.)

Clara: “Doctor!

(They run to where Kate is lying on the ground.)

The Doctor: “Kate. She’s breathing! She’s alive! She can’t be here.

Clara: “She is.

The Doctor: “She fell out of a plane. The Cyberman must have caught her.

Clara: “Doctor, she’s talking about her dad.

The Doctor: “Of course. The Earth’s darkest hour and mine. Where else would you be?

(The Doctor salutes the spirit of Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart. It acknowledges with a bow of its head then blasts off into the wide blue yonder.)

The Doctor: “(sotto) Thank you.

(More)

==NE==

Coming back into the TARDIS after nearly a decade away felt like being given a hug by your mother. There was a soft hum vibrating in my mind, making me feel relaxed and calm. It was the best feeling ever, and I loved it.

I walked on the metal floor, loving the echo of my shoes in the console room. The Old Girl hummed loudly, as if she had been waiting for me too. I gripped the console, taking a deep whiff of the room. The Doctor’s books gave it an old smell. The metal added some copper to it.

The Doctor walked in behind me, a slowness to his steps. He came up to my side, but didn’t put a hand on me. His gaze was stuck on the console. I knew it. I just knew it, that he was ashamed of me. I had let him think I was dead for a thousand years because I was scared of what he would think of me. Story, I was so selfish.

“I’m sorry.” The words flew out of my mouth. “I am so sorry, please don’t-”

The Doctor reached out, holding my hand. “No.” He said, his Scottish lilt making it almost boom. He looked up at me, his dark blue eyes boring into mine. I wanted to look away, but he always did have that ability to keep our gazes locked. “No.” He repeated.

“She lied Doctor.” I told him. “Totally, and completely lied. Gallifrey isn’t there, I’m sorry. I told her not to-”

The Doctor’s blue eyes silenced me again. I almost pulled my hand away, wanting to wring my fingers in my nervousness, but I would take any hand holding he gave. It could be my last.

“How?” The Doctor asked, gently squeezing my hand.

I could see it in his eyes what he was asking. He wanted to know how I survived. “The Bad Wolf. She moved me to Earth, 2007.”

His eyes widened. “That was seven years ago.”

“Eight.” I corrected. “For me, at least.” I shrugged. “I wanted to see you, every day.”

The Doctor frowned. He looked down at our joined hands. I looked down too, and was slightly surprised at what I was seeing. My thumb had come out from his hold, and was gently brushing his knuckles. His leathery skin might as well have been silk. I didn’t want to make him uneasy and bring him into a hug, I know how much Twelve hated those.

“Terra.”

I looked back to him, for a split second seeing the sadness in his blue eyes. He hid it well, but if you knew what to look for you could see it clear as day. I threw caution out into the time vortex. My free hand reached up, touching his cheek. His hard exterior softened slightly at this. His skin was cool, like I remembered it.

“Eight years.” I murmured, finding myself mesmerized in the feel of his skin under mine. “Did you always look so handsome?”

The Doctor scoffed, rolling his eyes. “No, that was bowtie.”

Instead of whacking him or elbowing him in the gut, I giggled. “No, it was you.” I gave him a kind smile and cupped his cheek. I somehow had the courage to maintain eye contact. The Doctor was practically pleading with me. He wanted me to tell him all the things he didn’t believe, he wanted me to prove that I was here, that I was his and I wouldn’t leave him again. “It was always you.”

My eyes had to be asking the same thing, because the Doctor grinned. I wanted him to hold me and never let me go. I wanted him to whisper my name in my ear, while I whispered his own to him. I wanted him to trust me again, to be someone he trusted again.

His smile put me on edge, it always did. Nothing good happened to me when Twelve smiled like that, like he had whipped cream on his hand and I was defenseless. His free arm reached out behind me, wrapping around my waist. Before I could get a word out, the Doctor pushed his lips on mine.

At first, I wanted to push him away. My body had other ideas, reaching out to grab ahold of his jacket and neck. I pressed my body to his, not breaking the kiss for the life of me. The Doctor seemed just as reluctant to part. His other hand was now free, he used it to take hold of my blonde hair.

The intensity of the kiss grew faster than my heartbeats. The Doctor pushed his tongue into my mouth, laying claim to it. He searched my mouth with it, as if finding every new contour and new flavor. I let him have his way, happy enough to know he was actually willing to do this with me even though he hated my face.

‘I hated the person I thought was behind the face.’ His voice felt like a soft touch on my mind. Hearing him like this again sent shivers up my spine, practically making me melt before I realized what he had actually said. ‘I blamed Meredith, because if it was her fault it wasn’t mine.’

His kiss became more tender. He lifted me onto the console. A surprised squeak escaped me. The Doctor held me tighter to him, not daring to give me an inch. ‘I should have known it was you, right from the start.’ The Doctor apologized. ‘Only you would give up eight years of your life to keep me happy.’

I moaned against his thick lips. It felt so nice being held by my Doctor again. My mind brushed against his, sending a wave of love his way, making the hand in my hair fumble. ‘You couldn’t have known, I worked hard to make sure you never suspected anything. I could never forgive myself if you blamed yourself for something you had no control over.’

That was when we had to separate ourselves. As great as a respiratory bypass was, we still needed oxygen every now and then. I rested my forehead against his, catching my breath. The Doctor was the same, his hands holding me closer to him in case I tried to find some way out. I didn’t want to, I was exactly where I needed to be. I dared look him in the eyes.

His blue eyes were darker, that kind of dark I can barely remember. It sent chill up my spine, making me pull him closer to me. I almost growled at that look. It was a look only I would see. My hands threaded themselves into his hair, keeping his forehead on mine.

‘Mine.’ I growled at him.

The Doctor gripped tighter on my hair, and my waist. ‘Mine.’ He said in the Scottish lit that made me moan.

I pressed my lips on his, forcing my tongue in his mouth. Now it was my turn to test the new mouth. I had wondered how he would feel against my new lips, my new teeth, my new tongue. So far I was impressed.

The Doctor considered this a fun challenge, chuckling in a way that made his chest rumble. His tongue started wrestling mine, making me smile. I giggled at my husband’s childish antics.

This was perfect, this was what I had been missing for nearly a decade. This made every lonely night worth it, every hateful word mean nothing. It just made me feel complete, again.

I broke the kiss, reaching for my bag. “I’m sorry! I was so caught up I forgot!”

The Doctor huffed. I blushed at the annoyed look on his face, but the promise in his eyes. This wasn’t over, and I better have something important enough to stop him from kissing his wife.

When married to the Doctor, you notice his tells.

I pulled out a small photograph, giving it a small smile before handing it to him. “I had a promise to keep.”

The Doctor took the photo, his eyes widening in disbelief.

The photo was crumpled with age, but you could still see them. It was of me in the hospital, soon after the drugs wore off and I was lucid. Morgan Spencer was smiling up at the camera, a white hospital gown over her body instead of clothes. Her hair was drenched in sweat, coming out of it’s usually well brushed ponytail. In her arms were two newborns, one in blue and one in pink.

This was a photo that kept me going. Whenever I would feel at a loss, like I would never see my Doctor, I would just look at the photo. Seeing the small lives the two of us made, knowing they were just waiting for me to bring their father home, gave me a sense of determination. I owed it to my children to introduce them to their father, to their siblings.

“That’s Scott.” ‘Real Name is Theta Gamma.’

The Doctor turned to me, his eyes going from the photo to me. “They were twins?”

I nodded. “Do...do you like the name? I had to come up with them pretty quickly, since I...” I sucked in my lips. The Doctor glanced at me. “I wanted to see you.”

The Doctor looked down at the the photo. He had that face on, like he was trying to hide how much he really cared. “Not the best name. Good for a rush job.” Then he frowned. “Why Scott?”

“I asked the same thing the first time I heard you talk.” I blushed.

The Doctor rolled his eyes, annoyed. “You named my son after the way I talk?” My husband asked, trying and failing to sound offended. He actually sounded a bit pleased.

I smiled. “Yes. I named your son after how you talk.”

The Doctor froze. Apparently, my words reached him. ‘My son. I have a son. Oh, that is going to take some getting used to.’

‘I’ll tell Maximum you said that.’ I warned, trying to give him a teasing smile.

‘Oh no. That boy hates me enough.’ The Doctor said, shaking his head. “Scott is good. I like it.”

I smiled, so happy to be back with him. I hated making myself someone he hated. I hated being away from him for the past eight years. It had been breaking my hearts.

“And this is Evelina.” I said, pointing at our infant daughter.

“Evelina?” The Doctor’s face twisted in confusion. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

I rolled my eyes. My husband, the idiot. “It sounds like Eleven.” I teased, gently. I lightly poked his undershirt.

The Doctor grabbed my hand, making me look back into his eyes. “You named our daughter after that idiot?”

“Oi, I named the boy after you so quit complaining you stupid Scot.” I half scolded. “And I never said I named her after him, just that they sounded alike. Her name means light and life, which I thought described her perfectly! She was a kicker, ya know!”

The Doctor at least at the decency to look scolded. “Right. Of course dear.”

I smiled at his efforts. It was hard enough getting Twelve to hug, emotions was asking too much. Yet, I couldn’t ignore the fact that he was staring at the photo intently.

“What’s wrong, now?” I giggled, trying to sound light. Then I realized it might not be so light. “Is it too much? I didn’t mean to drop it all at once! I mean, I waited at least two hours before bringing up the kids after saying I was alive, but that’s still too fast for some.”

The Doctor silenced me with a look. I clamped my lips shut.

“When did you have them?” The Doctor asked, sounding sad.

I winced. “Uhh...that depends on who you ask.” I admitted, nervously looking at the photo.

The Doctor sounded confused. “Morgan.” His voice was starting to rise, a habit for when he got annoyed.

He said my name. That made it much more serious, and made me realize just how much I missed hearing my name come out of his mouth. “I had them eight years ago.” I answered, glancing at the Doctor.

He looked like I had revealed his worst fear. He looked back to the photo, probably thinking it was the only way he would see them as newborns.

I couldn’t help the blush that came to my cheeks. “But, back Home.” I added extra emphasis to the word. The Doctor had his interest peaked. “They were born two hours ago.”

It took the Doctor to understand what I was saying. “Hold on. You came straight here after having twins?!”

“Your wife.” Was my answer.

The Doctor huffed, putting a hand on his hip as if he couldn’t believe what he just heard. He even shook his head. I shrugged, not really sure how else to explain it.

“I just needed to get back to you.” I tried. “I wanted you to spend time with them, like this, cause I know that was something you always regretted about Blythe and all the other’s.”

The Doctor pointed the photo at me. I stared at the two babies in blankets. “So, if we went to your world, this...Scott and...Evelina, would be exactly like this photo?”

I nodded. “Yes. I didn’t waste a second once I was lucid.” I explained, brushing some of my hair back. He had apparently made the bun messier during our intense make-out. “But, but I would have her face, so just, ya know, be aware.”

The Doctor shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. This was the first time he had done that since we walked in, I noted, keeping his hands away from me. “It’s about time I met the in-laws.”

I raised a brow, giving him a teasing smile. “You actually want to meet a companion’s mother?”

The Doctor grinned, that light hearted grin. “Morgan, you are the farthest thing from a companion.” He walked up to me, cupping my cheeks and pulling my lips to his. ‘You’re my wife.’

‘You’re my husband.’ I thought back.

I held his hand, and for the first time in nearly a decade, I thought of going Home.