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[Warehouse]
(Ianto breaks the lock on the door and they all go inside.)
IANTO: This is us. This is Torchwood. This is home.
LOUISE MINCHIN [on TV]: The children promised tomorrow and tomorrow is here. Our correspondents have been measuring the situation in Australia
REPORTER [on TV]: Le President a declare avoir ordonné la fermeture de nos écoles.
TRINITY WELLS [on TV]: The Senate have pointed out that we are now living in fear of our children. In fear of what they will say next. In fear of who or what is speaking through them.
(Rhys starts a fire in a barrel. They have an old settee to sit on.)
RHYS: Whoa! Almost lost my eyebrows. Still, good for something, see? Old Boy scout.
GWEN: I'm freezing.
RHYS: Is anyone gonna see us in here, you know, with all this firelight and stuff?
IANTO: It was abandoned in the nineties. It used to be a Torchwood holding facility. Torchwood One.
JACK: Rusting away for years.
GWEN: So what do we do, hmm? Just sit here?
JACK: Worse than that, do I have to stay in these clothes? I mean, come on. Tracksuit bottoms? Not a good look.
GWEN: Jack, they're arriving today. That alien voice thing said today, and we're stuck in the back end of beyond.
JACK: Yeah. But we're together, the old team. We're down, but not out, yeah? We've survived worse than this.
GWEN: Yeah.
JACK: Besides, I don't know how much fighting you should do in your condition.
RHYS: What's that mean?
GWEN: (sotto) Christ, Jack.
RHYS: He knows you're pregnant? You told him before me, didn't you?
GWEN: Rhys, he just happened to be there, and it happened really, really fast.
RHYS: Last to know. Last to bloody know. Well thank you very much.
GWEN: Don't be stupid, man. Hey, don't be so
(Rhys walks away.)
GWEN: (to Jack) Couldn't you just keep it shut?
(Gwen goes after Rhys as Jack grins to himself.)
IANTO: All together. The old team.
LOUISE MINCHIN [on TV]: Tension is mounting as the population of the entire planet waits for the next incident.
REPORTER [on TV]: Le Parlement Europeen semble fige au regard de ces
TRINITY WELLS [on TV]: We've been given no answers, no hope, no assurance that our children will come first
LOUISE MINCHIN [on TV]: The Government has refused to speculate about the origin of the voice or the importance of the word tomorrow. Let's take you live now to Downing Street.
[Prime Minister's office]
(Broadcasting to the nation.)
GREEN: In light of what's happening with our children, we've temporarily closed the schools. As a further precaution, we have introduced a temporary curfew for everyone under the age of eighteen. Keep your children at home where they'll be safe. The curfew takes effect immediately and will continue until further notice. But rest assured, we're doing everything in our power to find out what's going on, to safeguard our children and all the people of this nation. In the meantime, we are asking everyone to stay calm, and to go about your lives as normal. There's nothing to suggest we are in any danger, and as soon as we find out anything more, the public will be informed. And as always, I thank you, for your trust, and for your faith.
[Warehouse]
(Ianto makes a phone call.)
IANTO: Yeah, it's me. Listen, I can't talk. Just give her the thumbs up. She'll know what it means.
[Housing Estate]
(A man whistles from his balcony to Johnny, who is walking back to his home with a neighbour's daughter, then gives a thumbs up.)
JOHNNY: Oh, brilliant. Thanks, Mac.
[Davies' home]
(The house is full of the local schoolchildren whose parents are at work.)
JOHNNY: Mac says thumbs up, Ianto's alive.
RHIANNON: Was that it? You daft sod. Well, where is he, what's he doing?
JOHNNY: Thumbs up, that was all. This is Eliza, and she's lactose intolerant, so no milk.
RHIANNON: Okay, Eliza. You take your coat off. You go in there and play, all right? That's it now, Johnny. No more kids. I'm full to bursting.
JOHNNY: It's a public service. The schools are closed. People still got to work. Life goes on.
RHIANNON: Yeah, with you making a profit.
JOHNNY: It's ten quid a kid. Look, that could be our slogan, ten quid a kid.
[Carter home]
(Alice is still trying to contact her father.)
JACK [OC]: This is Jack Harkness. Leave a message and I'll get back to you.
[Warehouse]
(The team pool their resources.)
JACK: So, we've got guns, okay. And a pen knife, laptop, now dead. Credit cards and a phone which they can trace. Lemsip, book of stamps, pair of contact lenses, and fifteen quid.
GWEN: Plus twenty five pence. With some bloody alien thing turning up today.
IANTO: We've got some of the Torchwood software, though. We've lost the Hub, but the software still exists on the server. Trouble is, we're gonna need some more equipment, not to mention electricity.
RHYS: And how are we gonna manage that, hidden away like criminals.
GWEN: Well that's it. Brilliant.
RHYS: What?
GWEN: Criminals. Thieves. Us. Well, they're treating us like criminals, let's be criminals. Listen, I trained with the police. I know every trick in the book. I've seen the lot. Come on, boys. You're gonna learn some tricks.
[London]
(Ianto masquerades as a waiter.)
IANTO: Everything all right?
CUSTOMER: Oh, yeah, fine, thanks very much.
IANTO: That'll be fifteen pounds fifty, please.
(The customer hands over his credit card, and Ianto walks off with it.
Meanwhile, Rhys steals a laptop in its case while Gwen chats to its owner on a park bench.
Jack does the credit card thing at the X:it Bar and restaurant.
Rhys and Ianto stage a street fight so Gwen can steal a briefcase.
Jack drives off with a Porsche Boxster sportscar while its owner is on the pavement using his mobile phone.)
DRIVER: Oi, come back, that's my car.
[Carter home]
ALICE: I'm just going to pop over the road. I won't be a minute, okay?
[Outside the Carter home]
(She sees a lady passing by.)
ALICE: Excuse me, could I borrow your phone? I just want to make a call my sister. She's a bit worried. It's all this stuff with the kids, and my mobile's not working. Is that okay?
PASSERBY: Yeah, sure.
ALICE: I won't be long. Brilliant, thanks.
(She makes a call.)
WOMAN [OC]: Hello, Cardiff Bay police station.
ALICE: Yeah, I'm trying to contact Captain Jack Harkness, he works for Torchwood. I know it's not your department, but
(There are tones on the line as she is transferred.)
[Ashton Down monitoring station / Outside the Carter home]
(The key words have flagged up Jack's data, then Alice's.)
ALICE: No, but I think he was in that explosion and I can't get in touch with him. He's got this private number and he always answers it, but
MAN [OC]: I'll need your name and address.
ALICE: I just want to know where he is.
MAN [OC]: I'll need your name and address. Name and address, please.
(Alice ends the call and returns the phone.)
ALICE: Lovely. Thank you very much. Thanks.
(A nearby CCTV camera is tasked with following Alice back indoors. They get her address.)
[Ashton Down monitoring station]
OPERATIVE: Name's Alice Carter. Maiden name Alice Sangster. Parents James and Mary Sangster, which is significant because James and Mary Sangster never really existed. They were placeholder names used in the early seventies for personnel that went into deep cover or witness relocation. In other words, the whole ID's a fake.
JOHNSON: Can you find out who she is?
OPERATIVE: I'm on to it.
[Warehouse]
JACK: Let there be light.
(And there was light, via electricity tapped from the grid.)
GWEN: Oh, yes. Britain's most wanted.
RHYS: Hey, how about that?
(Rhys has created a sign out of old copper pipe - HUB2)
JACK: Guess that makes you an official member of the team.
RHYS: You can stick it, mate. Get on those computers and get me home, yeah?
(Ianto enters, laden with carrier bags.)
IANTO: I see we've got a new car outside. Nice, very smart.
JACK: Where've you been? We thought you'd got arrested.
IANTO: Just buying essentials. Technology's one thing, but let's not forget the creature comforts. Coffee, obviously. Got some doo dah.
(Toilet rolls.)
GWEN: Thank God.
IANTO: And more importantly. I didn't know your exact sizes, but I reckon I've got a good eye.
(The bags contain new clothes.)
GWEN: Oh, brilliant. I am stinking.
RHYS: Nice one.
IANTO: And for you, sir, Army surplus special.
JACK: Oh, you're kidding me.
(Jack gets dressed, greatcoat and all.)
JACK: I'm back.
[Hastings Arms]
(Clem has picked a wallet from a woman's bag while she was waiting at a pedestrian crossing.)
CLEM: Such a long time ago. But it's all coming back, isn't it? Because of that smell. Closer and closer. Happens today. Well, it's always today, isn't it? Same as yesterday. Today and yesterday.
(The barmaid spots the photograph of the woman's husband and children in the wallet, and goes out the back of the bar to make a phone call.)
CLEM: I knew they'd come back. Bastards always come back. I can smell them! Just like last time, isn't it? Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, Stop!
(He remembers the children walking into the light.)
BARMAID: That's him.
(The police have arrived.)
CLEM: No. Oh no, don't take me. They'll get me.
POLICEMAN: Hold on.
CLEM: No, don't take me. Get out of the way.
(They grab Clem as he tries to escape.)
POLICEMAN: That's it.
CLEM: No!
POLICEMAN: Come on. You're making it worse, son.
(They handcuff him and take him away.)
CLEM: Stop! Stop! They'll get me, they'll get me.
[Warehouse]
(The stolen laptops get used.)
JACK: And we're in.
IANTO: Just like the old days.
GWEN: I'll patch into the new channels, see what's happening.
RHYS: Black, no sugar, yeah?
JACK: That's the one.
GWEN: No sign of anything. Empty skies.
IANTO: Right, where do we start? What are we looking for?
GWEN: Run a check on that Clement MacDonald. See if there's any change. And those names Lois said. Captain Andrew Staines. What was it, Ellen Hunt? Michael something. All assassinated the same time they tried to kill Jack.
IANTO: Andrew Staines, Ellen Hunt, Michael Sanders. Mean anything to you?
JACK: No, nothing.
GWEN: We need to get inside Whitehall. Have you got the Eye 5 software, Ianto?
IANTO: Yeah, it's still on the site, why?
GWEN: Download it onto the laptop. Because these are not just contact lenses, these are Torchwood contact lenses.
IANTO: But what do we use them for? Who's gonna wear them?
GWEN: Well, there's only one person still talking to us.
[Sandwich shop]
(Lois is waiting in the queue when the shop phone rings.)
MAN: Hello? Is there a Lois in here? Lois Habiba?
LOIS: That's me.
MAN: We're not a call centre. Hurry up.
(He hands her the phone.)
LOIS: Hello?
GWEN [OC]: Lois, look to your right.
(Gwen is across the street.)
GWEN [OC]: Don't hang up. Don't hang up. I need five minutes. Just five minutes.
(Gwen is now sitting opposite Lois.)
LOIS: I've helped you once, and that's enough. If anybody finds out what I'm doing, it's treason. It's literally treason. Offences like this can be tried without a jury. They could do anything to me.
GWEN: I know, but you said they're building something at Thames House, and we need to find out what it is.
LOIS: That's the most secure building in the whole country. I can't exactly smuggle you in.
GWEN: You don't have to. You just keep your eyes open. Like this.
(Gwen opens a laptop. Lois sees herself on the screen.)
LOIS: But, where's that coming from? That's not a webcam, it's you.
GWEN: And to the right. And to the left. And back.
LOIS: Where's the camera? On your jacket?
GWEN: In my eyes.
LOIS: Oh, my God.
GWEN: When you wear these, they'll transmit a picture so we can see what's going on. More than that, we've got lip-reading software. Just look at someone when they're speaking, and it'll translate it. Press enter now. Go on. Right, now it's working. Say something.
LOIS: Like what?
COMPUTER: Like what?
LOIS: Oh my God, that's weird.
COMPUTER: Oh my God, that's weird.
GWEN: And we can send messages to you. Type something. Go on, anything.
(Lois types Hello Gwen.)
GWEN: Hello, Lois.
LOIS: You can see that in your eyes?
COMPUTER: In your eyes?
(Gwen removes the contact lenses.)
GWEN: It's good, isn't it? If you wear these, we can find out what's going on, and then we can help.
LOIS: But I can't. What if they, I don't know, scan for bugs or something?
GWEN: Yeah, they will, but they won't register, I promise.
LOIS: I can't, though. Giving you information's one thing, but that's putting me right on the front line.
GWEN: You're the only friend we've got left.
LOIS: Even if I get into Thames House, I can't get on to floor thirteen. That's where they're building this thing. But Frobisher only takes Miss Spears with him, I'm just the office girl.
GWEN: Well, you'll have to find a way inside.
LOIS: But how?
GWEN: I don't know. You'll have to think of something.
LOIS: I can't. I'm sorry, I've got to go.
GWEN: Just take them with you, I am begging you. Just think about it.
LOIS: I've really got to go.
GWEN: Please, Lois.
LOIS: I can't.
GWEN: Please.
(Gwen gives Lois the contact lens case.)
[Warehouse]
JACK: Frobisher's the key to this. He's just a civil servant, he's nothing. What makes him start authorising executions?
IANTO: What did it feel like? I mean, getting blown up.
JACK: It wasn't the best of days.
IANTO: No, but did you feel it? Or did everything just go black?
JACK: I felt it.
IANTO: Shit.
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: Do you ever think that one day your luck'll run out? That you won't come back.
JACK: I'm a fixed point in time and space. That's what the Doctor says. I think that means it's forever.
IANTO: So one day you'll see me die of old age, and just keep going.
JACK: Yeah.
IANTO: We'd better make the most of it, then.
JACK: I suppose.
IANTO: Like right now?
JACK: Ianto, the world could be ending.
IANTO: The world's always ending. And I have missed that coat.
JACK: Rhys, do you want to take the car and go to those shops down by the wharf? We need some discs for these things. Should take about twenty minutes?
IANTO: Thirty minutes.
JACK: Thirty.
RHYS: I'll go later. The beans are almost done.
JACK: The beans are almost done.
IANTO: Bloody beans.
(Ianto finds Clem's records.)
IANTO: Whoa, that's nice. Look at that, face recognition software. And, arrested two hours ago in London. He wouldn't give his name, but that is Clement MacDonald.
JACK: That's the man from the hospital.
IANTO: Could be useful.
(Phone rings.)
IANTO: Gwen?
[Street / Warehouse]
GWEN: I've given her the contacts, but God knows, I think she's too scared.
IANTO: We've got a new mission for you. That Clem's turned up, Camden police station of all places. Arrested for theft and minor affray. Could you get him out?
GWEN: How am I supposed do that?
IANTO: You were a policewoman.
GWEN: Oh, okay. Bloody hell. Anything else while I'm at it?
IANTO: Fillet steak would be nice.
GWEN: Yeah, don't push it. See you later.
[Warehouse]
JACK: So, Ianto, what's his story?
IANTO: Ah, well, according to Gwen, it was your classic alien abduction, back when he was a kid. 1965. He was living ten miles outside Arbroath, the Holly Tree Lodge, it was an orphanage. I looked up the files. The kids were taken away in November 1965. The Lodge was closing down. They were being taken to a second care home called Harbour Heights in Plymouth, except that's where the records stopped. There's no trace of them arriving. I mean, it was the sixties, a lot of the paperwork's gone missing. But if what he's saying is true, maybe they never got there.
JACK: Show me those people.
IANTO: What people?
JACK: Andrew Staines, Ellen Hunt, Michael Sanders. The ones who were killed the same day as me.
IANTO: Why, do you think there's a connection?
JACK: Show me. No, no, give me their history. Show me them forty years ago. What for?
IANTO: Just do it.
(He does.)
IANTO: Who are they, Jack? Did you know them?
JACK: I never knew their names.
IANTO: Who were they? Jack, tell me. Did you know them?
(Jack grabs his greatcoat and runs out.)
IANTO: Jack!
RHYS: Oi, the beans are ready.
[Ashton Down monitoring station]
OPERATIVE: Alice Carter. I've broken the security wall. You're gonna love this.
[Home Office / Ashton Down]
FROBISHER: What is it? Any sign of Harkness?
JOHNSON: Sins of the past. Did you know that he's got a daughter?
FROBISHER: Since when?
JOHNSON: Alice Carter. She was put into deep cover way back in 1977 at the request of her mother, seeking to distance herself from the life of Captain Jack. Can hardly blame her.
FROBISHER: Who was the mother?
JOHNSON: Woman called Lucia Moretti. Italian. Torchwood staff 1968 to 1977. Deceased, heart disease, 2006. Natural causes. That's rare for Torchwood. And now, Alice Carter's got a child of her own, his grandson. Could be useful. What do you want me to do?
FROBISHER: Bring her in.
JOHNSON: Just the answer I wanted.
[Home Office]
FROBISHER: Nothing from Jodrell Bank, but we might as well get ready. Bridget, get everything you need. We're transferring to Thames House.
(He goes into his office.)
LOIS: What do you want me to do?
BRIDGET: Exactly what you're doing now. Just answer the phones.
LOIS: Or I could come with you to Thames House. I could help.
BRIDGET: I don't think so.
LOIS: The thing is, Mister Frobisher asked me to come.
BRIDGET: When was that?
LOIS: He said he wanted me. At his side.
BRIDGET: What for? Why on Earth would he need you?
LOIS: It was a private conversation.
(Frobisher walks out of his office and away.)
BRIDGET: You're not the first, you know. Don't go thinking you're the first.
LOIS: Then I can come?
BRIDGET: Apparently so.
[Cardiff Police Station]
(The phone rings.)
ANDY: Andy Davidson.
GWEN [OC]: Andy, listen.
ANDY: You're alive.
GWEN [OC]: Yes, I'm still alive, you idiot.
[Camden / Cardiff Police Station]
GWEN: Now shut up. I need some help.
ANDY: We need you. All these kids saying, we are coming. And that's today. I mean, what's it gonna be? Like a spaceship?
GWEN: Aw, Andy.
ANDY: Or Godzilla?
GWEN: Just listen. I need you to release a prisoner from Camden police station. The address is Albany Street.
ANDY: What are you doing in Camden?
GWEN: Does it matter?.
ANDY: It does to me, aye.
GWEN: Yes, I know, I'm sorry. Look, just listen. I've got no ID, so I need you to vouch for me. He's only on minor charges so I can stand bail. You need to phone them, and fax a WC242A. Don't use my name, use Lynda's. I'll say I'm Lynda. Can you do that for me please?
ANDY: Okay.
GWEN: Like now?
[Camden Police cells]
(An officer unlocks Clem's cell.)
GWEN: Clem? Do you remember me?
CLEM: Oh.
GWEN: It's all right. I've got you.
(Clem cries on her shoulder.)
[Carter home]
STEVEN: It's boring. I want to see aliens.
ALICE: Yeah? Be careful what you wish for. Put some cartoons on.
(Alice is about to hang the washing out, when a dog stops barking and whimpers. She looks out of the front door, and the road is empty.)
ALICE: Steven, come on. We're going out. Quickly now.
STEVEN: But the telly said we've got to stay inside.
ALICE: Never mind that. Now, listen to me. We're going to go out, and you're gonna be quiet, okay? Don't make a sound. Just like those games your gran used to teach you, do you remember?
STEVEN: Are we in trouble? Gran always said there'd be trouble.
(Alice takes a knife from the kitchen, and a chopping block.)
ALICE: Then do exactly what she said. Just like the games. Nice and quiet, and don't let me out of your sight. Come on.
(Alice and Steven run out of the back door as the soldiers break down the front door.)
SOLDIER: Clear.
SOLDIER 2: Clear.
SOLDIER 3: Clear.
(Outside, Alice smacks a soldier in the face with the chopping block, takes his sidearm and runs.)
[Alleyway]
(Alice and Steven are trapped. She points the gun at Johnson.)
ALICE: Get out of the way.
JOHNSON: Go on then. Shoot. Let's see what happens. Are you as immortal as your father? Is the boy? We can put it to the test.
ALICE: Take me. Let him go.
JOHNSON: No.
ALICE: He's only a child.
JOHNSON: So? Alice, if we wanted you dead, we'd have opened fire by now. Just put down the gun.
ALICE: Who are you?
JOHNSON: Put down the gun.
ALICE: If you harm him. I will kill you.
JOHNSON: Understood.
(Alice puts the gun on the ground.)
JOHNSON: And the knife. You're certainly your father's daughter, I'll give you that.
ALICE: Come on, sweetheart.
(Alice turns around to see Steven is pointing into the sky.)
ALICE: Steven, what is it? What are you doing? Steven, what is it?
JOHNSON: What's he pointing at?
ALICE: Steven, stop it. Please stop it. Steven, look at me. Steven, stop it.
(Johnson looks towards where Steven is pointing.)
JOHNSON: It's them.
[Davies' home]
(Rhiannon is scrubbing a garment in the sink.)
RHIANNON: I charge extra for cleaning. Tell your mum, it's another two quid.
(She turns around to see the children are all pointing.)
RHIANNON: What is it? Stop it.
[Frobisher home]
ANNA: Can you hear me? Lilly, it's Mum. Just look at me. Just look at me.
[Camden]
(Clem is also pointing.)
GWEN: What is it? Clem?
[Warehouse]
IANTO: It's them, it's all of them, the kids.
RHYS: What are they saying?
IANTO: They're not. Just pointing.
LOUISE MINCHIN [OC]: Yet again, every child has stopped. Every single child in the world. There seems to be no reports of speech, only that they seem to be indicating something in the sky.
[Housing Estate]
JOHNNY: It's on the news. They're pointing.
RHIANNON: I know, but they're pointing over there. What's over there?
[Warehouse]
IANTO: It says all the children in America are pointing east, and all the children in Europe are pointing west.
RHYS: It's us. They're pointing at us.
[Housing Estate]
RHIANNON: If you go far enough in that direction, that's London. They're pointing at London.
LOUISE MINCHIN [OC]: According to reports, children in London are all pointing towards the centre of the city. To repeat, children in London all seem to be pointing towards the centre.
[Warehouse]
IANTO: They're pointing at Thames House. Come on.
[Thames House]
SIMON: It's happening.
(Rhys and Ianto run onto the warehouse roof in time to see a pillar of fire break through the clouds and head slowly down towards Thames House.)
FROBISHER: Sorry, you stay here.
SIMON: Mister Frobisher, you haven't got the authorisation.
(Frobisher takes the lift alone to floor 13, then jams the doors with a chair. Alarms blare, then the building shakes.
(Frobisher joins Dekker in the contact room to watch the fire fill the containment chamber. After a few moments, it stops. A pair of eyes is just visible in the thick gas.)
[Davies' home]
CHILDREN: We are here.
(Then go back to playing.)
[Camden]
CLEM: It's them. They're back.
GWEN: Come on. You're connected to them. We need to find out how.
[Contact room]
(A screeching noise comes from the containment chamber, then a translation with a male voice.)
456: Speak.
FROBISHER: My name is John Frobisher, Permanent Secretary to the Home Office of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Earth. On behalf of the Human race, I
(Something green splatters against the containment chamber glass. The creature inside flails around then stops.)
FROBISHER: Is there something wrong? Do you want me to continue? Then, if I could request, for the purpose of communication, we've no name for your species. What are you called?
456: You call us 456.
FROBISHER: That's correct.
456: Then that is our name.
(More screeching and vomiting.)
FROBISHER: If I could request, on behalf of my government, what is it that you want? Can you hear me? I'm sorry, but I need to know before I approach my superiors, what exactly do you want? I must ask the 456, officially, your purpose in visiting
456: Speak.
FROBISHER: I am speaking.
456: We would speak.
FROBISHER: With who?
456: The world.
FROBISHER: Why?
456: We would speak.
FROBISHER: Well, perhaps we do things differently here, but we would consider this to be a diplomatic liaison. Does that make sense? We are both, in a sense, ambassadors. And according to protocol, ambassadorial procedure is not made public. You wouldn't be speaking to the entire population, but to their elected representatives. That's, that's, that's how it works. That's all I can offer. Is that acceptable?
456: Yes.
FROBISHER: Good. Thank you.
456: Bring them.
FROBISHER: Thank you. I have one condition. Does that make sense, do you understand that? A condition? The 456 have made contact with this country before, many years ago. It would be better if, I mean, given the nature of that meeting, it would ensure the smooth running of diplomatic relations between Earth and the 456 if that previous encounter was kept off the record. By off the record, I mean private. Between us. Can you do that?
465: Yes.
FROBISHER: Thank you.
456: Soon.
FROBISHER: I'm sorry?
456: Return soon.
FROBISHER: I will. Thank you.
(Frobisher leaves, and slumps against the corridor wall, where Dekker finds him.)
[Warehouse]
LOUISE MINCHIN [on monitor]: The area around Thames House is being cordoned off while the Government has
IANTO: It is all kicking off now. Just when we need Jack.
LOUISE MINCHIN [on monitor]: At Downing Street. These images are from five minutes ago. That's been identified as Colonel Oduya of the Unified Intelligence Task Force. And this is coming live. That's General Austin Pierce, representing the American Armed Forces. He's heading inside Downing Street right now.
[COBRA]
(Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.)
PIERCE: I have been asked to convey, from the President of the United States, his absolute fury. Is that understood?
GREEN: Very much so.
PIERCE: That landing wasn't spontaneous. It was planned. It was prepared by you. And don't go calling this diplomacy, Mister Green. You've established a court. The sovereign court of Great Britain, in direct contradiction of the statutes of the United Nations.
GREEN: We were acting under orders.
ODUYA: Did they threaten you?
GREEN: I think we can say the mere existence of the 456 is a threat.
PIERCE: Nevertheless, you have an alien ambassador on British soil.
(The lady Home Secretary defends the state.)
RILEY: It has to be said that Britain has claimed no rights of territory or ownership over species 456.
PIERCE: But it's here. You've damned well got it right here.
ODUYA: And at every stage of these negotiations you have excluded UNIT when we're specially trained to deal with these situations.
GREEN: And I apologise. But the President's welcome to enter Floor 13, as is every other leader of the free world. I'd be honoured.
ODUYA: Except that's impossible.
PIERCE: And you know it. We will not move the President into a location that's had no security screening. That'll take days to organise. Weeks.
GREEN: Then I offer to withdraw.
PIERCE: What does that mean?
GREEN: I won't usurp the United States or any other nation. I suggest that dialogue with the 456 is taken out of my hands, and conducted by the civil service.
PIERCE: They're still British.
GREEN: But not elected, with no authority of State. And that's exactly what we need. Middle men. John Frobisher's already spoken to the 456. I suggest he continues.
ODUYA: I'd suggest that UNIT steps in.
GREEN: I wish it were so, but the 456 chose Britain. They designated the location. It's out of my control. What do you want to do, anger them? Look, John Frobisher's a good man. And better than that, he's expendable. So, what do you say?
PIERCE: Do we have your absolute guarantee that you won't enter the room?
GREEN: My absolute guarantee.
PIERCE: Then that's agreed.
ODUYA: Agreed.
[Thames House]
(Frobisher is sitting with his team in the lobby when his phone rings.)
GREEN [OC]: John?
(Frobisher stands up.)
FROBISHER: Prime Minster, sir.
GREEN [OC]: We've consulted with the military. They've demanded that from now on you become our spokesperson in all negotiations with the 456. Simon can give you a security briefing. Thank you.
(The call ends.)
FROBISHER: Shit.
[Frobisher home]
(Anna is on her phone.)
ANNA: Oh, but I'm the last to know. My own husband, and he won't tell me what's going on. I've got the girls pointing at the sky, and he won't say. No, there's nothing. I've been flicking through the news channels. They weren't saying anything. Yeah, yeah, I know. If I hear anything, I'll let you know. Yeah, okay, bye. Lilly. Downstairs, please. I want you where I can see you.
(Jack comes out of hiding, takes Anna's phone and leaves.)
LOUISE MINCHIN: The so-called pillar of fire has brought central London to a halt. All roads leading to the river have been closed off. As a result all major thoroughfares have ground to a standstill. Motorists are being asked to stay out of the city centre except for emergencies.
[Car]
(Gwen and Clem are stuck in a traffic jam. Gwen is on the phone.)
GWEN: Oh, that's so bloody Jack. You should've stopped him. Well, I don't know. We're gonna be ages. It's gridlock. Bloody London. Half the people are panicking, trying to get out, the other half are trying to get in. Look, I'm going to have to go, okay? Bye. Hey, it's all right, Clem. You're safe. You're with me. You're safe, you're with me. You're all right, you're safe.
CLEM: I keep remembering more. It's not just them up there. It's the man. He's come back, after all these years. I can smell him.
GWEN: What man? Who is he?
CLEM: It's the same man. I knew he'd come back for me.
GWEN: All right. Time I got you a nice cup of tea. And a hot dog. Do you like hot dogs? I bloody love 'em.
(Gwen drives down the pavement, leaving the other motorists staring.)
[Thames House]
(Simon briefs Frobisher while Bridget and Lois sit together.)
SIMON: I'm recommending we start at nineteen hundred. That gives us another two hours. Now, this is Louise, she can advise on international diplomatic protocols. Same goes for Samuel.
BRIDGET: There's a creature in that room. It's powerful, and it's toxic, and it's capable of God knows what. I bet you're glad to be trotting after John Frobisher now.
SIMON: Stuart's the linguistics expert. He can help out if there's a problem with translation.
(Frobisher's phone rings.)
FROBISHER: Oh, excuse me, I'd better take this. I was gonna phone you. God, I wish I was home right now. Look, just tell the girls that there's nothing to worry about.
[Road / Thames House]
JACK: Oh, I'll tell them that, Johnny boy. I'll tell them that their father tried to have me killed, how about that?
FROBISHER: That's my wife's phone. How did you get my wife's phone?
JACK: This is 1965, isn't it? All of this because of 1965. Frobisher, tell me, is it them? Have they come back?
FROBISHER: Yes.
JACK: That's why you tried to have me killed. Along with Andrew Staines and Ellen Hunt and Michael Sanders. All of us dead so no one could say anything, is that it?
FROBISHER: I had no choice.
JACK: Well, I've got a choice. Do you want to hear my choice? I could blow this thing sky high. I could tell the world, unless you get me into Thames House. I demand to talk to the 456 myself. Think about it. The fact that they've come back proves that they can't be trusted. You need me.
FROBISHER: Captain, we have your daughter and grandson. Alice and Steven Carter in our custody.
JACK: You what?
FROBISHER: I promise, nothing will happen to them. I absolutely promise. So long as you agree to say nothing.
JACK: Yeah? Well, how about I go back into that house right now and get your wife? And your children?
FROBISHER: Except you won't, because you're a better man than me. I'm sorry, Jack.
LOUISE MINCHIN [OC]: The world is still waiting for any news from Thames House. So far, the British Government is maintaining a policy of absolute silence, and the waiting continues.
[Warehouse]
(Night has fallen. Clem is enjoying his hot dogs. Gwen kisses Rhys and brings Clem a mug of tea.)
GWEN: Here you go.
RHYS: Save some for the rest of us, mate.
CLEM: He's your husband?
GWEN: Yes. Yes, yes, my beloved.
CLEM: Nice house, isn't it?
GWEN: We do our best.
RHYS: It's got shower facilities. Just stand under the skylight.
CLEM: I've stayed in worse. And who's the queer?
IANTO: Oi! It's not 1965 any more.
CLEM: He's queer. I can smell it.
[Thames House]
SIMON: If the support staff could take the stairs, the lift is reserved for Mister Frobisher and his personal staff. Fast as you can. Best of luck, sir.
FROBISHER: Big moment. History.
[Warehouse]
RHYS: What do you think's in there?
GWEN: God knows. That's why we need Lois.
IANTO: No sign of her. Lenses inactive.
[Thames House]
SIMON: Two minutes.
LOIS: Er, I'm just gonna pay a visit.
(Lois checks that the ladies is empty, then puts in the contact lenses.)
[Warehouse / Ladies room]
IANTO: Online. She's doing it.
GWEN: Oh, good girl.
RHYS: I knew she would.
(Gwen types Thank U.)
LOIS: Oh, God. Don't do too much of that.
[Warehouse]
COMPUTER: Don't do too much of that.
GWEN: Sorry.
RHYS: She can't hear you.
GWEN: I know.
COMPUTER: Is that you, Gwen?
(Types Yes its me.)
LOIS: Right then. Good luck.
COMPUTER Good luck.
(Ianto presses a key. A yellow grin smiley face gets sent.)
GWEN: Oh, don't do that, I hate smileys.
RHYS: Took me a while to get used to those things.
IANTO: What? You've used the lenses?
RHYS: Yeah. That's why Gwen had them.
GWEN: I only took them home for a bit of fun.
IANTO: Fun?
RHYS: You know. Fun.
IANTO: Yeah, well, been there, done that. It is fun.
GWEN + RHYS: Yeah.
(Lois joins Bridget and Frobisher in the lift.)
IANTO: That's him. That's John Frobisher.
RHYS: Oh, bastard. Fat lot of good that is. Back of his head, how do we know if he's saying anything?
[Lift]
FROBISHER: I suppose it's an honour, given this position.
BRIDGET: Then again, the Prime Minister has guaranteed that diplomatically he can't enter Floor 13, so whatever happens in there, whatever goes wrong, history will say that it wasn't his fault.
FROBISHER: Do you mean he's using me?
BRIDGET: You don't get to be Prime Minister by accident.
(Dekker leads the entourage into the contact room.)
[Warehouse]
RHYS: What the hell is that?
GWEN: Some sort of tank. There's something inside the smoke.
(Lois takes her place behind the row of tables and chairs, and takes out a notepad. She is looking directly at the containment tank, between Frobisher and Bridge. Gwen types Get closer. She shakes her head.)
GWEN: Clem, come and see this. Oh, come on, don't be scared. It's miles away. What do you think? Anything you've seen before?
CLEM: Can't smell it from here. Is that what tried to take me?
GWEN: Yeah, I think so.
(Frobisher walks forwards, and nods to the cameraman who is relaying the images to the Cabinet room.)
[COBRA]
GREEN: Seen anything like it before?
ODUYA: Never.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: Thank you. If I might bring into session the first diplomatic congress between the representatives of Planet Earth, and the representatives of the 456. I bring you formal greetings from the United States of America, from the People's Republic of China
[Warehouse]
IANTO: He's got his back to us.
GWEN: Yeah, I can see that.
(Gwen types Need his moth.)
RHYS: Need his moth?
GWEN: Shut up.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: From the Holy See of Vatican City, from the Russian Federation and associated
(Gwen corrects her spelling. Need his mouth.)
FROBISHER: Of Australia, from the provinces and territories (gap as we switch to and from the warehouse) and Japan, and the Hellenic Republic, from the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And it must be stated on the record that any country not named herein does not indicate their withdrawal from this
[Warehouse]
(Lois moves to the side of the room, round behind the cameraman. Bridget watches her go.)
GWEN: Ah, that's it. Come on, good girl.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: Reflects only the time span within which this summit has been declared.
[Warehouse]
CLEM: You've got eyes. You've got eyes in the room.
IANTO: The software's not so good in profile.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: And according to the rules of protocol as established
[Warehouse]
COMPUTER: And according to the rules of protocol as established
GWEN: That's not too bad.
IANTO: It's working.
COMPUTER: By 1968, that which we established by the United Nations
RHYS: You hate smileys.
GWEN: Shut up.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: I must ask you to state whether these greetings are accepted. (long pause) Do you understand me?
[Warehouse]
COMPUTER: Do you understand me?
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: I repeat, according to the rules of protocol, as established by the United Nations in the directives of
456: Yes.
FROBISHER: Then I thank you on behalf of
[Warehouse]
COMPUTER: Then I thank you on behalf of the United Kingdom.
RHYS: Did it speak?
GWEN: It hasn't got a mouth. It's got bloody speakers.
CLEM: Tee, hee. It hasn't got a mouth.
COMPUTER: The Russian Federation, the Commonwealth of Australia, the provinces and territories of Canada, and Japan, and the Hellenic Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq
(Lois writes on her notepad.)
RHYS: It's bloody shorthand.
IANTO: No, I can read it. It says yes.
GWEN: This is a nightmare.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: And the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I think it might be easier if we take those names as read from now on, don't you?
(A splat of green liquid against the glass and noises inside. Some tentacles thrash about. One aide runs from the room to be sick.)
[COBRA]
PIERCE: What's it doing?
ODUYA: I don't know.
[Warehouse]
IANTO: What's it doing?
RHYS: What, is that what it said?
IANTO: No, that's Lois saying that.
(Gwen types God knows.)
COMPUTER: Are you all right?
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: I'm sorry, but I can't help being concerned. Is there a problem?
456: I'm sorry, but I can't help being concerned, is there a problem?
FROBISHER: Do you want me to continue?
456: Yes.
[Warehouse]
IANTO: Yes.
COMPUTER: Right, then. In the spirit of co-operation
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: We have a formal request to make. We ask you not to use our children for communication
[COBRA]
FROBISHER [on monitor]: In case certain parties or territories might consider that a violation.
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: Is that acceptable?
(Another long pause.)
456: Yes.
[Warehouse]
IANTO: Yes.
COMPUTER: Thank you.
[COBRA]
(Pierce uses the intercom.)
PIERCE: Ask it why it came to Britain.
GREEN: Hardly top of the agenda.
PIERCE: Ask the question.
FROBISHER [on monitor]: And as a gift, and as welcome to this world,
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: We've prepared a document summarising our culture and history.
(Pierce's question is passed on to his representative in the room.)
FROBISHER: This document can be made available to you immediately, though its format remains undetermined. Said format remains of your choosing, though this does not constitute a request for information on, or transfer of specific 456 technology.
(The note is handed to Frobisher.)
FROBISHER: I have been given a request for specific information. It has been asked why the 456 chose Great Britain as its chosen point of embarkation.
456: We came here
[Warehouse]
IANTO: We came here
GWEN: Because?
IANTO: That's all it's said.
[Contact room]
456: You have no significance. You are middle men.
(The Americans chuckle.)
[Warehouse]
IANTO: You have no significance, you are middle men.
GWEN: That's a lie, because it's been here before. That's why it's here now. Why's it lying?
IANTO: It's Frobisher. He's got that thing to lie. They're on the same side. Whatever happened in the past, they're hiding it.
[Contact room]
456: We have a request.
FROBISHER: By all means.
456: We want a gift.
FROBISHER: Of course. But what nature of gift
[Warehouse]
COMPUTER: What nature of gift exactly?
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: A gift? Gladly. But what do you want?
456: We want your children. We will take your children.
(More vomit and banging.)
[COBRA]
OYUDA: What does it mean, children?
[Warehouse]
IANTO: We will take your children.
RHYS: What the hell for?
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: I'm sorry, I think that there might be a problem with the translation.
[Warehouse]
COMPUTER: If I could just ask
CLEM: They want to take them, like they did before. Like the man did. He's coming back. He's coming back.
GWEN: Not now, Clem. Just wait.
CLEM: He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming.
(Jack enters.)
[Contact room]
FROBISHER: By children, you mean
456: Your descendants. The offspring of the Human race.
FROBISHER: How many?
456: Ten percent. We want ten percent. We want ten percent of the children of this world.
[Warehouse]
CLEM: He hasn't changed. He's the same. He's the same. He's the same. All those years, how can he be the same?
GWEN: What's he talking about, Jack?
JACK: Clement MacDonald. Just another name. It was easier if you didn't know the names.
GWEN: You were there in 1965?
JACK [memory:] Walk into the light. Go on.
CLEM: He was the man.
GWEN: No, no, this is what he does, you see. He fights them. He fights aliens. Isn't that right, Jack?
JACK: No.
GWEN: Then what were you doing there?
JACK: I gave them the kids. 1965, I gave them twelve children.
GWEN: What for?
JACK: As a gift.
Transcript originally provided by Chrissie. Adapted by TARDIS.guide. The transcripts are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All other copyrights property of their respective holders.