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Doctor Who Specials • Christmas Special

Twice Upon a Time

3.52/ 5 566 votes

Quotes

“Never be cruel. Never be cowardly. Hate is always foolish. Love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.”

— Twelfth Doctor, Twice Upon a Time
The Twelfth Doctor, in the TARDIS

FIRST DOCTOR: There is good and there is evil. I left Gallifrey to answer a question of my own. By any analysis, evil should always win. Good is not a practical survival strategy - it requires loyalty, self-sacrifice and love. And so, why does good prevail? What keeps the balance between good and evil in this appalling universe? Is there some kind of logic? Some mysterious force?

BILL: Perhaps it's just... a bloke.

FIRST DOCTOR: A... bloke?

BILL: Yeah! Perhaps it's just some bloke, wandering around, putting everything right when it goes wrong.

FIRST DOCTOR: Well, that would be a nice story, wouldn't it?

BILL: That would be the best.

Twice Upon a Time
Bill speaking to the First Doctor

“Don’t die. Because if you do, I think everybody in the universe might just go cold.”

— Nardole, Twice Upon a Time

“The Imp of the Pandorica, the Shadow of the Valeyard, the Beast of Trenzalore, the Butcher of Skull Moon, the Last Tree of Garsennon, the Destroyer of Skaro. He is the Doctor of War.”

— , Twice Upon a Time

FIRST DOCTOR: You've saved him.

TWELFTH DOCTOR: Both of them. Never hurts, a couple fewer dead people on the battlefield.

FIRST DOCTOR: So, that's what it means to be a doctor of war.

Twice Upon a Time

DOCTOR: Clara!

CLARA: Hello... You stupid old man.

Twice Upon a Time

DOCTOR: Can't I ever have peace? Can't I rest?

BILL: Of course you can.

NARDOLE: It's your choice.

BILL: Only yours.

NARDOLE: We understand.

DOCTOR: No. No, you don't. You're not even really here. You're just memories, held in glass. Do you know how many of you I could fill? I would shatter you. My testimony would shatter all of you. A life this long, do you understand what it is? It's a battlefield, like this one.

(The Doctor gestures to the desolate battlefield behind him)

DOCTOR: And it's empty. Because everyone else has fallen.

Twice Upon a Time

ARCHIBALD HAMISH LETHBRIDGE-STEWART: World War One?

DOCTOR: Judging by the uniform, yes.

ARCHIBALD HAMISH LETHBRIDGE-STEWART: Yes, but... What do you mean "one"?

Twice Upon a Time

“Well I suppose... One more lifetime wouldn't kill anyone. Well, except me.”

— Twelfth Doctor, Twice Upon a Time

DOCTOR: Oh, there it is. Silly old universe. The more I save it, the more it needs saving. It's a treadmill.

(TARDIS bleeps)

DOCTOR: Yes, yes I know they'll get it all wrong without me.

(TARDIS bleeps and lights flash)

DOCTOR: Well I suppose... One more lifetime.... Won't kill anyone.

(The Doctor's hands glow with regeneration energy)

DOCTOR: Well, except me.

(Cloister bell rings)

DOCTOR: You wait a moment, Doctor. Let's get it right. I've got a few things to say to you. Basic stuff first: Never be cruel, never be cowardly, and never ever eat pears! Remember, hate is always foolish, and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind. Oh! And, you mustn't tell anyone your name. No one would understand it anyway. Except-

(The Doctor collapses to the floor)

DOCTOR: Except children. Children can hear it. Sometimes, if their hearts are in the right place and the stars are too, children can hear your name.

(The Doctor pulls himself up on the TARDIS console, struggling)

DOCTOR: But nobody else. Nobody else. Ever.

(The Doctor manages to stand)

DOCTOR: Laugh hard. Run fast. Be kind. Doctor, I let you go.

(The Doctor regenerates)

Twice Upon a Time

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