The TARDIS flies through a red Time Vortex; going forwards in time. Inside, the Doctor is using the sonic screwdriver on Martha's phone, while she stands nearby, watching. The Doctor begins to walk around the centre console, still working.

THE DOCTOR: There we go! Universal Roaming. Never have to worry about a signal again.

He throws the phone back to Martha, who catches is one-handed. Indeed, the screen now displays "Universal Roaming Activated". The Doctor begins to press buttons on the console.

MARTHA: No way! But it's... too mad! You're telling me I can call anyone, anywhere in Space and Time on my mobile?!

THE DOCTOR: Long as you know the area code. (Martha looks stunned. The Doctor smiles). Frequent Fliers' privilege. (Martha smiles back). Go on. Try it.

Martha begins to dial. Suddenly the TARDIS jolts, throwing both the Doctor and Martha to the floor. The monitor is now flashing red.

THE DOCTOR: Distress signal! Locking on! (With his foot, he activates a switch on the console). Might be a bit of... (Another violent jolt sends them both flying again. Then, all is still. The Doctor sits up)... Turbulence. Sorry! (He runs towards the doors, while Martha is still finding her feet, looking annoyed). Come on Martha! Let's take a look!

Martha runs after him. The TARDIS has landed in what looks to be an engine room, which is glowing red from extreme heat. The TARDIS doors open, and the Doctor leans out.

THE DOCTOR (walking out of the TARDIS): Whoa! Now that is hot!

MARTHA (also stepping out): Whoa! It's like a sauna in here!

She takes her jacket off.

THE DOCTOR (looking at pieces of equipment): Venting systems. Working at full pelt. Trying to cool down... (He stands up straight again). Uh, where-ever it is we are. Well! If you can't stand the heat... (He walks towards a heavy-duty door, opens it, and walks through. Above the door is a sign, saying "Area 30"). Well, that's better...

Three people, two men and a woman, Captain McDonnell, come running towards him from the opposite direction. They all look very hot.

RILEY: Oi! You two!

McDONNELL: Get out of there! !!

RILEY (pointing): Seal that door! Now!

The Doctor looks stunned and confused. The two men quickly seal the door, just after Martha steps out.

McDONNELL: Who are you? What are you doing on my ship?

RILEY: Are you police?

THE DOCTOR: Why would we be police?

MARTHA: We got your distress signal.

THE DOCTOR: If this is a ship, why can't I hear any engines?

McDONNELL: It went d*ad four minutes ago.

SCANNELL: So maybe we should stop chatting and get to engineering. Captain.

COMPUTER: Secure closure active.

McDONNELL (as a loud clang sounds behind her, and she looks).: What?!

SCANNELL: The ship's gone mad.

We see that yet another person, a woman, is running down the corridor, this time with doors slamming shut just behind her.

ERINA: Who activated secure closure? I nearly got locked in to area 27. (The closest door slams shut locking them into area 29. Sounding puzzled). Who are you?

The Doctor goes to answer, but Martha cuts him off. She sounds distracted.

MARTHA: He's the Doctor and I'm Martha. Hello.

She begins to walk forward. It looks like she has been possessed.

COMPUTER: Impact projection: 42 minutes.

Martha is heading for a small window, that appears to have golden light shining in.

McDONNELL: We'll get out of this. I promise.

MARTHA (shakily. She continues to look hypnotised): Doctor...

THE DOCTOR: Forty-two minutes 'til what?

MARTHA (almost screaming, she presses her face up against the window): Doctor! !! Look.

The Doctor runs over and looks out of the window with her. We see them from outside the spaceship, a la "The Girl In The Fireplace". The spaceship is extremely long and thin, with a vertical shaft at one end. As the camera spins around, we see a burning sun, too close to the ship for comfort. It appears that the ship is hurtling towards it.

McDONNELL : Forty-two minutes until we crash into the sun.

OPENING CREDITS

The Doctor runs away from the window, over to McDonnell, and grabs her arm. He sounds panicky

THE DOCTOR: How many crew members on board?

McDONNELL: Seven, including us.

SCANNELL: We transport cargo across the galaxy. Everything's automated. We just keep the ship...

THE DOCTOR (runs back towards the door where he came from): Call the others, I'll get you out!

He goes to open the door. The crew members rush to stop him.

RILEY: What's he doing?!

McDONNELL: No! Don't!

But it is too late. The Doctor has opened the door. It has become so hot in area 30, the pure force knocks the Doctor backwards and off his feet. He yells as he falls. Martha automatically comes to his aid, but he's alright. One of the crew members shuts the door, dressed in breathing apparatus, whilst the others crowd round the Doctor.

THE DOCTOR: But my ship's in there!

RILEY: In the vent chamber?

The Crew member who shut the door takes their breathing apparatus off. It is the female crew member. She stands beside the door, and reads off of the gauges there.

THE DOCTOR: It's our lifeboat!

SCANNELL: It's lava.

ERINA: The temperature's going mad in there! Up 3000 degrees in ten seconds, and still rising.

RILEY: Channelling the air. The closer we get to the sun, the hotter that room's gonna get.

MARTHA(with contempt): We're stuck here.

THE DOCTOR: So? We fix the engines, we steer the ship away from the Sun! Simple! Engineering down here, is it?!

He begins running down a corridor. The computer readout showing the time until Solar Impact is shown. It is counting down. At the moment, it reads 00.40.26

COMPUTER: Impact in 40.26.

The Doctor, followed by McDonnell and the rest of the crew run down a set of stairs. The Doctor stops suddenly, bemused.

THE DOCTOR: Blimey! Do you always leave things in such a mess?

McDONNELL: Oh my god!

SCANNELL: What the hell happened?!

They all walk over to what looks like a completely wrecked engine. Wires, springs and casing are all over the place, all steaming. They all walk round the piece of machinery, surveying the damage.

RILEY: Oh, it's wrecked.

THE DOCTOR: Pretty efficiently too. Someone knew what they were doing.

The Doctor wanders over to a computer terminal, attached to the wreckage.

McDONNELL (looking round): Where's Korwin? Has anyone heard from him or Ashton?

SCANNELL: No.

MARTHA: You mean someone did this on purpose?

McDonnell runs over to an intercom system.

McDONNELL: Korwin? Ashton? Where are you? (No response). Korwin, can you answer?! (Still no answer. McDonnell leaves the intercom). Where the hell is he? He should be up here!

The Doctor has be scanning to find out where they are. Behind him, the crew are rushing about, trying to find Korwin, and trying to repair the ship.

THE DOCTOR (happily, with specs on): Oh! We're in the Torajji system! Lovely! (The screen readout shows a system of planets, circling a huge sun). You're a long way from home, Martha. Half a universe away.

He leaves the terminal.

MARTHA (sarcastically): Yeah. Feels it.

THE DOCTOR (to McDonnell): And, you're still using energy scoops for fusion? Hasn't that been outlawed yet?

The crew look at each other, guiltily.

McDONNELL (dismissively): We're due to upgrade next docking. (She walks away from the Doctor). Scannell, engine report.

Scannell walks over to the computer terminal the Doctor was at before. He scans, with everyone looking anxiously over his shoulder. The machine beeps several times.

SCANNELL: No response.

He runs over to the wrecked engine.

McDONNELL: What?!

SCANNELL (examining pieces of wire protruding from the wreck): They're burnt out. The controls are wrecked. I can't get them back online.

THE DOCTOR (taking his glasses off): Oh come on! Auxiliary engines! Every craft's got auxiliaries!

McDONNELL: We don't have access from here. The auxiliary controls are in the front of the ship.

SCANNELL: Yeah, with 29 password sealed doors between us and them. You'll never get there in time.

MARTHA (sounding slightly put out): Can't you override the doors?

SCANNELL: No. Sealed closure means what it says. They're all d*ad-lock sealed.

THE DOCTOR (disappointed): So a sonic screwdriver's no use...

SCANNELL: Nothing's any use. We've got no engines, no time, and no chance.

THE DOCTOR: Oh listen to you! Defeated before you've even started! Where's your Dunkirk spirit?! (To McDonnell): Who's got the door passwords?

RILEY (Interrupting): They're randomly generated. Reckon I know most of 'em. Sorry. Riley Vashti.

THE DOCTOR (taking command): Then what're you waiting for Riley Vashti, get on it.

RILEY: Well, it's a two-person job (He goes and fetched what looks to be a huge magnetic clamp, and a huge backpack). One, it takes to answer the questions, and the other to carry this. (Putting the kit on his back). The oldest and cheapest security system around, eh captain?

McDONNELL: Reliable and simple, just like you, eh Riley?

RILEY: Try and be helpful, get abuse. Nice!

MARTHA (taking equipment from Riley's hands) : I'll help you. Make myself useful.

RILEY: It's remotely controlled by computer panel. That's why it needs two.

Riley turns, and head away from the group. Martha makes to follow him.

THE DOCTOR (to Martha, seriously): Oi. (Martha turns to face him). Be careful.

MARTHA (smiling) You too.

She turns, and follows Riley away. Suddenly, a male voice comes over the intercom.

ASHTON (over comm.): McDonnell? It's Ashton.

McDonnell runs back over to the intercom panel.

McDONNELL: Where are you? Is Korwin with you?

ASHTON (deadly serious): Get up to the med-centre now!

McDonnell leaves the intercom and runs. The Doctor follows her. Outside the engine room, Martha and Riley are just setting up for their attempt at opening the doors, as McDonnell and the Doctor run past. The computer screen showing the countdown is shown again. This time reading "Solar Impact in 00:34:31".

COMPUTER: Impact in 34.31.

In the med-centre, a man, Korwin, is thrashing about in agony on a bed, by what looks to be an MRI scanner, his eyes tight shut. A man, Ashton, and a woman, Abi, are trying to restrain him.

KORWIN (in agony, between spasms of pain): Argh! Stop it!

ABI (struggling to restrain him): Korwin! It's Abi! Open your eyes, I need to take a look at you!

McDonnell and the Doctor run in.

McDONNELL: Korwin! What's happened?! Is he OK?!

The Doctor runs to the foot of the bed.

KORWIN (still thrashing about): Oh God! Help me! It's burning me! !!

THE DOCTOR: How long's he been like this?!

ABI: Ashton just brought him in.

The Doctor gets his Sonic Screwdriver out, and begins to scan Korwin. McDonnell panics.

McDONNELL: What are you doing?!

Korwin gives another shriek of pain.

THE DOCTOR: Sonic impulse.

McDONNELL (pushing past Ashton to the head of the bed): Don't be so stupid, that's my husband!

ASHTON: And he's just sabotaged our ship!

McDONNELL (turning to face Ashton): What?!

ASHTON: He went mad. He set the ship to secure closure, then he set the heat pulse to melt the controls.

McDONNELL: No way! He wouldn't do that!

ASHTON: I saw it happen, Captain.

The Doctor has finished scanning Korwin, and now tries to talk to him.

THE DOCTOR: Korwin? Korwin, open your eyes for me a second.

KORWIN (through the pain): I can't!

THE DOCTOR: Yeah, course you can. Go on.

KORWIN: Don't make me look at you! Please! !

The Doctor moves down the bed again, and picks up a sedative dart g*n off a tray.

THE DOCTOR: Alright, alright, alright. Just relax. (He holds the g*n up to Abi). Sedative?

ABI: Yes.

The Doctor presses the g*n up against Korwin's neck, and administers the sedative. Korwin gives one final shout, then falls silent and still. The Doctor replaces the g*n on the tray.

THE DOCTOR (perching on the bed and crossing his arms): Rising body temperature, unusual energy readings... (He points to the MRI scanner, which is actually a stasis chamber). Stasis chamber. I do love a good stasis chamber. Keep him sedated in there. Regulate the body temperature. (Abi looks at him questioningly, but rushes to do what he says. Ashton also looks at him, out of breath from the struggle or restraining Korwin). And, just for fun, run a bio-scan and tissue profile on a metabolic detail.

ABI (looking around from what she is doing): Just doing them now.

THE DOCTOR: Oh, you're good. Anyone else presenting these symptoms?

ABI: Not so far.

THE DOCTOR: Well, that's something.

McDonnell is continuing to stand by Korwin's bed, looking down on him.

McDONNELL: Will someone tell me what is the matter with him?!

THE DOCTOR: Some sort of infection. We'll know more after the test results. Now, Allons-y, back downstairs. Ay! See about those engines. Go. (Ashton makes to leave. McDonnell remains static). Ay! Go. (She too leaves, reluctantly. To Abi): Call us if there's news! (He begins to run out of the med-centre). Any questions?

ABI (scoffing): Yeah. Who are you?

THE DOCTOR (sticking his head back through the plastic curtains at the door): I'm the Doctor!

The Doctor runs out, following McDonnell and Ashton, leaving Abi alone in the med-centre. She turns to runs some more tests, not looking at Korwin. As she does so, in the stasis chamber, Korwin's hands twitch. We see the spaceship hurtling towards the sun. The voice of the computer gives a status report.

COMPUTER: Heat shields failing. At twenty-five percent. (We return to the countdown screen, which now reads 00:32:50). Impact in 32.50.

Martha and Riley are at the first locked door. Riley is typing something on a keypad. He turns to Martha, who is stood by the locked door, looking bored.

MARTHA (sounding bored): Hurry up, will you?

RILEY: Alright. (He finishes typing). Fix the clamp on!

Martha lifts the clamp, and attaches it firmly to the door, and holds it there. She turns to see Riley typing more.

MARTHA: What are you typing?

RILEY: Each door's trip code is the answer to a random question set by the crew. Nine tours back, we got drunk, thought 'em up. Reckoning was if we're hijacked, we're the only ones who know all the answers.

MARTHA: So you type in the right answer...

RILEY (tapping the backpack that he bought along): This, sends an unlock pulse to the clamp. But we only get one chance per door. Get it wrong, the whole system freezes.

MARTHA: Better not get it wrong then.

RILEY (sounding slightly excited): OK. (He shifts over to a readout screen, where the first question is appearing. As it does so, he reads it out). Date of SS Pentallian's first flight? That's alright! (He types in the answer to the question, and yells to Martha). Go!

Martha presses the "trigger" on the clamp, it beeps a few times, the lights on the top of the clamp turn green, and the door opens.

MARTHA: Yes!

RILEY (running for the door): Only twenty-eight more to go!

They both run through the door, and on to the next one. The Doctor is talking into the intercom to Abi in the med-centre, who is looking at x-rays and bio-scans, looking very confused.

THE DOCTOR: Abi, how's Korwin doing? Any results from the bio-scan?

ABI: He's under heavy sedation. I'm just trying to make sense of this data. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll let you know.

Behind her, Korwin moves both his head and his arms. Martha and Riley are running down a corridor, when the come to another sealed door. The Doctor now calls them over the intercom.

THE DOCTOR: Martha? Riley? How're you doing?

MARTHA: Area twenty-nine, at the door to twenty-eight!

THE DOCTOR (putting his glasses on, and staring at the readout above the comm. Station). You've gotta move faster!

MARTHA: We're doing our best!

The next question appears on Riley's readout. Once again, he reads the question aloud.

RILEY: Find the next number in the sequence: 313, 331, 367... What?

MARTHA (scared): You said the crew knew all the answers.

RILEY: The crew's changed since we set the questions.

MARTHA: You're joking...

Back in the engine room, the Doctor has been working and listening in. He runs over to the intercom

THE DOCTOR: 379!

MARTHA: What?!

THE DOCTOR: It's a sequence of happy primes. 379.

MARTHA: Happy what?

THE DOCTOR: Just enter it!

RILEY: Are you sure? We only get one chance!

THE DOCTOR (slightly annoyed now, speaking at his trademark 100mph): Any number which reduces to one when you take the sum of the square of its digits and you continue iterating until it yields one is a happy number. Any number that doesn't, isn't. A happy prime is a number which is both happy and prime, now type it in! (Turns to McDonnell, who is climbing down a ladder. She gives him a dirty look). I dunno, talk about dumbing down! Don't they teach recreational mathematics any more?

Riley types in the answer the Doctor has given him. There is a slight build up, the lights on the clamp turn green, and the door opens.

MARTHA: We're through!

THE DOCTOR (over the intercom): Keep moving. Fast as you can. (Switch so we can see the Doctor take off his glasses. Quietly and sensitively). And, Martha, be careful. There may be something else on board this ship.

MARTHA: Any time you wanna unnerve me, feel free!

THE DOCTOR: Will do, thanks.

He switches the comm. off, and walks away. The countdown once again shows itself. This time it reads 00:30:50.

COMPUTER: Impact in 30. 50.

We go back to Martha and Riley, preparing the next door.

MARTHA: I can't believe our lives depend on some stupid pub quiz! (Sounding shocked). Is that the next one?

RILEY (putting his head in his hands, sounding downtrodden): Oh, this is a nightmare! (Reading off the screen). Classical music. Who had the most pre-download number ones, (pronouncing both names wrong) Elvis Presley or The Beatles? How're we supposed to know that?

The Doctor is looking at a piece of broken equipment, with the remaining crew stood around, watching him

THE DOCTOR: We need a backup in case they don't reach the auxiliary engines in time. Come on! Think! Resources, what have we got?!

Martha's voice comes over the intercom.

MARTHA: Doctor?

THE DOCTOR: What is it now?

MARTHA: Who had the most number ones, Elvis, or the Beatles. That's pre-download.

THE DOCTOR (confidently): Elvis. No! The Beatles! No! Wait! Um... um... (He looks in physical pain, and begins to slap the back of his head). Argh! What was that remix? Um... I don't know! I am a bit busy!

MARTHA (Sounding put out): Fine. I'll ask someone else!

THE DOCTOR: Now, where was I? Here comes the sun. No, resources. So, the power's still working, the generator's going. If we can harness that. Ah!

McDONNELL: Use the generator to jump-start the ship.

THE DOCTOR: Exactly! At the very least, it'll buy us some more time.

McDONNELL: That... is brilliant.

THE DOCTOR: I know! See! Tiny glimmer of hope!

Most of the crew are now smiling, knowing that there may be a way out.

SCANNELL: If it works.

McDONNELL: Oh, believe me. You're gonna make it work.

Scannell walks off, looking dejected. Ashton and the Doctor look at McDonnell with respect, whilst still smiling.

THE DOCTOR: That told him!

The countdown appears once again, this time reading 00:29:46.

COMPUTER: Impact in 29.46.

Back on Earth in 2007, we see Francine Jones' mobile ringing on a table, displaying Martha's name. Francine answers. She is in the kitchen, in the process of making a coffee.

FRANCINE: Hello?

MARTHA (on board the ship): Mum? It's me, it's Martha. Wow!

FRANCINE (slightly angry): Where are you? Don't you check your messages? I've been calling you.

MARTHA: Actually, bit busy. Need you to do something for me.

FRANCINE: No. Listen to me. We have to talk about this Doctor.

MARTHA: Mum! Please not now! I need you to look something up on the internet!

FRANCINE: Do it yourself. You've got a computer.

MARTHA (shouting down the phone). Oh just do it will you! (Both Riley and Martha looked stunned at what she has just done. She gives a slight laugh). Please.

FRANCINE (crossly): When did you get so rude? (She walks into the living room, and sits at the computer.) I'll tell you when. Ever since you met that man.

MARTHA (down to business): I need to know who had more number ones; the Beatles or Elvis?

FRANCINE (Setting up her laptop). Hang on. The mouse is unplugged. (Martha half screams, half growls down the phone to illustrate her annoyance). OK, I'm on. What is this? Pub quiz?

MARTHA: Yeah, a pub quiz.

FRANCINE: Using your mobile is cheating.

MARTHA: Have you found it?!

FRANCINE: There's over four hundred thousand results. Give me a minute.

Riley looks impatient. The countdown appears again, displaying 00:28:50 until solar impact.

COMPUTER: Impact in 28.50.

Abi is still in the med-centre, pushing buttons, checking readings, and going about her business.

ABI (over the intercom): Doctor, these readings are starting to scare me.

THE DOCTOR (in the engine room): What d'you mean?

ABI: Well, (The Doctor and the rest of the crew listen intently) Korwin's body's changing! His whole biological make-up, it... it's impossible.

Hearing a bang from behind her, Abi looks up to the convex mirror above her head. In it, she sees that Korwin is up and about, even though he is meant to be under heavy sedation. She looks round, and sure enough, Korwin is standing there, his eyes tight shut.

ABI (into intercom): This is med-centre. (Her voice starts to rise). Urgent assistance requested. Urgent assistance!

The sh*t zooms in to the Doctor's shocked face, and he begins to run.

THE DOCTOR (as he runs, yelling): Stay here! Keep working!

McDonnell stops what she is doing, and begin to follow him. Ashton and Scannell both look at her as she goes. Erina runs in the opposite direction to get to a comm. Station.

ABI: Urgent assistance!

ERINA: Abi. They're on their way.

Ashton and Scannell continue to look and listen. In the med-centre, Korwin begins to advance towards Abi. She begins to back up, trying to stay calm.

ABI: What's happening to you?

KORWIN (in a deep, thr*at voice that obviously is not his own): Burn with me. (This time, it is heard over the intercom, as far as Martha and Riley). Burn with me.

The Doctor and McDonnell are running towards the med-centre, when the Doctor suddenly slows. It turns out that Scannell has followed them as well.

SCANNELL: Captain?!

THE DOCTOR: I told you to stay in engineering!

SCANNELL: I only take orders form one person round here.

The Doctor once again looked shocked.

THE DOCTOR: Oh, is he always this cheery?

Back on Earth, Francine comes up with an answer.

FRANCINE: Elvis.

On the ship, Martha has completely forgotten why she is on the phone.

MARTHA: What?! (She suddenly realises). Really? (She points Riley over to the computer). Elvis.

In the med-centre, Korwin is still advancing. Abi is now backed up against a wall.

KORWIN: Burn with me.

ABI (really frightened): K... Korwin, you're sick...

Riley is typing in the answer to the question, when, in the med-centre, Korwin's voice takes on an even more menacing tone.

KORWIN: Burn. With. Me!

His eyes open, revealing a blinding white light where his eyes should be. Abi squints at this powerful light source. In the corridor, Martha and Riley have made it though the door, and are now running for the next one. Martha is still on the phone to her mum.

MARTHA: Mum, you're a star!

FRANCINE: Now, we need to have a serious...

Before the audience can hear her finish her sentence, we are taken back to the med-centre, where Abi is screaming at the brightness from Korwin's eyes. Over the intercom, Martha and Riley hear this, and stop in their tracks. Even Francine hears it over the phone.

FRANCINE: What was that?

MARTHA(shaken): I've gotta go.

She puts the phone down. At the other end, Francine does the same, looking shocked. Korwin is now putting on a heavy duty space helmet, and begins to breathe in a Darth Vader like way. He shuts the protective lenses over his eyes. Martha and Riley have made it to a comm. station, where they are getting in contact with the Doctor.

MARTHA: Doctor, what were those screams?

THE DOCTOR (still running for the med-centre. Yelling.): Concentrate on those doors! You've gotta keep moving forward!

They do so. Martha runs to attach the clamp to the next door. The countdown appears again, now displaying 00:27:06.

COMPUTER: Impact in 27.06.

The Doctor and McDonnell burst through the plastic sheeting that acts as a door to the med-centre. Scannell is already there, looking round. They all notice the bed where Korwin was is now empty.

McDONNELL (slightly shaken): Korwin's gone...

Scannell turns around, and stops in his tracks.

SCANNELL: Oh my God...

Both the Doctor and McDonnell turn to look in the same direction, and see what Scannell has spotted, a charred, black shape on a wall, in the shape of a person with one hand in the air. They realise that this charred shape was once Abi. The Doctor walks towards it.

SCANNELL: Tell me that's not Lerner.

THE DOCTOR (running his fingers round the outline of the shape): Endothermic vaporisation. I've never seen one this ferocious. (He looks distant). Burn with me.

SCANNELL: That's what we heard Korwin say.

McDONNELL: What?! D'you think... no way! Scannell, tell him! Korwin is not a k*ller! He can't vaporise people! He's human!

The Doctor notices something on the floor. He walks over, and picks up the x-rays and bioscan results that Abi was looking at before.

THE DOCTOR: His bioscan results... internal temperature, one hundred degrees! Body oxygen replaced by hydrogen! Your husband hasn't been infected, he's been overwhelmed!

McDONNELL (Snatching the bioscan results out of the Doctor's hand): The test results are wrong!

THE DOCTOR: But what is it though? Parasite? Mutagenic virus? Something that needs a host body. But how did it get inside him?!

McDONNELL (slightly hysterical): Stop talking like he's some kind of experiment!

THE DOCTOR: Where's the ship been? Have you made planet-fall recently? (McDonnell looks blank). Docked with any other vessels? Any kind of external contact at all?

McDONNELL: What is this? An interrogation?!

THE DOCTOR: We've got to stop him before he kills again.

McDONNELL: We're just... a cargo ship.

She turns away from the Doctor, looking distraught. Scannell tries to comfort her.

SCANNELL: Doctor, if you give her a minute...

The Doctor looks on, as Scannell faces McDonnell.

McDONNELL (recovering quickly): I'm fine. I need to warn the crew. (As the Doctor continues to puzzle over the bioscan results, McDonnell walks over to the intercom). Everybody listen to me! (The rest of the crew, including Riley and Martha, hears her, stops what they are doing, and looks up). Something has infected Korwin. We think... (As she pauses, the Doctor looks at her). He k*lled Abi Lerner. None of you must go anywhere near him, is that clear?

Outside engineering, Erina is searching through a storage cupboard for parts. While she is doing this, we hear Ashton's voice over the intercom.

ASHTON: Understood Captain. (We see him press a button on the comm. station, to change channels). Erina? Get back here with that equipment.

Looking annoyed, Erina grabs a control box, which has 4 buttons on it: Eng, Aux, All'and Mute. She presses the mute button with contempt, and continues to look though the cupboard.

ERINA (sarcastically, moaning): Whatever you say, boss. Go there. Come back. Fetch this. Carry these. Make drinks. Sweep up! Please, k*ll me now.

She fetches what she needs, and shuts the door. Behind it, however, stands Korwin in the space helmet. She hears him breathing, and looks round. She looks scared and shocked.

KORWIN (in the strange voice): Burn with me. (He begins to advance on her, as Erina backs up). Burn with me.

Erina is now up against a wall. Korwin's hand comes towards his helmet and he opens the sun visor to reveal the same bright light that k*lled Abi. Erina closes her eyes, and screams. The countdown appears yet again, this time reading 00:24:51.

COMPUTER: Impact in 24.51.

The Doctor, Scannell and McDonnell are still in the med-centre, with the Doctor still pouring over the bioscan results. McDonnell is sat, and Scannell is stood close by.

McDONNELL: Is the infection permanent? Can you cure him?

THE DOCTOR (seriously): I dunno.

McDONNELL: Don't lie to me, Doctor. Eleven years we've been married. We chose this ship together. He keeps me honest. So I don't want false hope.

THE DOCTOR (to the point): The parasite's too aggressive. Your husband's gone. There's no way back. Sorry.

McDONNELL (nodding, taking it in. Quietly): Thank you.

The Doctor suddenly seems to spring into life again. He walks towards McDonnell.

THE DOCTOR: Are you... certain nothing happened to provoke this? Nobody's working on anything secret, 'cause it's vital that you tell me.

McDONNELL: I know every inch of this ship. I know every detail of my crew's lives. There is nothing.

The Doctor stares at her harshly.

THE DOCTOR: Then why is this thing so interested in you?

McDONNELL (shaking her head slightly): I wish I knew...

Riley and Martha have now made it to the door to area 17. They manage to open the door, burst through it, and run for the next one. Martha knows what to do now, and so, without being asked, she goes to the door and holds the clamp up to it. In engineering, Ashton is continuing to fix bits and pieces to the engine.

MARTHA (over the intercom): Doctor, we're through to area 17.

THE DOCTOR: Keep going. you've got to get to area one and reboot those engines.

Suddenly, Ashton hears a loud bang, and another, and another. He looks out from where he is working to see a pair of feet walking towards him. He takes little notice, and goes back to working.

ASHTON: You got those tools, Erina? 'Cause I... woah!

Ashton is suddenly yanked forward, and out from under the engine. he looks directly upward, to see Korwin stood above him. Korwin reaches out grabs him by the collar, and pulls him up.

ASHTON (while still in Korwin's grip): Korwin... it's me. We're mates!

KORWIN: They are getting too far. We must share the light.

Korwin moves his hands up to either side of Ashton's face. Ashton looks is an enormous amount of pain, and it soon becomes apparent why. Underneath where Korwin's hands are, Ashton's face begins to smoulder and smoke, as if he I being b*rned. Ashton screams. Outside the spaceship, the sun is getting ever closer.

COMPUTER: Heat shield failing. At twenty percent.

Riley is having trouble getting the latest computer terminal to work.

RILEY (hitting the terminal): Come on! (To Martha, who has stopped to see what's wrong). Everything on this ship is so cheap! (They both hear a bang, and look in the direction it came from). Who's there?!

The banging continues, so they both down tools, and go to investigate. As they get closer to the door, through the smoke, they can make out a figure.

MARTHA (quietly, scared): Is that Korwin?

RILEY: No, wait a minute... (The figure comes forward, and he is wearing the same space helmet as Korwin. However, Riley recognises him). Oh, Ashton, what're you doing?

ASHTON (in a similar, deeper voice to Korwin): Burn with me.

RILEY: Well, if you wanna help...

ASHTON: Burn with me! Burn with me!

Ashton's hand moves up, to remove the eye shield. Riley and Martha realise that Ashton has been possessed.

MARTHA (slapping the button that opens a nearby door): Move! (As it begins to slide open, Martha squeezes through the gap). Come on!

She enters a small room, and cowers in the far corner. Riley follows her, and, next to them, punches the keypad that will once again close the door. The door begins to slide shut. Once the door is fully closed, Riley and Martha heave a sigh of relief. However, they quickly see Ashton's helmet through the porthole, and he begins to pound on the door. Riley presses another combination on the keypad that opens a hatch next to them; an escape pod. They climb inside, and shut the door.

RILEY: What is happening on this ship?!

MARTHA: Never mind that. Where are we?

Before Riley can answer, the computer's voice makes an announcement.

COMPUTER: Airlock sealed. Jettison escape pod.

Martha, still unsure of where they are, questions Riley, angrily and full of fright.

MARTHA: That doesn't mean us? (Realising that it does, and seeing Riley lunge for the internal keypad, she screams at the top of her lungs). Doctor! !!!

COMPUTER: Pod jettison initiated.

Riley is frantically typing on the keypad inside the pod. Outside the airlock, Ashton stands, watching. The small screen by the keypad shows the status of the pod, "Jettison initiated". Martha tries the small comm. unit, next to where Riley is working.

MARTHA: Doctor! We're stuck in an escape pod off the area seventeen airlock. (The Doctor, running down a corridor, hears Martha's voice, and stops in his tracks). One of the crew's trying to jettison us! You've gotta help us! (To Riley, breathing heavily): Tell me you can stop it.

In engineering, the Doctor is looking at something. McDonnell and Scannell are watching him.

McDONNELL: Why is this happening?

THE DOCTOR (taking his glasses off): Stay here! I mean it this time! (As he runs off). Jump start those engines!

McDonnell and Scannell start to walk towards the engines. Through the smoke, they see the ominous charred shape on a wall. They slowly begin to realise...

McDONNELL: It's picking us off... one, by one.

In the escape pod, Riley is still frantically trying to reverse the jettisoning process.

COMPUTER: Jettison held.

Both Riley and Martha heave a sigh of relief.

RILEY: Thank you...

However, on the outside, Ashton uses his keypad to restart the process.

COMPUTER: Jettison reactivated.

Martha screams and begins to h*t the door wildly. Behind her, Riley once again starts tapping wildly on the keypad.

RILEY: Come on...

Ashton is now entering something else into his keypad. It is becoming a race of who can type the fastest. The Doctor is haring down through the corridor, to try and reach Martha in time. Inside the pod, Riley comes up with an idea.

RILEY: Geovinsci sequence. This'll get him.

As Ashton continues to try and jettison the pod, the screen readout changes.

COMPUTER: Jettison held. Escape pod s*ab.

Both Riley and Martha breathe a sigh of relief.

MARTHA (quietly): You're pretty good.

However, outside the airlock, Ashton is once again typing something into the keypad. McDonnell and Scannell run back into engineering, looking for Ashton.

McDONNELL: Ashton!

When they draw level with the broken equipment, they realise that Ashton isn't there.

SCANNELL: Someone's hacked into the systems. I can't reroute the generators! There's no way I'm gonna be able to jump-start this ship! (In a fit of rage, he swiftly gives the equipment a good kick. He turns, and begins to run in the direction he and McDonnell came from). Who the hell did that?!

McDonnell, trying to stay calm, turns away from him. But, through the smoke strides a figure. A figure in a space helmet...

McDONNELL: Korwin? (She begins to back away as Korwin advances). What are you? Why are you k*lling my crew?! (Korwin's hand goes to open the protective visor). How could you do this? What have you done to my husband?! (Korwin stops. Sounding slightly surprised). You recognise me. Korwin! You know me. (Korwin's hand leaves the visor. McDonnell starts to tear). It's Kath! Your wife!

KORWIN: My wife?

McDONNELL: That's right! You're still in there! I'm your wife!

KORWIN :l It's your fault.

McDonnell's face falls. She begins to back away. The Doctor is running at full pelt, to try and get to Martha on time. In the escape pod, Riley is tapping to keypad, but outside, just as quickly, Ashton is following suit. Suddenly, the Doctor appears through the door from area 17.

THE DOCTOR: That's enough! (Ashton turns to look at the Doctor). What do you want? Why this ship? Tell me!

Rather than answer him, Ashton turns, and puts his fist through the keypad. Inside the pod, a series of sirens begin to sound, and the computer gives a warning.

COMPUTER: Jettison activated.

RILEY (numb to their peril): He's smashed the circuit. I can't stop it. (Suddenly beginning to panic). I can't stop it!

McDonnell is still backing away from Korwin. Behind her, Scannell is standing and watching.

McDONNELL: What do you mean, it's my fault?

KORWIN: It's your fault. Now burn with me!

He lifts his hand to his visor once again, but suddenly, a jet of steam engulfs Korwin from above. He screams. McDonnell looks round to see Scannell turning a pressure gauge wheel, which is causing the steam.

McDONNELL: What are you doing?!

SCANNELL: Freezing him! Ice vents!

McDONNELL: You'll k*ll him!

Back in area 17, the Doctor and Ashton are still at a stand-off, while the pod is preparing to jettison.

THE DOCTOR: Come on. Let's see you. (Ashton advances on the Doctor, until they are almost nose to nose). I wanna know what you really are...

Ashton lifts his hand to his visor. In engineering, Korwin is still being frozen by the ice jets, still screaming. Suddenly, he falls to his knees. Ashton, at exactly the same moment, is overcome, doubles up and backs away from the Doctor. However, this only lasts a few seconds, before he stands upright again, and once again, heads straight for the Doctor. We are aware that the pod is getting closer and closer to jettisoning.

COMPUTER: Airlock sealed.

However, instead of resuming his att*ck on the Doctor, Ashton jostles past him, and heads out of area 17. The Doctor skids over to the nearest comm. unit.

THE DOCTOR: McDonnell! Ashton's heading in your direction! (McDonnell and Scannell, kneeling over Korwin's body, hear the Doctor over the intercom). He's been infected, just like Korwin!

Scannell stands, and heads to a comm. unit.

SCANNELL: Korwin's d*ad, Doctor.

Inside the pod, Martha is still hopelessly tapping on the porthole.

MARTHA: This thing's locked!

Over the siren, the computer gives another warning.

COMPUTER: Airlock decompression completed. (The display changes from "Jettison reactivated" to a flashing "disengaging"). Jettisoning pod.

The Doctor looks up, and realises that Martha is still inside. He skids over to the airlock door, where he can see Martha, just a few feet away, tapping on the glass, and calling his name, although he can hear nothing.

MARTHA: Doctor!

THE DOCTOR: I'll save you!

Inside the pod, Riley is resigned to his fate.

RILEY: Martha, it's too late.

Martha ignores him, and continues to shout and tap on the window.

MARTHA: Doctor!

THE DOCTOR: I'll save you!

MARTHA: I can't hear you!

As the pod disengages, Martha sees the Doctor mouth the words: I'll save you! , over and over, as he gets smaller and smaller. Martha looks distraught. The pod slowly moves out into space, and towards the sun.

MARTHA (very quietly) : Coward.

Although a sombre moment, the computer reminds everyone that this is a race against time.

COMPUTER: Impact in 17.05.

McDonnell is still knelt by Korwin. Scannell stands above her, then crouches.

SCANNELL: What did he mean, your fault? (She doesn't answer. Instead, she reaches out to stroke Korwin's face, but, before she can make contact, Scannell pushes her hand away). What are you doing? Don't touch him, he's infected. You don't know how it spreads.

McDonnell looks up at Scannell, a dark look in her eyes.

McDONNELL: You m*rder him!

SCANNELL: He was about to k*ll you!

McDONNELL: He recognised me!

SCANNELL: You heard the Doctor. It... it isn't Korwin anymore.

McDONNELL: The Doctor doesn't know! None of us knows!

SCANNELL: So what are you gonna do? Stay there until we burn?! Cause without you... none of us stand a chance of getting out of here.

Suddenly, the mood is broken by the Doctor's voice, barking over the intercom.

THE DOCTOR: Scannell! I need a spacesuit in area 17, now!

SCANNELL: What for?

In area 17, the Doctor is crouched by the comm. unit, looking and sounding incredibly angry and frustrated.

THE DOCTOR (yelling at the top of his voice): Just get down here! !!

He stands upright, and stalks over to the airlock door. In engineering, Scannell looks unsure of what to do.

McDONNELL: Well go on! Do what he says!

SCANNELL: Ashton's still out there.

McDONNELL: I'll deal with him.

Scannell gets up and walks off, leaving McDonnell with Korwin. Inside the escape pod, still falling towards the sun, Martha and Riley seem incredibly calm. They are both looking out of the porthole, out at space.

RILEY: The wonderful world of space travel. The prettier it looks, the more likely it is to k*ll you.

MARTHA: He'll come for us.

RILEY (shaking his head): Nah, it's too late. Out heat shields will pack in any minute, then we go into free fall. We'll fall into the sun way before he has a chance to do anything.

MARTHA: You don't know the Doctor. I believe in him.

RILEY: Then you're lucky. I've never found anyone worth believing in.

Martha turns to face him.

MARTHA: No girlfriend? Boyfriend?

RILEY: The job doesn't lend itself to s*ab relationships.

MARTHA: Family then?

RILEY: My dad's d*ad. And I haven't seen my mum in... six years. She didn't want me to sign up for cargo tours. Things were said, and since then... all silent. She wanted to hold on to me, I know that. She's so stubborn!

MARTHA (slightly upset, with a quiver in her voice): Yeah well, that's family.

RILEY: What about you?

MARTHA: Full works. Mum, dad. Dad's girlfriend. Brother, sister. No silence there. So much noise. Oh god! (Tears begin to fall, as she realises). They'll never know! I... I'll just have disappeared. And they'll always be waiting.

RILEY: Call them.

Martha looks at him, slightly stunned. Ashton is still heading towards engineering. He steps through the door of area 30, stops, turns, and heads up a flight of metal stairs. At the top of the stairs stands McDonnell. As Ashton heads up, she turns, and walks away. Ashton follows her. She has gone back into the medical suite. As Ashton walk though the plastic, he pauses, and looks at the stasis chamber that originally held Korwin. As he begins to walk forward, McDonnell jumps from nowhere and punched him in the stomach. He doubles over, winded, and she begins to wrestle him towards the stasis chamber. As she gets him led on the bed, her arms flail, trying to find the switch that activates the chamber. She finds it, and continues to hold Ashton down until the chamber has done its work. She bends over, exhausted but relieved. In area 17, the Doctor is now dressed in a space suit, (similar to the one we saw him in, in "The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit"). Scannell is trying to talk him out of whatever he has planned.

SCANNELL: I can't let you do this.

THE DOCTOR: You're wasting your breath, Scannell You're not gonna stop me.

SCANNELL: You wanna open an airlock in flight on a ship spinning into the sun. No-one can survive that!

THE DOCTOR: Oh, just you watch.

SCANNELL: You open that airlock, it's su1c1de. This close to the sun, the shields will barely protect you.

THE DOCTOR: If I can breach the magnetic lock on the ship's exterior, it should remagnetise the pod. Now, while I'm out there, you have got to get the rest of those doors open. We need those auxiliary engines.

SCANNELL: Doctor, will you listen! They're too far away, it's too late!

THE DOCTOR: I'm not gonna lose her.

The Doctor completes his outfit by putting his helmet on. He walks past Scannell to the airlock door, which slides open. He walks inside, looking intense. Out of the window in the exterior door, the sun blazes.

COMPUTER: Decompression, initiating. (We hear the air begin to be removed from the atmosphere around the Doctor. The computer gives another time warning). Impact in 12. 55.

Back in 2007, Francine Jones' mobile rings once again. She picks it up off of the sideboard, and answers.

FRANCINE (recognising Martha's number): Hello.

MARTHA (from the pod): Me again. Sorry about earlier.

FRANCINE: Is everything alright?

MARTHA: Yeah. Course.

FRANCINE: Martha?

MARTHA: Mum, I... you know I love you, don't you?

FRANCINE: Course I do. What's bought this on?

MARTHA: I never say it. Never get the time. I never think of it, and I... (Her voice breaks). I really love you. Tell dad, Leo and Tish that I love them.

It is only now that we see that Francine isn't alone. A sinister blonde woman is sat at the table behind her, with earphones in, listening to every word Martha says.

FRANCINE: Martha, what's wrong?

MARTHA: Nothing. Promise.

FRANCINE: Where are you?

MARTHA: Just out.

FRANCINE: With anyone nice?

MARTHA: Some mates.

FRANCINE: What mates?

MARTHA (with a slight pause): Mum, can we not just talk?

FRANCINE: Of course. What do you want to talk about?

MARTHA: I dunno, anything! What you had for breakfast. What you watched on telly last night. How much you're gonna k*ll Dad next time you see him. Anything.

FRANCINE: Is the Doctor with you? Is he there, now?

MARTHA (with tears rolling down her cheeks now): Mum, just leave it.

FRANCINE: It's a simple enough question.

MARTHA: I'd better go.

FRANCINE (looking round, she sees the sinister woman give a hand gesture, signifying "Keep her talking"). Um, no Martha, wait!

MARTHA: See you, mum.

She hangs up. On the other end, Francine sighs, looking disappointed, while the sinister woman looks on. In the pod, Martha is so upset, she turns to Riley, and he envelops her in a hug, and kisses her forehead. The computer continues to count down.

COMPUTER: Impact in 11.15. (As the Doctor walks towards the exterior airlock door, the computer warns). Heat shield failing. At ten percent.

The Doctor presses a button on a keypad, which opens the exterior door. He recoils slightly from the heat and brightness of the sun, but soon recovers, grabs hold of the frame, and, battling against the vacuum, begins to clamber out onto the outer hull of the ship. He is almost swept away a couple of times, before he gets himself in the right position, and swings his hand out to try and reach a column of buttons, just to the right of the airlock. He hisses first time, but continues to stretch out, trying to get there.

THE DOCTOR (in anger and desperation, through gritted teeth). Come on! !! (He manages press the right button, and exclaims). Go on my son!

He still has more work to do, and now tries to reach the box just to the right of the buttons. Scannell's voice suddenly comes over his personal comm.

SCANNELL: Doctor! How're you doing?

THE DOCTOR (stretching as far as he can to reach the handle that will open the box). I can't! I can't reach! (Beginning to become overwhelmed by everything). I don't know how much longer I can last!

SCANNELL: Come on! Don't give up now!

These words seem to boost the Doctor, and he continues to stretch, until he finally manages to grab the handle and yank the cover off of the box. Inside is a lever, that with a scream of pain and strength, the Doctor grabs hold of, and tries with all his might to pull down, and does. Inside the pod, Martha and Riley are knocked backwards with an invisible force, and the display shows the single word "Remagnetising".

RILEY: We're being pulled back!

MARTHA (knowing exactly who made it happen): I told you! (She half laughs, half screams). It's the Doctor!

As the Doctor struggles back inside the airlock, the pod slowly but sure heads back to its docking point, with Martha and Riley looking excitedly out of the porthole. The Doctor, even though he is now inside, clambers to his knees, so his can see over the bottom lip of the airlock, and out to the sun. He looks confused and frightened, as the light reflects intensely off his helmet, and seeing the swirling molten surface.

THE DOCTOR: It's alive... (Whispers). It's alive?... (With realisation). It's alive!

Back inside the spaceship, Scannell and McDonnell are doing what the Doctor said, and continuing to open the doors. They have now reached area 10. Before Scannell reaches the door, he calls over the intercom.

SCANNELL: Doctor, close the airlock now! (To McDonnell, running through the door). That pod's gonna smash into him!

McDONNELL (giving him the clamp). Stay here!

She runs back the way she came, towards area 17 and the Doctor. The computer gives another countdown warning.

COMPUTER: Impact in. 8.57. (In the airlock, the Doctor removes his helmet. He seems to be in a lot of pain, on his knees with his eyes clamped tight shut). Airlock recompression completed.

The Doctor literally falls out of the airlock back into the corridor of the spaceship, still on his knees. Martha and Riley clamber out of the escape pod, and run to the Doctor, who is now writhing with pain on the floor.

MARTHA: Doctor! Doctor! (As she reaches the Doctor, she realises that something is wrong. She crouches beside him). Are you OK?

Martha flips the Doctor onto his back, so he can sit up. However, as she does so, the Doctor opens his eyes, and reveals that whatever infected Korwin and Ashton now has got him too.

THE DOCTOR (trying to fight whatever it is that has him, sounding angry): Stay away from me!

He closes his eyes again, and continues to writhe with pain. Martha quickly does what he says, and backs away. Behind them, McDonnell appears.

McDONNELL: What's happened?

THE DOCTOR (still in his normal voice, rather than the strange deep voice seen in Korwin and Ashton): It's your fault, Captain McDonnell!

McDONNELL (looking shocked, but quickly regaining composure. Pointing away from them). Riley! Get down to area 10 and help Scannell with the doors. Go!

Riley does as she says.

THE DOCTOR (shouting): You mined that sun! Stripped its surface for cheap fuel! You should have scanned for life!

McDONNELL: I don't understand.

MARTHA: Doctor, what are you talking about?!

THE DOCTOR (trying to fight the pain): That sun is alive! A living organism! They scooped out its heart, used it for fuel, and now it's screaming!

McDONNELL (panicking): What do you mean? How can a sun be alive? Why's he saying that?!

THE DOCTOR: Because it's living in me.

McDONNELL (realising what she has done): Oh my god...

THE DOCTOR (really angry now): Humans! You grab whatever's nearest and bleed it dry! (Screaming in agony and anguish). You should have scanned!

McDONNELL: It takes too long! We'd be caught! Fusion scoops are illegal.

THE DOCTOR (still crying out in pain): You've got to freeze me, quickly!

MARTHA (rushing back to his side): What?!

THE DOCTOR: Stasis chamber! You gotta keep me... below minus 200. Freeze it out of me! !! (He screams again. Martha looks at McDonnell in disgust. Rather than anguish, the Doctor now sounds and looks scared). It'll use me to k*ll you if you don't! The closer we get to the sun, the stronger (almost overcome) it gets! Med-centre! Quickly! Quickly!

MARTHA (screaming a command to McDonnell): Help me! !!

McDonnell rushes over to help. Se grabs his free arm, and between them, Martha and McDonnell half carry, half drag the Doctor towards the med-centre. The computer readout counts ever closer towards zero.

COMPUTER: Impact in, 7.30.

In engineering, Korwin's body is still led there. However, all is not as it seems. Korwin's hand once again begins to twitch, as he comes round from the freezing process. His arm moves down towards the discarded helmet. He begins to slide it across the floor... Riley sprints into area 10, finally catching up with Scannell. Scannell quickly throws him a component of the unlocking system, and they get to work.

SCANNELL: What's your favourite colour?!

RILEY: You what?

SCANNELL: It's the question!

RILEY: Purple! (Running to the door, and placing the clamp onto it. Scannell begins to tap in the answer. Turning suddenly). Or did I say orange?

SCANNELL (angrily): Come on!

Martha and McDonnell are still taking the Doctor to the med-centre. As they break through the plastic, he screams. Martha runs forward to the stasis chamber, and grabs the instruction manual.

MARTHA (to herself) : I can do it!

THE DOCTOR (reaching out blindly): Martha, where are you?!

MARTHA: It's alright! I'm here! (She runs back and grabs the Doctor). It's me! Here I am! Stasis chamber, minus 200, yeah?

The two women lift the Doctor onto the stasis chamber bed.

McDONNELL: No, you don't know how this equipment works! You'll k*ll him! Nobody can survive those temperatures!

MARTHA: He's not human! If he says he can survive, then he can.

McDONNELL: Let me help you then!

MARTHA (angrily and full of hate): You've done enough damage.

Martha goes back to working out how the chamber works.

THE DOCTOR: Ten seconds. That's all I'll be able to take. No more! (He screams). Martha!

MARTHA: Yeah?

THE DOCTOR (He gurgles and retches) : It's burning me up. I can't control it. If you don't get rid of it, (Darkly, as if the presence of the sun is breaking through) I could k*ll you. I could k*ll you all. (The Doctor seems to break back through as he screams, however, now he sounds like a child, genuinely frightened). I'm scared! I'm so scared!

MARTHA: Just... stay calm. You saved me, now I return the favour. Just... just believe in me.

THE DOCTOR: It's bloody k*lling me! Then what'll happen?!

MARTHA (trying to soothe him): That's enough! I've got you!

THE DOCTOR: There's this process. This... this thing... that happens... if I'm about to die.

MARTHA: Shhh... quiet now. Cause that is not gonna happen. You ready?

THE DOCTOR: No!

Looking upset, Martha leaves his side, and pushes the lever that slides the Doctor back into the stasis chamber. She types in "200", and presses the button to start the process. Inside, the Doctor screams continuously. Martha watches as the readout shows the temperature inside the machine rapidly dropping. As the spaceship continues to fall towards the sun, the computer speaks once again.

COMPUTER: Heat shields failing. At five percent.

In engineering, Korwin is fully recovered. Through the smoke, we see him stand. He looks over to a readout on the wall. A light comes on with a 'ping'. It reads 'Power drain Med-centre. Stasis chamber active. Korwin walks over to a wall, and pulls a lever on a box. A single word changes on the readout. "Active" becomes "Inactive". In the med-centre, the stasis chamber hits minus 70 degrees, but then shuts off. The Doctor is still whimpering in the background. Martha and McDonnell look shocked. Inside the stasis chamber, the Doctor is covered in ice crystals.

THE DOCTOR: No! Martha you can't stop it! Not yet!

MARTHA: What's happened?!

McDONNELL: Power's been cut in engineering.

MARTHA: But who's down there?

McDONNELL (knowing very well what the answer is): Leave it to me.

Martha watches as McDonnell runs from the room. Behind her, the Doctor lets out another round of screams. he computer continues to count down.

COMPUTER: Impact in 4.47.

Scannell and Riley have made it to area 4. They sprint through the door, and straight over to the next one. Scannell deals with the backpack, while Riley holds the clamp to the door.

SCANNELL: Reckon we'll do it in time?

Riley looks on, with a resigned look on his face. In the med-centre, Martha is still trying to get the stasis chamber working again.

MARTHA: Come on! You're defrosting.

Inside the stasis chamber, we can see that all of the ice crystals are gone from the Doctor's body. He cries out in pain once again.

THE DOCTOR: Martha! Listen! (Martha peers inside the chamber). I've only got a moment. You've gotta go!

MARTHA: No way!

THE DOCTOR: Get to the front! Vent the engines! Sun particles in the fuel! Get rid of them!

MARTHA: I am not leaving you!

THE DOCTOR: You've got to! Give back what they took!

MARTHA: Doctor!

THE DOCTOR (screaming): Please! Go! !!

MARTHA (doing as he says): I'll be back for you.

The countdown screen appears again.

COMPUTER: Impact in 4.08.

As McDonnell enters engineering, Korwin steps out to black her path.

McDONNELL (eyeing the lever she needs to get to): You were right. It was my fault.

She goes to grab the lever, but Korwin reaches out, and she stops. He goes to open his visor, but before he can, McDonnell runs. The countdown screen shows itself.

COMPUTER: Impact in 3.43.

Martha is running to try and get to the front of the ship in time. She passes through area 21, and continues. Korwin is also stalking the corridors of the ship, looking for McDonnell. She is hidden in a corner, which we soon see is inside the airlock where the drama took place earlier. Korwin reaches the interior airlock door, and looks through the porthole, only to see the sun out of the exterior hatch. Korwin opens the interior door, and walks inside. He looks down, and sees McDonnell crouched in her corner. Slowly, she stands.

McDONNELL (walking towards the exterior hatch): I didn't know. I really didn't know. (Korwin begins to advance on her. She puts out her hand to try and stop him). Korwin, please stop.

She is now stood right in front of the exterior hatch.

KORWIN: Everyone. Must. Burn!

McDonnell reaches out, and presses the button that first closes the interior door, and then presses the comm. button.

McDONNELL: Riley, Scannell. I'm sorry.

Hearing their names, the two boys rush over to a comm. unit.

SCANNELL: McDonnell! McDonnell! !

Korwin looks at McDonnell, who presses the big red button that opens the exterior hatch. She puts her hands on Korwin's helmet, and moves in close.

McDONNELL (whispering): I love you.

Entwined in each others' embrace, McDonnell and Korwin are dragged out into space, and fall towards the sun. The computer gives a message.

COMPUTER: Exterior airlock opened.

Scannell and Riley look at one another, realising what McDonnell has done.

RILEY: It's the last door. We've gotta keep going!

He rushes back over to the sealed door. The computer gives another time update.

COMPUTER: Impact in 2.17.

In the med-centre, the Doctor falls out of the stasis chamber. Meanwhile, Martha is still running towards the front of the ship. The Doctor is still fighting the sun inside him, and is thrown over the controls of the stasis chamber, before being hurled back onto the floor by an invisible force. He is still crying out in pain, while trying to pull himself upright. The computer gives a warning.

COMPUTER: Survival element protection. Zero percent.

As Martha enters area 4, the Doctor, now out of the med-centre, crawls along the floor in an attempt to follow her.

THE DOCTOR: Martha!

Martha stops when she hears him.

MARTHA: Doctor! What are you doing?

The Doctor has stopped crawling, and with his last reserves of energy.

THE DOCTOR: I can't fight it. Give it back or... (But it is too late. His eyes open, glowing with the heat of the sun). Burn with me. Burn with me, Martha!

Martha realises that the Doctor has been taken over, and so continues running. The computer warns that there is now less than 90 seconds before impact.

COMPUTER: Impact in 1.21.

The Doctor screams, glowing with the hue of the sun around him. Scannell and Riley hear this over the intercom, but keep working, trying to get the last door open. They finally succeed.

RILEY (shouting as the door swings open): Got it!

Both he and Scannell run through the door into area 1. The computer is giving other warnings about the state of the ship, but Riley and Scannell don't hear them. They rush over to two separate keypads, and type as fast as they can, trying to boot up the auxiliary engines.

COMPUTER: Impact in 1.06.

Done with typing, the two boys move over to a wall covered in switched, buttons, and controls. They both begin frantically pulling, pressing, and realigning controls.

RILEY (looking at a screen, expecting to see a positive result, but instead receives only static) : It's not working. Why's it not working?!

Suddenly Martha rounds the bend into area 1. She launches straight into giving them the Doctor's instructions.

MARTHA: Vent the engines. Dump the fuel.

Both Riley and Scannell look questioningly at her.

SCANNELL: What?

MARTHA: Sun particles in the fuel. Get rid of them. (When neither one responds). Do it. Now! !

The boys spring into action. They head to two practically identical walls, and begin turning dials, which in turn release the fuel.

MARTHA: Come on Doctor, hold on.

Once all the dials have been turned, one of the boys twists the 'fuel dispersal' dial, which causes the ship to lurch, and for them all to be flung about. However, the readout shows that the fuel is successfully leaking out of the bottom of the ship. As Martha holds on, and the Doctor continues to scream, the ships fuel falls back into the sun, causing the Doctor's eyes to stop glowing. He turns onto his back, his eyes returned to normal. However, he appears to still be in a lot of pain. As more and more fuel is released, the lurching gets more and more violent, until Martha is thrown from where she stands.

SCANNELL: There! How're we gonna fly?!

As the countdown hits zero, the computer gives a final message.

COMPUTER: Impact averted. Impact averted.

Riley is breathing heavily, led on the floor, having been thrown about. Martha, looking around, pulls herself into a sitting position. Scannell pops up to his feet. Riley can't believe they are safe.

RILEY: We're clear! We've got just enough reserves.

With beaming smiles, Scannell and Riley embrace. Martha smiles too for a few seconds, but realises somebody is missing.

MARTHA: Doctor...

She turns and runs from the scene to find him. As she runs towards him, the Doctor, looking slightly worse for wear, pulls himself to his feet. When Martha reaches him, she pulls him into a hug. He lifts her clean off the ground, weak as he is, and they both share a giggle of happiness. As the ship flies through space, everything has returned to normal on the inside, apart form the distinct lack of crew members. Riley and Scannell are stood, admiring the TARDIS, while The Doctor and Martha walk round it, checking to see that she's OK.

SCANNELL: This is never your ship!

THE DOCTOR: Compact! Eh! And another good word, robust! Barely a scorch mark on her.

MARTHA (concerned about the boys): We can't just leave them drifting with no fuel.

RILEY: We've sent out an official mayday. The authorities will pick us up soon enough.

SCANNELL: Though how we explain what happened...

THE DOCTOR (opening the door to the TARDIS): Just tell them. That sun needs care and protection, just like any other living thing.

Scannell nods. The Doctor steps inside the TARDIS, and Martha makes to follow him, but before she can do so, Riley grabs her arm.

RILEY: So... uh, you're off then. (Martha nods). No chance I'll see you again?

MARTHA: Not really. It was nice... not dying with you. (They both give a half hearted laugh). I reckon you'll find someone worth believing in.

RILEY: I think I already did.

Unsure of what to do for a second, Martha decides, and launches herself onto Riley, and kisses him. He is very pleasantly surprised. Scannell looks on.

MARTHA (unsure of what to say): Well done. Very hot.

Riley gives a little laugh. Martha steps into the TARDIS, and shuts the door. As she walks up the ramp to the centre console, she is beaming.

MARTHA: So! Didn't really need you in the end, did we?! (However, rather than his usual beaming self, the Doctor looks sad and distant). Sorry. How're you doing?

Rather than answer her, the Doctor becomes business like.

THE DOCTOR: Now! What do you say? Ice skating on the mineral lakes of Cuhlhan. Fancy it?

Instead of smiling, Martha looks disappointed, as she wishes the Doctor would open up to her.

MARTHA (unenthusiastically): Whatever you like.

The Doctor looks at her and realises.

THE DOCTOR: By the way, you'll be needing this.

He pulls a TARDIS key on a long chain out.

MARTHA (unbelieving): Really?!

THE DOCTOR: Frequent Flier's Privilege. (He slowly feeds it into her hand, and looks at her properly) Thank you.

MARTHA: Don't mention it. (He gives her a weak smile, and continues to tinker with the TARDIS. Martha realises something, and feels about for her mobile). Oh no! Mum!

The Doctor looks at her as she dials. Francine picks up at the other end.

FRANCINE: Hello?

MARTHA: Me again!

FRANCINE (slightly sarcastic): Three calls in one day.

MARTHA: Sorry about earlier. Over emotional, mad day!

FRANCINE: What are you doing tonight? Why don't you come round? I'll make something nice and we can catch up.

MARTHA: Yeah! Tonight. Do my best. Um, just remind me, what day is it again?

FRANCINE: Election day.

MARTHA: Right. Course. I'll be round for tea. Roughly.

FRANCINE: And what about...

but she is interrupted.

MARTHA: Anyway, gotta go! See you later! Love you!

Martha hangs up, smiling. At the other end, Francine turns her phone off, looking slightly annoyed. She turns around, and walks over to the table, where the sinister woman is sat, putting her earphones away, flanked by two burly men in suits. Francine hands her phone over to them, by dropping it in a clear plastic bag held by the sinister woman.

FRANCINE: That's all?

SINISTER WOMAN: For now. Have you voted?

FRANCINE: Of course. Just don't expect me to tell you who for.

SINISTER WOMAN: Thanks for all you're doing, Mrs Jones. Mister Saxon will be very grateful.

Francine eyes the sinister woman and her two bodyguards as they get up and leave.

END
{"type": "series", "show": "Doctor Who_", "episode": "03x07 - 42"}