Doctor Who

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Signora, your school offers a chance for betterment, escape. >

My daughter... >

Isabella is 17 now,

but what prospects are there for the daughter of a boat-builder?

There's no future for us. No future but you.

I am moved by your concern for your daughter.

I believe protecting the futureof one's own is a sacred duty. Signora...

.. she is my world.

Then we will take your world.

THEY LAUGH

I knew it!

Say goodbye to your daughter.

Now, signora?

Why wait?

Time ticks.

Be brave, my girl. Make me proud.

Step into the light, my dear.

DOOR OPENS

That's it.

DOOR SLAMS SHUT

What say you, Francesco? Do you like her?

Oh, I do, Mother.

I do.

Hey...!

It's me! Hello!

How are you?

'The reason for this call is because I haven't told you for seven hours

'that I love you, which is a scandal,

'and even if we weren't getting married tomorrow, I'd ask you to marry me anyway. '

Yes, I would, because you are smashing.

"The Stripper" by David Rose

Oh... Oh. Oh, blimey.

I've... I've... I-I-I...

I'll see you tomorrow.

CHEERING AND WHISTLING

Out! Out! Out!

SHOUTING STOPS

MUSIC CONTINUES

Rory!

That's a relief. I thought I'd burst out of the wrong cake. Again.

That reminds me, there's a girl outside in a bikini.

Could someone let her in, give her a jumper? Lucy. Lovely girl.

Now, then. Rory.

We need to talk about your fiancee.

She tried to kiss me.

THEY ALL GASP

Tell you what, though. You'rea lucky man - she's a great kisser. BREAKING GLASS

Funny how you can say something in your head and it SOUNDS fine...

Oh! The life out there, it dazzles.

I mean, it blinds you to the things that are important.

I've seen it devourrelationships and plans... Ohhh!

It's meant to do that.

.. because for one person to have seen all that,

to taste the glory and then go back,

it WILL tear you apart.

So... I'm sending you somewhere.

Together.

Whoa! What, like a date? Anywhere you want, any time you want.

One condition - it has to be amazing. The Moulin Rouge in 1890!

The first Olympic Games! Think of it as a wedding present,

because it's either this or tokens.

It's a lot to take in, isn't it? Tiny box, huge room inside. What's that about? Let me explain.

It's another dimension. It's basically another dimen... What?

After Prisoner Zero, I've been reading up on all the latest scientific theories.

FTL travel, parallel universes.

I like the bit when someone says, "It's bigger on the inside!"

I always look forward to that.

So, this date. I'm kind of done with running down corridors.

What do you think, Rory?How about somewhere... romantic?

GOAT BLEATS

METALLIC THRUMMING

Venice!

Venezia!

La Serenissima!

Impossible city. Preposterous city!

Founded by refugees running from Attila the Hun.

It was just a collection of little wooden huts in the marsh,

but became one of the most powerful cities in the world.

Constantly being invaded, constantly flooding...

constantly... Just beautiful!

Oh, you gotta love Venice.

And so many people did. Byron, Napoleon, Casanova.

Oooh, that reminds me. 1580.

That's all right. Casanova doesn't get born for 145 years.

Don't want to run into him. I owe him a chicken.

You owe Casanova a chicken?

Long story. We had a bet. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Papers, if you please.

Proof of residency, current bill of medical inspection.

There you go, fella.

All to your satisfaction, I think you'll find.

I am so sorry, Your Holiness.

I didn't realise.

No worries. You were just doing your job.

Sorry, what exactly is your job?

Checking for aliens.

Visitors from foreign lands what might bring the plague with them.

Oh, that's nice See where you bring me? The plague!

Don't worry, Viscountess.

Oh... No, we're under quarantine here, no-one comes in, no-one goes out,

and all because of the grace and wisdom of our patron, Signora Rosanna Calvierri.

How interesting. I heard the plague died out years ago.

Not out there.

No, Signora Calvierri has seen it with her own eyes.

Streets are piled high with bodies, she said. Did she, now?

Oi!

According to this, I am your eunuch!

Oh, yeah, I'll explain later.

Veils down, girls.

What do you want? Where'smy Isabella? What are you doing? Get away from there.

Isabella!

Isabella!

It's me!

Agh!

Girls! Come along!

She's gone.

Isabella! It's me!

What was that about?Isabella...

I hate it when he does that!

Who were those girls?

I thought everyone knew about the Calvierri school. My first day here.

Parents do all sorts of things to get their children into good schools.

They move house, they change religion.

So, why are you trying to get her out?

Something happens in there.

Something magical, something evil.

My own daughter didn't recognise me.

And the girl who pushed me away,

her face... like an animal.

I think it's time I met this Signora Calvierri.

DOOR CLOSES Mother?

Mummy's hydrating, Francesco.

And we never interrupt Mummy when she's hydrating.

We were accosted again.

SHE GASPS

A man made a grab for one of the girls.

The longer we wait, the greater the risk of discovery.

I mean, we've already converted more than enough.

Surely it is time to introduce them to my brothers?

I shall decide when we have enough.

If it's more you want, let me take the girls into the city tonight.

We could. We follow the plan.

Let them hammer on our door...

beg to be taken.

BELL TOLLS

And what have you been doing?

Well... running.

And fighting. I've been scared. More scared than I thought was... Did you miss me?

I...

I knew I'd be coming back.

He was right. It blots out everything else.

Rory... this is our date.

Let's not do this, not now.

FLUTTERING

Ha!

We are in Venice and it's 1580.SHE LAUGHS

I know!

THEY BOTH LAUGH

Flowers, signor?

PIERCING SCREAM

What was that?

She'll be OK.

Where are you... Amy! Come back!

You have my daughter. Isabella!

You're not coming in, stop there! We've told you...

You have my daughter. Isabella!

I demand you let me see my daughter.

Isabella! It's me! It's your father. I'll arrest you... Isabella!

Hello, handsome.

Who are you?

How are you doing that? I... am... loving it.

You're like Houdini, only five scary girls, only he was shorter. WILL BE shorter. I'm rambling.

I'll ask you again, signor. Who are you?

Why don't you check THIS out?

Library card. Of course, it's with... He's...

I need the spare.

Pale, creepy girls who don't like sunlight

and can't be seen in...

Am I thinking what I think I'm thinking? But the city. Why shut down the city? Unless...

Leave now, signor. Or we shall call for the steward...

.. if you are lucky.

Ooh!

HISSING

Tell me the whole plan.

Listen, I would love to stay here. This whole thing... I'm thrilled. Oh, this is Christmas!

THEY HISS

Doctor! I just met some vampires!We just saw a vampire!

BOTH TALK AT ONCE

And creepy girls and everything. Vampires!

We think we just saw a vampire.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Amy was just telling me. Yeah!

The Doctor actually went totheir house. Oh. Right. Well...

OK, so... first we need toget back in there somehow. What?!

How do we do that? Back in where?!Come and meet my new friend.

As you saw, there's no clear way in.

The House of Calvierri is like a fortress.

But there's a tunnel underneath it, with a ladder and shaft that leads up into the house.

I tried to get in once myself, but I hit a trapdoor.

You need someone on the inside. No. You don't know what I was going to say!