04x03 - Planet of the Ood

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Spotlights turn on to reveal Ood.

ADVERTISEMENT VOICE: The Ood. They came from distant world. They voyaged across the stars, all with one purpose.

An Ood holds out a teacup.

OOD (in the ad): Do you take milk and sugar?

ADVERTISEMENT VOICE: To serve.

Mr Bartle is looking at a big screen with the advertisement on it.

Mr BARTLE: That's good. That's excellent, I like it sir. Buy one now! Direct. Straight to the point.

Mr HALPEN (on intercom): We play that across the tri-galactic for two weeks, then introduce this.

ADVERTISEMENT VOICE: Now only 50 credits!

The words appear on the screen.

Mr BARTLE: 50? We're reducing the price to 50 credits?

Mr HALPEN: Sales are down. We've got to reposition ourselves. So get going.

The communicator beeps as he hangs up.

Mr BARTLE: Idiot. Bleeding us dry! (talking to an Ood behind him) You there. Get me last month's m*llitary export figures. The army always needs more grunts.

OOD: Yes sir.

The Ood bows. Voice comes on intercom.

SOLANA: Mr Bartle, you asked me to call you.

Mr BARTLE: Solana, when those buyers arrive we're going to pitch like never before. I want those Ood flying out of here.

The Ood hands him a binder.

Mr BARTLE: That... I said m*llitary figures. That's the domestic files. Get me the m*llitary.

The Ood's eyes glow red.

OOD: The file is irrelevant, sir.

Mr BARTLE: Oh, why's that?

The Ood electrocutes him with his translator ball.

OOD: Have a nice day.

OPENING CREDITS

The TARDIS is rocking. Donna screams.

DOCTOR: Set the controls to random. Mystery tour. Outside that door could be any planet, anywhere, anywhen in the whole wide... Are you all right?

DONNA: Terrified. I mean history's one thing, but an alien planet!

DOCTOR: I could always take you home.

DONNA: Yeah, don't laugh at me.

DOCTOR: I know what it's like. Everything you're feeling right now. The fear, the joy, the wonder, I get that!

DONNA: Seriously? After all this time?

DOCTOR: Yeah. Why do you think I keep going?

DONNA: Oh! All right then, you and me both! This is barmy! I was born in Chiswick. I've only ever done package holidays. And now I'm here. This is so... I mean it's... I don't know, it's all sort of, I don't know what the word is!

She opens the Tardis door and steps out in to a snowy landscape.

DONNA: I've got the word. Freezing!

The Doctor comes out of the Tardis.

DOCTOR: Snow! Aw, real snow! Proper snow at last! That's more like it, lovely. What do you think?

DONNA (shivering): Bit cold.

DOCTOR: Look at that view!

DONNA: Yep. Beautiful, cold view.

DOCTOR: Millions of planets, millions of galaxies and we're on this one. Molto bene! Bellissimo! Says Donna. Born in Chiswick. All you've got is a life of work and sleep, and telly and rent and tax and takeaway dinners, all... birthdays and Christmases and two weeks holiday here, and then you end up here! Donna Noble. Citizen of the Earth, standing on a different planet. How 'bout that Donna?

He looks back at Tardis. Donna's not there.

DOCTOR: Donna?

She comes out in a big fluffy coat with a huge hood.

DONNA: Sorry, you were saying?

DOCTOR: Better?

DONNA: Lovely, thanks.

DOCTOR: Comfy?

DONNA: Yep.

DOCTOR: Can you hear anything inside that?

DONNA (smiling): Pardon?

DOCTOR: All right, I was saying, citizen of the Earth...

They looks up to see a big rocket flying over them.

DONNA (in awe): Rocket! Blimey, a real proper rocket. Now that's what I call a spaceship. You've got a box; he's got a Ferrari! Come on, lets go see where it's going!

Doctor looks back at Tardis, his pride offended. Outside a big factory building the people from the rocket are walking up to a group of people by a door.

Dr RYDER: Mr Halpen, sir. Dr Ryder, new head of Ood Management.

Mr HALPEN: How many dead? Come on, facts and figures. I haven't flown all this way to discuss the weather, which by the way is freezing.

Dr RYDER: Solana has the figures, sir.

SOLANA: Solana Mercurio, sir. Head of Marketing and Galactic Liaison.

Mr HALPEN: That's just what I need. A PR woman. I don't want a word of this getting out, is that understood? Now get to the point. How many dead?

They walk into the building.

SOLANA: In the past financial quarter we've had three deaths in the complex. All attributed to heart att*cks or industrial accidents, but now we've captured this on tape, the cause would seem the same.

The screen shows the Ood electrocuting Mr Bartle.

Mr HALPEN: It's using the translator ball as a w*apon. How's that work?

Dr RYDER: Well, no idea. I'm checking the equipment. Nothing so far.

Mr HALPEN: Can't see its eyes from this angle.

Dr RYDER: I think we have to assume...

Mr HALPEN: Red-eye.

Dr RYDER: I would think so sir.

Mr HALPEN: That Ood. What happened to it?

Dr RYDER: Oh, ran for the wild sir. Like a dog. One of the guards fired off a sh*t. It'll be dead by now.

SOLANA: Can I ask? What's "red-eye" sir?

Dr RYDER: Well, it's some sort of infection. The Ood's eyes literally change color.

Mr HALPEN: Drink!

Dr RYDER: I can't find a source. All the bacteria scans register negative.

His Ood hands Mr Halpen a glass.

SOLANA: Sorry, but according to your own rules sir, there's no alcohol allowed on base.

Mr HALPEN: It's hair tonic if you must know. (He drinks it). Five years ago I had a full head of hair. Stress, that's what this is. Stress.

The Doctor and Donna walk in a deserted winter wonderland, laughing. Suddenly he stops, hearing eerie music.

DOCTOR: Hold on, can you hear that? (louder) Donna, take your hood down!

DONNA: What?

DOCTOR: That noise is like a song.

He looks around to find the source.

DOCTOR: Over there!

He rushes to the body on the ground, followed by Donna.

DONNA: What is it?

DOCTOR: An Ood. He's called an Ood.

DONNA (disgusted): But it's face...

DOCTOR: Donna, don't. Not now. It's a he, not an it. Give me a hand.

DONNA: Sorry!

She kneels beside the Ood too. The Doctor examines the Ood with a stethoscope.

DOCTOR: I don't know where the heart is. I don't know if he's got a heart. Talk to him, keep him going.

DONNA: It's all right, we've got you. Um, what's your name?

DELTA 50 (weakly): Designated Ood Delta 50.

She picks up his translator ball, talking into it like into a microphone.

DONNA: My name's Donna.

DOCTOR: No, no, no, no. You don't need to...

DONNA: Sorry. (She tries to find out what to say). Oh, God! This is the Doctor! Just what you need, a doctor. Couldn't be better, hey?

DOCTOR: You've been sh*t.

DELTA 50: The circle...

DONNA: No, don't try to talk.

DELTA 50: The circle must be broken.

DOCTOR: Circle? What d'you mean? Delta 50, what circle? Delta 50? What circle?

Delta 50 suddenly sits up, roaring, eyes glowing red. The Doctor and Donna jump back. Then he collapses, dead.

DONNA: He's gone.

She goes back and kneels beside the body.

DOCTOR: Careful.

DONNA: There you are, sweetheart. (She strokes the Ood's head). We were too late. What do we do, do we bury him?

DOCTOR: The snow will take care of that.

DONNA: Who was he? What's an Ood?

DOCTOR: They're servants, of humans in the 42nd century. Mildly telepathic, that was the... song. It's his mind calling out.

DONNA: Couldn't hear anything. (She stands up). He sang as he was dying.

DOCTOR: His eyes turned red.

DONNA: What's that mean?

DOCTOR: Trouble. Come on. (They walk away). The Ood are harmless. They're completely benign. Except, the last time I met them, there was this force, like a... stronger mind, powerful enough to take them over.

DONNA: What sort of force?

DOCTOR: Yeah, long story.

DONNA: Long walk.

DOCTOR: It was the Devil.

DONNA: If you're gonna take the mickey, I'll just put my hood back up.

DOCTOR: Must be something different this time, though. Something closer to home.

They climb to a rock and behind, they see the Ood Operation buildings.

DOCTOR: A-ha! Civilisation!

A group of reps arrive to Ood Operations.

SOLANA: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ood-Sphere. And isn't it bracing? Here are your information packs, with vouchers, 3D tickets and a map of the complex. My name's Solana, Head of Marketing. I'm sure we've all spoken on the vidfone. Now, if you'd like to follow me.

The Doctor and Donna arrive running.

DOCTOR: Sorry, sorry, sorry! Late. Don't mind us. Hello! The guards let us through.

SOLANA: And you would be?

The Doctor shows the psychic paper.

DOCTOR: The Doctor and Donna Noble.

DONNA: Representing the Noble Corporation PLC Limited, Intergalactic.

SOLANA: Must have fallen off my list, my apologies. Won't happen again. Now then, Dr Noble, Mrs Noble, if you'd like to come with me.

DOCTOR: Oh, no, no, no, no, we're not married!

DONNA: We're so not married.

DOCTOR: Never.

DONNA: Never ever!

SOLANA: Of course. And here are your information packs, vouchers inside. Now if you'd like to come with me, the Executive Suites are nice and warm.

An alarm wails.

DOCTOR: Oh, what's that? That sounds like an alarm.

In his office, Mr Halpen can hear it too.

Mr HALPEN: For God's sake, we've got the buyers arriving, who sounded the alarm? Drink!

SOLANA (to the reps): Oh, it's just a... siren, for the end of the work shift. Now then, this way, quick as you can!

Mr HALPEN (on the intercom): Mr Kess, what the hell's going on?

Mr KESS: Ood on the loose, sir. Looks like we've got another one.

Mr HALPEN: Red-eye?

Mr KESS: As red as sin, sir. Don't worry, Mr Halpen, we're on it.

The Ood runs across the yard.

GUARD: Sir!

Mr KESS: All right then, lads, go get him!

SOLANA (talking to the reps in the room with the huge screen): As you can see, the Ood are happy to serve, and we keep them in facilities of the highest standard. Here at the Double O, that's Ood Operations, we like to think of the Ood as our trusted friends.

During her speech, outside the guards, carrying huge g*ns, are still chasing the loose Ood.

Mr KESS: He's over there! You two follow me!

SOLANA: We keep the Ood healthy, safe, and educated.

Mr KESS: Take him alive!

SOLANA: We don't just breed the Ood. We make them better. Because at heart, what is an Ood, but a reflection of us? If your Ood is happy, then you'll be happy, too.

The Ood turns to face the guards, not attacking, just growling, raging.

Mr KESS: Mr Halpen, this is a bit more than red-eye, sir. This is something new. It's rabid, sir.

Mr HALPEN: Take it to Dr Ryder. Just get it out of sight!

VOICE (over the intercom): Sales figures needed by 19,00 sir.

Mr HALPEN: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

He goes to the mirror, examining his head.

Mr HALPEN (to his Ood): What do you think? Growing back? Just a little bit? Like you'd know!

SOLANA: I'd now like to point out a new innovation from Ood Operations. We've introduced a variety package with the Ood translator ball. You can now have the Standard Setting. (talking to Ood1) : How are you today, Ood?

OOD 1 (normal voice): I'm perfectly well, thank you.

SOLANA: Or perhaps, after a stressful day, a little something for the gentlemen. (to Ood 2) : And how are you, Ood?

OOD 2 (sultry female voice): All the better for seeing you.

SOLANA: And the comedy classic option. (to Ood 3) : Ood, you dropped something.

OOD 3 (Homer Simpson voice): Doh!

The reps laugh.

SOLANA: All that for only five additional credits. The details are in your brochures. Now, there's plenty more food and drink, so, don't hold back.

She leaves; the Doctor goes to the control board and brings the picture of the solar system to the big screen.

DOCTOR: Ah, got it! The Ood-Sphere, I've been to this solar system before, years ago, ages! Close to the planet Sense-Sphere. Let's widen out. (he does it) The year 4126. That is the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire.

DONNA: 4126. It's 4126. I'm in 4126.

DOCTOR: It's good, isn't it?

DONNA: What's the Earth like now?

DOCTOR: Bit full. But you see, the Empire stretches out across three galaxies.

DONNA: It's weird. I mean, it's brilliant, but... Back home, the papers and the telly, they keep saying we haven't got long to live. Global warming. Flooding. All the bees disappearing.

DOCTOR: Yeah, that thing about the bees is odd.

DONNA: But look at us! We're everywhere. Is that good or bad, though? I mean, are we like explorers? Or more like a virus?

DOCTOR: Sometimes I wonder.

DONNA (examining the picture on the screen): What are the red dots?

DOCTOR: Ood distribution centres.

DONNA: Across three galaxies? Don't the Ood get a say in this?

She walks to the Ood standing nearest.

DONNA: Um, sorry, but...

He doesn't seem to notice her, so she touches his shoulder to get his attention.

DONNA: Hello. Tell me, are you all like this?

OOD 1: I do not understand, Miss.

DONNA: Why do you say "Miss", do I look single?

DOCTOR: Back to the point.

DONNA: Yeah. What I mean is, are there any free Ood? Are there Ood running wild somewhere? Like wood beast.

OOD 1: All Ood are born to serve. Otherwise, we would die.

DONNA: But you can't have started like that. Before the humans, what were you like?

The Ood seems confused.

OOD 1: The circle.

DOCTOR: What do you mean, what circle?

OOD 1 (struggling): The circ... the circle... is...

SOLANA: Ladies and gentlemen! All Ood to hospitality stations, please.

DOCTOR: I've had enough of the schmoozing. Do you fancy going off the beaten track?

SOLANA (voice from the background): Now, if I can introduce you...

DONNA (smiling): Rough guide to the Ood-Sphere? Works for me!

DOCTOR: Isn't it?

Mr Halpen and Dr Ryder are in a dark chamber, the rabid Ood chained up, still raging non-stop, two armed man guarding him.

Mr HALPEN: What the hell is wrong with it?

Dr RYDER: It's obviously stage two of red-eye. Whatever that means.

Mr HALPEN: Ood Sigma, have you seen this before?

SIGMA: Humanity defines us, sir. We look to you for answers.

Mr HALPEN: Oh, fat lot of good, all of you. We're exporting hundreds of thousands of Ood to all the civilised planets. If they turn rabid, you know what it'll mean.

Dr RYDER: There's only one thing I haven't checked, sir. Warehouse 15.

Mr HALPEN: Why should that cause trouble? It's been two centuries now. No change, not ever. Drink!

Dr RYDER: I know it's restricted access, but if I'm going to work on this, I should see it. Just in case.

Mr HALPEN: Can't stand the place. (He gulps his drink). Still. Warehouse 15 then, come on.

Dr RYDER: What about this one, sir?

Mr HALDEN: Well, I'd suggest a post mortem. Which means it's got to be dead first.

As they leave, the guards start sh**ting. The Doctor sonics a fence open.

LOUDSPEAKERS: Ood shift eight, now commencing. Repeat, Ood shift eight now commencing.

The Oods are marching through the yard in a fashion like soldiers or prisoners. One of them falls to his knees. Mr Kess rushes to him.

Mr KESS: Get up! I said get up!

Mr Kess whips the Ood until he manages to get back to his feet.

DONNA: Servants? They're slaves.

Mr KESS: Get up! March!

DOCTOR: Last time I met the Ood, I never thought. I never asked.

DONNA: That's not like you.

DOCTOR: I was busy. So busy I couldn't save them, I had to let the Ood die. I reckon I owe them one.

Mr Halpen, Dr Ryder, Sigma and two guards cross the now empty yard.

DONNA: That looks like the boss.

DOCTOR: Let's keep out of his way. Come on.

They leave.

Dr RYDER: How long since you went inside?

Mr HALPEN: Must be... ten years ago.

He types the code to open the door.

COMPUTER VOICE: Warehouse 15.

Mr HALPEN: My father brought me here, when I was six years old.

COMPUTER VOICE: Security protocol initiated.

Mr HALPEN: God, the stench of it.

COMPUTER VOICE: Warehouse 15. Door open.

They get inside and stop by the balustrade, looking at something below.

Dr RYDER: Incredible.

Mr HALPEN: Like I said. Nothing's changed.

Dr RYDER: I've read the documents, but... it doesn't quite prepare you.

Mr HALPEN: Is it just me, or does it feel as if it's looking at you?

Dr RYDER: I think I understand the barrier mechanics well enough. I'll check the signal.

He goes to the controls.

Mr HALPEN (to Sigma): Suppose it's home sweet home to you. What d'you think?

SIGMA: I have no opinion, sir.

Mr HALPEN: Well... say hello to Daddy.

Dr RYDER: Nothing. The barrier's intact. No abnormal signal. Same as it's been for 200 years.

SOLANA (on the intercom): Mr Halpen, the two people from the Noble Corporation failed to pass security checks. There's no such company, the Noble Corporation doesn't exist. And on top of that, they seem to have gone missing, sir, the Doctor and Miss Noble.

Mr HALPEN: Just what I need. Start a search, no alarms, got that? Keep it quiet. (To Sigma) You see? Hair loss! Drink!

He takes the glass, then lifts it up, over the balustrade.

Mr HALPEN: Tell you what, old friend. Have this one on me. Cheers!

He pours it to the thing below, evoking a loud rumble.

Mr HALPEN: I think we're finished here.

He turns to leave, Dr Ryder follows, still unable to take his eyes off the thing. He bumps into Sigma.

Dr RYDER: Sorry.

Sigma also takes one last look before following the humans. The Doctor, concentrating on the map, goes past a door, but Donna stops him with a loud whistle.

DOCTOR: Where d'you learn to whistle?

DONNA: West Ham, every Saturday.

He uses the sonic to open the door. It leads to a huge hangar, filled with containers. They see a giant claw lifting and transporting the containers.

DOCTOR: Ood export. D'you see? Lifts up the containers, takes them to the rocket sheds, ready to be flown out, all over the three galaxies.

DONNA: What, you mean, these containers are full of...?

DOCTOR: What do you think?

He opens the door on one container. Inside, it's filled with Ood, just standing there, motionless.

DONNA (horrified): Oh, it stinks! How many of them d'you think there are in each one?

DOCTOR: Hundred? More?

DONNA: A great big empire, built on sl*very.

DOCTOR: It's not so different from your time.

DONNA: Oi! I haven't got slaves!

DOCTOR: Who d'you think made your clothes?

DONNA: Is that why you travel round with a human at your side? It's not so you can show them the wonders of the universe, it's so you can take cheap sh*ts?

DOCTOR: Sorry.

DONNA: You don't. Spaceman. (To the Ood) I don't understand, the door is open, why don't you just run away?

OOD: For what reason?

DONNA: You could be free.

OOD: I do not understand the concept.

DONNA: What is it with that Persil ball? I mean, they're not born with it, are they? Why do they have to be all plugged in?

DOCTOR: Ood, tell me, does "the circle" mean anything to you?

ALL OOD: # The circle must be broken.

DONNA: Woah, that is creepy!

DOCTOR: But what is it? What is the circle?

ALL OOD: # The circle must be broken.

DOCTOR: Why?

ALL OOD: # So that we can sing.

Mr KESS: Mr Halpen? I'm in Ood Cargo, I've found your unwanted guests. (To the guards) Go!

He sounds an alarm.

DOCTOR: Oh, that's us! Come on!

Mr HALPEN: Cut the alarms! I said, no alarms!

SOLANA (to the reps): Nothing to worry about, ladies and gentlemen, it's just a fire drill. We test the system at this time every day. If you'll excuse me.

The Doctor and Donna run between the containers. She stops.

DONNA: Doctor, there's a door!

But the guards are coming in right through that door.

GUARD: Don't move...

DOCTOR (noticing he's alone): Where've you gone?

But he has no time to wonder as guards are at his heels.

GUARD: ...stay where you are.

They catch Donna and push her into a container.

DONNA: Get off me! Get off me!

DOCTOR: Donna! Where are you?

Mr KESS: All guards withdraw.

GUARD: Sir?

Mr KESS: I said withdraw. Keep to the perimeter. I've got this one. (He's at the controls of the huge claw). I've always wanted to do this.

The Doctor is running from the claw. He tries to get in a container but no luck.

Mr KESS: Container locked.

DONNA (to the Ood): Can you help me? (She notices that their eyes are glowing red). Oh, no, you don't! What have I done? I'm not one of that lot. I'm on your side! Stay where you are. That's an order! I said, stay! Doctor! DOCTOR!

The Doctor is now losing against the claw. He finally falls to the ground, panting. But it stops just before crushing him.

SOLANA (to Mr Kess): You heard the instructions. Mr Halpen wants them alive.

Two guards grab the Doctor and lead him toward the exit.

DONNA (voice from the container): Doctor, get me out! Doctor, get me out of here!

DOCTOR: If you don't do what she says then you're really in trouble. Not from me, from her.

Mr KESS: Unlock the container!

They open the door, Donna runs to hug the Doctor.

DONNA: Doctor!

DOCTOR: There we go, safe and sound.

DONNA: Never mind about me, what about them?!

The Ood are marching out of the container. They electrocute the guard who stands by the door.

Mr KESS: Red alert! Fire!

More containers open with even more red-eyed Ood attacking.

Mr KESS: sh**t to k*ll!

The guards start to fire. The Doctor and Donna run off the building, followed by Solana. They stop a bit further.

DONNA: If people back on Earth... knew what was going on here...

SOLANA: Oh, don't be so stupid. Of course they know.

DONNA: They know how you treat the Ood?

SOLANA: They don't ask. Same thing.

DOCTOR: Solana, the Ood aren't born like this, they can't be. A species born to serve could never evolve in the first place. What does the company do to make them obey?

SOLANA: That's nothing to do with me!

DOCTOR: Oh what, cos you don't ask?

SOLANA: That's Dr Ryder's territory.

DOCTOR: Where is he? What part of the complex? I could help, with the red-eye, now show me!

SOLANA (pointing on the map): There. Beyond the red section.

DOCTOR: Come with me. You've seen the warehouse, you can't agree with all this. You know this place better than me, you could help.

Solana thinks about it for a few seconds, but finally decides to stay loyal to the company.

SOLANA: They're over here! Guards! They're over here!

GUARD: Male and female suspects escaped. Westridge corridor.

SOLANA (on the intercom): Mr Halpen, I found the Doctor. He's heading for Ood Conversion.

Mr HALPEN: On my way. (Talking to Mr Kess on the com) : Mr Kess, what's the situation?

Mr KESS: We've contained it, sir, fenced them in. But the red-eye seems to be permanent this time, it's not fading. Worse than that, sir... there's more of them going rabid. My opinion, sir, I think we've lost them. The entire batch contaminated.

Mr HALPEN: What's causing it? Why now? What's changed?

Absent-minded, he strokes his own head, and looks horrified at the bunch of hair that's stayed in his hand.

Mr HALPEN (on the intercom): How many Ood, in total?

Mr KESS: I'd say about 2,000, sir.

Mr HALPEN: We can write them off, that's what insurance is for. Drink! We've plenty more on the breeding farms, let's start again. (He gulps his drink). Fetch the canisters. No survivors.

Mr KESS: My pleasure, sir. You lot, canisters!

The Doctor and Donna are running from two guards.

DOCTOR: This way!

They arrive to another door.

DOCTOR: Oh, can you hear it? I didn't need the map, I should've listened.

They get inside, then he uses the sonic to lock the door.

DONNA: Hold on. Does that mean we're locked in?

DOCTOR: Listen. Listen, listen, listen, listen...

Eerie music sounds.

DOCTOR: Oh, my head!

DONNA: What is it?

DOCTOR: Can't you hear it? The singing?

They see a cage with several Ood inside. These ones seem shy, trying to hide from them.

DONNA: They look different to the others.

DOCTOR: That's because they're natural-born Ood, unprocessed, before they're adapted to sl*very. Unspoilt.

They go to the cage.

DOCTOR: That's their song.

DONNA: I can't hear it.

DOCTOR: D'you want to?

DONNA: Yeah.

DOCTOR (warning): It's the song of captivity.

DONNA: Let me hear it.

DOCTOR: Face me. (He puts his hands to her head, like when he is mind reading). Open your mind, that's it. Hear it, Donna. Hear the music.

She hears a beautiful song of lament which makes her cry.

DONNA (choking): Take it away!

DOCTOR: Sure?

DONNA: I can't hear it.

He puts his hands on her head again, stopping her from hearing the telepathic singing.

DONNA: I'm sorry.

DOCTOR: It's OK.

DONNA: But you can still hear it?

DOCTOR: All the time.

Mr HALPEN: Come on, what's the hold-up?

Dr RYDER: It's the experimentation lab, maximum security, he's fused the system.

Mr HALPEN: Don't just stand there, get the bolt-cutters, rip that door off! Solana, go back to the reps, I don't want any of them wandering off and seeing this. And get them away from the Ood, just in case. Hurry up!

SOLANA: Yes, sir.

The Doctor uses the sonic to open the cage of the Ood. Loud thuds come from the door.

DONNA: They're breaking in.

THE DOCTOR: Ah, let them.

He goes into the cage. The Ood are trying to get as far from him as possible.

DOCTOR: What are you holding? Show me. Friend. Doctor Donna. Friend. Let me see... Look at me... Let me see. (One of them creeps closer). That's it. That's it, go on. Go on...

The Ood opens his palms, showing the small brain he was hiding.

DONNA: Is that...?

DOCTOR: It's a brain. A hind brain. The Ood are born with a secondary brain. Like the amygdala in humans, it processes memory and emotions. You get rid of that, you wouldn't be Donna any more. You'd be like an Ood, a processed Ood.

DONNA (shocked): So the company... cuts off their brains?

DOCTOR (angry): And they stitch on the translator!

DONNA: Like a lobotomy. (She is terribly shaken). I spent all that time looking for you, Doctor, because I thought it would be so wonderful out here... I want to go home.

With a final loud thud, the door is opened.

GUARD: They're with the Ood, sir.

The Doctor closes the door of the cage, locking himself and Donna inside with the Ood.

DOCTOR: What you gonna do, then? Arrest me? Lock me up? Throw me in a cage? Well, you're too late! Hah!



The Doctor and Donna are taken back to the main building. They are handcuffed to some pipes.

Mr HALPEN: Why don't you just come out and say it? Foto activists!

DOCTOR: If that's what Friends Of The Ood are trying to prove, yes!

Mr HALPEN: The Ood were nothing without us, just animals roaming around on the ice.

DOCTOR: That's because you can't hear them.

Mr HALPEN: They welcomed it! It's not as if they put up a fight.

DONNA: You idiot! They're born with their brains in their hands. Don't you see, that makes them peaceful! They've got to be, cos a creature like that would have to trust anyone it meets.

DOCTOR: Oh, nice one.

DONNA: Thank you!

Mr HALPEN: The system's worked for 200 years. All we've got is a rogue batch. But the infection is about to be sterilised. (On the intercom) Mr Kess? How do we stand?

Mr KESS: Canisters primed, sir. As soon as the core heats up, the gas is released. Give it 200 marks (he starts the countdown) and counting.

DOCTOR: You're gonna gas them?!

Mr HALPEN: k*ll the livestock. The classic foot-and-mouth solution from the olden days. Still works.

The natural Ood in the cage lift their palms up, staring to sing. So do the red-eyed ones.

SOLANA (talking to the reps): I'm sorry, if I could ask you one more time, could all the reps please come through to the Education Suites.

REP 1 (obviously drunk): Why move now? It's a free bar!

SOLANA: Could I ask all the Ood to withdraw, it's feeding time.

The Oods in there can also hear the singing. They bow their heads like they are in pain.

REP 1: Aw! You've upset them. Leave them alone!

SOLANA: I have to insist. If all the Ood could please leave...

The Ood look up, they eyes have turned red.

SOLANA (scared): Ladies and gentlemen, change of plan. If you could leave by the fire exits...

REP 1: I could sell this! You could offer different colours.

An Ood elecrocutes him with the translator ball. They start to k*ll off the other reps. Solana runs out to the yard, only to find more red-eyed Ood and the guards trying to fight them.

GUARD: They've gone insane, Miss, they've gone mad, all of them!

SOLANA: Just sh**t them! sh**t to k*ll!

She tries to escape but gets k*lled by an Ood coming from a different direction. An alarm wails.

Mr HALPEN: What the hell?

He leaves with Dr Ryder to see what's happening outside. Mr Kess is still in the cargo hall, chacking the devide that should gas the Ood.

Mr KESS: What's going on out there?

The door opens and red-eyed Ood enter the hangar.

COMPUTER VOICE (from loudspeakers): Emergency status. Emergency status. All exits sealed.

Mr RYDER: It's a revolution.

The yard is filled with guards and Ood fighting. Mr Halpen and Dr Ryder watch it, shocked, then head back inside. Sigma looks at his people, but then turns back to follow his master.

Mr KESS: Come back! Let me out of here!

The Ood have locked him in without gas mask, he chokes to death when the gas cannon goes off. Mr Halpen and Dr Ryder return to the room where the Doctor and Donna are chained.

Mr HALPEN: Change of plan.

Dr RYDER: There are no reports of trouble off-world, sir, it's still contained to the Ood-Sphere.

Mr HALPEN: Then we've got a public duty to stop it before it spreads.

DOCTOR: What's happening?

Mr HALPEN: Everything you wanted, Doctor. No doubt there'll be a full police investigation once this place has been sterilised, so I can't risk a b*llet to the head. I'll leave you to the mercies of the Ood.

DOCTOR: But Mr Halpen, there's something else, isn't there? Something we haven't seen!

DONNA: What d'you mean?

DOCTOR: A creature couldn't survive with a separate forebrain and hind brain, they'd be at w*r with themselves. There's got to be something else, a third element, am I right?

Mr HALPEN: And again, so clever!

THE DOCTOR: But it's got to be connected to the red-eye, what is it?

Mr HALPEN: "It" won't exist for very much longer. Enjoy your Ood.

He leaves followed by Dr Ryder, Sigma and the two guards. The Doctor and Donna try to get their hands free.

DOCTOR: Come on!

Mr HALPEN: Dr Ryder. Warehouse 15.

Dr RYDER (about Sigma): Well, what about this one?

Mr HALPEN: No. You've not turned. Faithful to the last. Go, join your people, while you still can.

They bow their heads and then Sigma leaves.

Mr HALPEN (to Dr Ryder): Come on!

DONNA: Well, do something! You're the one with all the tricks! You must've met Houdini!

DOCTOR: These are really good handcuffs!

DONNA: Oh, well I'm glad of that. I mean, at least we've got quality!

The door opens and three red-eyed Ood come in. The Doctor and Donna try to say something that would connect to them.

DOCTOR: Doctor, Donna, friends.

DONNA: The circle must be broken.

DOCTOR: Doctor, Donna, friends!

DONNA: The circle must be broken!

DOCTOR: Doctor, Donna, friends!

DONNA: The circle must be broken!

DOCTOR: Friends, friends, friends!

The red-eyed Oods are still advancing. But through the telepatic link, what they hear echoes to the natural Ood in the cage. They stand up and lift their palms, they seem to send a message to the three menacing the Doctor and Donna, those three bow their heads, and when they look up the red-eye is gone.

OOD: Doctor. Donna. Friends.

DOCTOR / DONNA: Yes! That's us! Friends! Oh, yes!

A rabid Ood jumps on one of the guards. Dr Ryder wants to help but Mr Halpen pulls him back.

Mr HALPEN: No! Leave him.

The Doctor and Donna look around on the yard that is now a real b*ttlefield, g*ns rattle, people shout, fires everywhere.

DOCTOR: I don't know where it is! I don't know where they've gone!

DONNA: What are we looking for?

DOCTOR: Might be underground, like some sort of cave, or a cavern, or...

Dr Ryder and Mr Halpen reach the door of Warehouse 15 and go inside.

COMPUTER VOICE: Warehouse 15. Door open.

The Doctor and Donna are thrown to the ground by an expl*si*n.

DOCTOR (to Donna): All right?

She nods. As they look up, they see Sigma watching them.

Mr HALPEN: It's always been an option, my grandfather drew up this plan. That's the advantage of a family-run business, Dr Ryder. The personal touch.

Dr RYDER: But we should evacuate. If we can get to the rocket sheds...

Mr HALPEN: No need! We've got this. (He opens a huge safe). Detonation packs.

He gives some of them to Dr Ryder.

Mr HALPEN: Place them around the circumference. We're gonna blow it up. This thing dies, so do the Ood.

They attach the detonators to the balustrade. Sigma leads the Doctor and Donna to Warehouse 15. The Doctor opens the door with the sonic. They get inside and stop by the balustrade, watching the thing below: a giant brain.

DOCTOR: The Ood Brain. Now it all makes sense, that's the missing link, the third element, binding them together. Forebrain, hind brain, and this, the telepathic centre. It's a shared mind, connecting all the Ood in song.

Mr Halpen appears, pointing a g*n at them.

Mr HALPEN: Cargo. I can always go into cargo. I've got the rockets, I've got the sheds. Smaller business, much more manageable, without livestock.

Dr RYDER: He's mined the area.

DONNA: They're gonna k*ll it?

Mr HALPEN: They found that... thing centuries ago beneath the Northern Glacier.

DOCTOR: Those pylons.

DONNA: In a circle. "The circle must be broken."

DOCTOR: Damping the telepathic field. Stopping the Ood from connecting for 200 years.

Mr HALPEN: And you, Ood Sigma, you brought them here. I expected better.

SIGMA: My place is at your side, sir.

Mr HALPEN: Ha-ha! Still subservient. Good Ood.

DONNA: If that barrier thing's in place, how come the Ood started breaking out?

DOCTOR: Maybe it's taken centuries to adapt. The subconscious reaching out.

Dr RYDER: But the process was too slow. Had to be accelerated. You should never give me access to those controls, Mr Halpen. I lowered the barrier to its minimum. Friends Of The Ood, sir. It's taken me ten years to infiltrate the company. And I succeeded.

Mr HALPEN: Yes. Yes, you did.

He smiles and pushes Dr Ryder over the balustrade.

DONNA: You... m*rder*d him!

Mr HALPEN: Very observant, Ginger. Now, then... can't say I've ever sh*t anyone before. Can't say I'm gonna like it. But it's not exactly a normal day, is it? Still...

SIGMA: Would you like a drink, sir?

Mr HALPEN: I think hair loss is the least of my problems right now, thanks.

Sigma steps between the Doctor and Mr Halpen.

SIGMA: Please have a drink, sir.

Mr HALPEN: If... If you're going to stand in their way, I'll sh**t you too.

SIGMA: Please have a drink, sir.

Mr HALPEN: Have... Have you... poisoned me?

SIGMA: Natural Ood must never k*ll, sir.

DOCTOR: What is that stuff?

SIGMA: Ood-graft suspended in a biological compound, sir.

Mr HALPEN (scared): What the hell does that mean?!

DOCTOR: Oh, dear...

Mr HALPEN: Tell me!

DOCTOR: Funny thing, the subconscious. Takes all sorts of shapes. Came out in the red-eye as revenge. Came out in the rabid Ood as anger. And then, there was patience. All that intelligence and mercy, focused on Ood Sigma. How's the hair loss, Mr Halpen?

As he touches his head, another bunch of hair stays in his hand.

Mr HALPEN (staring to shake): What have you done?

DOCTOR: Oh, they've been preparing you for a very long time. And now you're standing next to the Ood Brain. Mr Halpen, can you hear it? Listen...

Mr HALPEN (choking): What have you...? I'm... not...!

He drops the g*n and bows forward, then grabs the skin on his head. He peels it off, revealing an Ood scull below. Tenticles come out of his mouth and he is turned completely into and Ood.

DONNA (horrified): They... They turned him into an Ood?!

DOCTOR: Yep.

DONNA: He's an Ood.

DOCTOR: I noticed.

Halpen / Ood seems to sneeze, and a small hind brain falls into his hands.

SIGMA: He has become Oodkind. And we will take care of him.

DONNA (shocked): It's weird, being with you, I can't tell what's right and what's wrong any more.

DOCTOR: It's better that way. People who know for certain tend to be like Mr Halpen.

The detonators start beeping.

DOCTOR: Ooh! (He twists something to switch them off). That's better. And now... Sigma, would you allow me the honour?

SIGMA: It is yours, Doctor.

He goes to the controls to turn off the electric field around the brain.

DOCTOR: Oh, yes! Stifled for 200 years, but not any more. The circle is broken. The Ood can sing!

A beautiful, joyous song begins. The Doctor laughs, Donna looks delighted.

DONNA: I can hear it!

The Oods everywhere stop fighting, they stand in circles, lift their palms and join to the song. The Doctor and Donna are standing near the TARDIS, accompanied by several Oods including Sigma.

DOCTOR: The message has gone out. That song resonated across the galaxies, everyone heard it. Everyone knows. The rockets are bringing them back. The Ood are coming home.

SIGMA: We thank you, Doctor Donna. Friends of Oodkind. And what of you now, will you stay? There is room in the song for you.

DOCTOR: Oh, I've... I've sort of got a song of my own, thanks.

SIGMA: I think your song must end soon.

DOCTOR: Meaning?

SIGMA: Every song must end.

DOCTOR: Yeah. (to Donna) Erm, what about you? You still want to go home?

DONNA: No. Definitely not.

DOCTOR: Then, we'll be off.

SIGMA: Take this song with you.

The Ood lift their palms and start singing.

DONNA: We will.

DOCTOR: Always.

SIGMA: And know this, Doctor Donna. You will never be forgotten. Our children will sing of the Doctor Donna, and our children's children. And the wind and the ice and the snow will carry your names forever.

The Oods stand there, singing, as they watch the TARDIS dematerialising.

END