05x07 - Amy's Choice

[bunniefuu]

EXT. ENGLISH VILLAGE, DAY

We hear birds and see the outlying fields of the village and then a two-story stone cottage.

INT. COTTAGE, KITCHEN, DAY

AMY is mixing something in a bowl and as the camera moves up from the counter, we see she is very pregnant.

Suddenly, she gasps and sets the bowl down on the table.

AMY: (screams) RORY-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y!

EXT. COTTAGE FRONT, DAY

RORY rides into the yard on a bicycle with a basket on the front. He is now sporting his hair long and in a ponytail.

AMY: (V.O.) Rory, it's starting!

RORY drops the bike to the ground and runs inside.

INT. COTTAGE, KITCHEN, DAY

RORY: (rushes to her side) Ah. OK, OK...

AMY is sitting down, eating the batter from the bowl.

AMY: False alarm.

RORY: What?

AMY: False alarm.

RORY: What?

AMY: Well, I don't know what it feels like. I've never had a baby before. (feeds him some of the batter)

There is a whooshing sound in the background.

RORY: Mmm!

AMY: No. (stands)

RORY: I know - leaf blowers. Use a rake!

AMY: (puts the bowl on the table) No, it's…

They both look to the window and see the TARDIS materialize outside

AMY: I knew. I just knew.

They both head outside.

EXT. COTTAGE FRONT, DAY

The TARDIS has landed in the middle of AMY'S flowers. The door opens and the DOCTOR pops his head out to see where he is. He then steps out, knocking a stone from the small retaining wall.

DOCTOR: Rory.

RORY comes out to greet him.

RORY: Doctor.

DOCTOR: I've crushed your flowers.

RORY: Oh, Amy will k*ll you.

DOCTOR: Where is she?

RORY: She'll need a bit longer.

DOCTOR: Whenever you're ready, Amy. (AMY arrives) Oh, wahey! Wahey. You've swallowed a planet. (rests a hand on her stomach)

AMY: I'm pregnant.

DOCTOR: You're huge.

AMY: Yeah, I'm pregnant.

DOCTOR: Look at you. When worlds collide.

AMY: Doctor, I'm pregnant.

DOCTOR: Oh, look at you both. Five years later and you haven't changed a bit. (hugs AMY) Apart from age and size.

AMY: Good to see you, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Are you pregnant?

AMY shakes her head and goes back inside. The DOCTOR, claps RORY on the shoulder before they both follow.

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

The Doctor, AMY and RORY walk down a village lane.

DOCTOR: Ah, Leadworth. Vibrant as ever.

RORY: It's Upper Leadworth, actually. We've gone slightly upmarket.

DOCTOR: Where is everyone?

AMY: This is busy. OK, it's quiet, but it's really restful and healthy. Loads of people here live well into their 90s.

POV switches to a woman watching from a window.

DOCTOR: Well, don't let that get you down.

AMY: It's not getting me down.

POV switches back as the three of them sit on a bench in a cul-du-sac.

DOCTOR: I wanted to see how you were. I don't just abandon people when they leave the TARDIS. This Time Lord's for life. You don't get rid of the Doctor so easily.

AMY: You came here by mistake, didn't you?

DOCTOR: Yeah, bit of a mistake. But look, what a result. Look at this...bench. What a nice bench. What will they think of next?

The three of them sit there, bored and with nothing to say.

DOCTOR: So. What do you do around here to stave off the, you know...

AMY: Boredom?

DOCTOR: Self harm.

RORY: We relax...(the DOCTOR mouths "relax") We live, we listen to the birds.

A little bit of snow begins to fall.

AMY: Yeah, see, birds. Those are nice.

RORY: We didn't get time to listen to birdsong back in the TARDIS days.

The birdsong becomes louder.

DOCTOR: Oh, blimey. My head's a bit, ooh...(holds his head in his hand then sits back up) No, you're right, there wasn't a lot of time for birdsong back in the good...(begins to drift off) old... days.

The three fall asleep on the bench.

INT. TARDIS

The DOCTOR wakes up on the floor.

DOCTOR: What? No, yes, sorry, what? (AMY and RORY meet him by the console) Oh, you're OK. Oh, thank God. I had a terrible nightmare about you two. That was scary. Don't ask, you don't want to know. You're safe now. (hugs AMY)

AMY: Oh, OK.

DOCTOR: That's what counts. Blimey, never dropped off like that before. Well, never, really. I'm getting on a bit, you see. Don't let the cool gear fool you. Now, what's wrong with the console? (examines console) Red flashing lights... I bet they mean something.

RORY: Doctor, I also had a kind of dream thing.

AMY: Yeah, so did I.

RORY: Not a nightmare, though, just... we were married.

AMY: Yeah, in a little village.

The DOCTOR stands and looks at them, surprised.

RORY: A sweet little village, and you were pregnant.

AMY: Yeah, I was huge. I was a boat.

The DOCTOR walks up behind RORY and tugs on his hoodie.

RORY: So you had the same dream, then? Exactly the same dream?

AMY: Are you calling me a boat?

RORY: And Doctor, you were visiting.

The DOCTOR holds open AMY'S jacket.

AMY: Yeah, yeah, you came to our cottage.

RORY: How can we have the same dream? It doesn't make sense.

AMY: And you had a nightmare about us. What happened to us in the nightmare?

DOCTOR: It was similar, in some aspects.

RORY: Which aspects?

DOCTOR: Well, all of them.

AMY: You had the same dream.

DOCTOR: Basically.

RORY: You said it was a nightmare.

DOCTOR: Did I say nightmare? No. More of a really good...mare. Look, it doesn't matter. We all had some kind of psychic episode. We probably jumped a time track. (birdsong) Forget it, we're back to reality now.

AMY: Doctor, if we're back to reality how come I can still hear birds?

RORY: Yeah, the same birds. The same ones we heard in the…

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

They wake up on the bench, RORY and the DOCTOR, heads together.

RORY: …dream. (pulls away from the DOCTOR in embarrassment) Oh. Sorry. Nodded off, stupid. God, I must be overdoing it. I was dreaming we were back on the TARDIS. (the DOCTOR gets up and RORY looks at AMY) You had the same dream, didn't you?

AMY: (nods) Back in the TARDIS. Weren't we just saying the same thing?

RORY: But we thought this was the dream.

The DOCTOR picks up a small stone from the path, examines it, and then throws it back to the ground.

AMY: (stands) I think so. Why do dreams fade so quickly?

RORY: (walks over to the DOCTOR) Doctor, what is going on?

AMY: Is this because of you? Is this some Time Lord thing because you've shown up again?

DOCTOR: Listen to me. Trust nothing. From now on, trust nothing you see, hear or feel.

RORY: But we're awake now.

DOCTOR: You thought you were awake on the TARDIS too.

AMY: (looking around) But we're home.

DOCTOR: Yeah. You're home. You're also dreaming. Trouble is, Rory, Amy, which is which? Are we flashing forwards… or backwards? Hold on tight. This is going be a tricky one.

---

Matt Smith
Karen Gillan

DOCTOR WHO
"Amy's Choice"
by Simon Nye

Producer
Tracie Simpson

Director
Catherine Moreshead

---

INT. TARDIS

AMY wakes in one of the chairs with a gasp. The DOCTOR grips a lever on the console to mover it.

DOCTOR: This is bad. I don't like this. (kicks console and hurts foot) Argh! Never use force. You just embarrass yourself. Unless you're cross, in which case - always use force.

AMY: Shall I run and get the manual?

DOCTOR: (goes down stairs to look under the console) I threw it in a supernova.

AMY: You threw the manual in a supernova? Why?

DOCTOR: Because I disagreed with it. Stop talking to me when I'm cross. (wags finger at her)

RORY: OK, but whatever's wrong with the TARDIS, is that what caused us to dream about the future?

DOCTOR: If we were dreaming of the future...(heads back upstairs)

AMY: Of course we were. We were in Leadworth.

RORY: Upper Leadworth.

DOCTOR: Yeah, and we could still be in Upper Leadworth, dreaming of this. Don't you get it?

AMY: No, OK, no, this is real. I'm definitely awake now.

DOCTOR: And you thought you were awake when you were all elephanty.

AMY: Hey, pregnant.

DOCTOR: And you could be giving birth right now. This could be the dream. I told you, trust nothing we see or hear or feel. Look around you. Examine everything. Look for all the details that don't ring true. (goes to console)

RORY: OK, we're in a spaceship that's bigger on the inside than the outside.

AMY: With a bow tie-wearing alien.

RORY: So maybe "what rings true" isn't so simple.

DOCTOR: Valid point.

The TARDIS powers down leaving them in virtual darkness, the only light coming from the console.

DOCTOR: It's dead. We're in a dead time machine.

The birdsong returns. As the TARDIS becomes darker, RORY goes to AMY and takes her in his arms.

DOCTOR: Remember - this is real, but when we wake up in the other place, remember how real this feels.

AMY: It is real. I know it's real.

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

The DOCTOR is standing in the middle of the street as a group of schoolchildren pass by. AMY and RORY wake up on the bench outside the library.

AMY: OK. This is the real one, definitely this one. (Rubs stomach) It's all solid.

DOCTOR: It felt solid in the TARDIS too. You can't spot a dream while you're having it. (waves fingers in front of his face)

RORY: What are you doing?

DOCTOR: Looking for motion blur, pixilation. It could be a computer simulation. I don't think so, though.

WOMAN: (walks by) Hello, Doctor.

DOCTOR: Hi.

RORY: Hello.

The WOMAN pauses to look back before continuing on.

DOCTOR: You're a doctor.

RORY: Yeah. And unlike you, I've actually passed some exams.

DOCTOR: A doctor, not a nurse. Just like you've always dreamed. How interesting. (walks away)

RORY: (follows) What is?

DOCTOR: Your dream wife, your dream job, probably your dream baby. Maybe this is your dream.

RORY: It's Amy's dream too. Isn't it, Amy?

AMY: Yes. Course it is, yeah.

DOCTOR: (points with thumb over his shoulder) What's that?

AMY: Old people's home.

The DOCTOR looks at the home and sees the residents at the windows looking out.

DOCTOR: You said everyone here lives to their 90s. There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.

The DOCTOR heads off and RORY follows with a groan.

AMY: (hands on back) Oh. Can we not do the running thing?

INT. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, LOUNGE, DAY

The residents are relaxing in the room. MRS POGGIT is knitting.

RESIDENT: Oh, hello, Dr Williams.

MRS POGGIT: (looks up from knitting) Hello, Rory, love.

RORY: Hello, Mrs Poggit. How's your hip?

MRS POGGIT: A bit stiff.

DOCTOR: Oh, easy, D-96 compound, plus... No, you don't have that yet, forget that.

MRS POGGIT: Who's your friend? A junior doctor?

RORY: Yes.

MRS POGGIT: Can I borrow you? You're the size of my grandson.

DOCTOR: (kneels as MRS POGGIT puts a jumper over his head) Slightly keen to move on. Freak psychic schism to sort out. (leans forward, forcing MRS POGGIT to sit back) You're incredibly old, aren't you?

The residents look on as birdsong begins and the DOCTOR, AMY and RORY fall to the floor, asleep.

INT. TARDIS

The three of them wake leaning against the console.

AMY: OK, I hate this, Doctor. stop it, because this is definitely real, it's definitely this one. I keep saying that, don't I?

The DOCTOR goes to the upper level.

RORY: It's bloody cold.

DOCTOR: The heating's off.

RORY: The heating's off?

DOCTOR: Yeah. Put on a jumper. That's what I always do.

RORY: Yes, sorry about Mrs Poggit. She's so lovely though.

DOCTOR: Oh, I wouldn't believe her nice old lady act if I were you.

AMY: What do you mean, "act"?

DOCTOR: Everything's off, sensors, core power. We're drifting. The scanner's down so we can't even see out. We could be anywhere.(heads back to the console) Someone, something, is overriding my controls.

A hologram of a man appears at the top of the steps. He is short, has a receding hairline and is a little on

the heavy side. He is dressed similarly to the DOCTOR in a tweed jacket, striped shirt and bow tie.

HOLOGRAM: Well, that took a while. (walks down steps) Honestly, I'd heard such good things. Last of the Time Lords, the Oncoming Storm. Him in the bow tie.

DOCTOR: How did you get into my TARDIS? What are you?

HOLOGRAM: What shall we call me? Well, if you're the Time Lord, let's call me the Dream Lord.

DOCTOR: Nice look.

DREAM LORD: This? No, I'm not convinced. Bow ties?

The DOCTOR takes an item from his pocket and throws it at the DREAM LORD. The item passes through him.

DOCTOR: Interesting.

DREAM LORD: I'd love to be impressed, but Dream Lord - it's in the name, isn't it? Spooky, not quite there. (reappears behind them) And yet, very much here.

DOCTOR: I'll do the talking, thank you. Amy, want to take a guess at what that is?

AMY: Um. Dream Lord. He creates dreams.

DOCTOR: Dreams, delusions, cheap tricks.

DREAM LORD: And what about the gooseberry here, does he get a guess?

RORY: Listen, mate, if anyone's the gooseberry around here, it's the Doctor.

DREAM LORD: There's a delusion I'm not responsible for.

RORY: No, he is. Isn't he, Amy?

DREAM LORD: Oh, Amy, have to sort your men out. Choose, even.

AMY: I have chosen. Of course I've chosen. (without taking her eyes from DREAM LORD, smacks RORY on the chest) It's you, stupid.

RORY: Oh, good, thanks.

DREAM LORD: You can't fool me. I've seen your dreams. Some of them twice, Amy. Blimey, I'd blush if I had a blood supply or a real face.

DOCTOR: Where did you pick up this cheap cabaret act?

DREAM LORD: Me? Oh, you're on shaky ground.

DOCTOR: Am I?

DREAM LORD: If you had any more tawdry quirks you could open up a Tawdry Quirk Shop. The madcap vehicle, the cockamamie hair, the clothes designed by a first-year fashion student... I'm surprised you haven't got a little purple space dog just to ram home what an intergalactic wag you are. Where was I?

RORY: You were...

DREAM LORD: (moves to the upper level) I know where I was. So, here's your challenge. Two worlds. Here in the time machine, and there in the village that time forgot. One is real, the other's fake. And just to make it more interesting you're going to face in both worlds a deadly danger. But only one of the dangers is real. Tweet, tweet. Time to sleep. (the DOCTOR, AMY and RORY fall to the floor asleep) Oh, or are you waking up?

INT. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, LOUNGE, DAY

They wake up in the empty lounge.

DREAM LORD: (enters dressed in a suit holding X-ray film) Oh, this is bad. This is very, very bad. Look at this X-ray. Your brain is completely see-through. But then, I've always been able to see through you, Doctor.

AMY: Always? What do you mean, always?

DREAM LORD: Now then, the prognosis is this. (the DOCTOR sits in MRS POGGIT'S vacated chair) If you die in the dream you wake up in reality. Healthy recovery in next to no time. Ask me what happens if you die in reality?

RORY: What happens?

DREAM LORD: You die, stupid. That's why it's called reality.

AMY: Have you met the Doctor before? Do you know him? Doctor, does he?

DREAM LORD: Now don't get jealous. He's been around, our boy. Never mind that. You've got a world to choose. One reality was always too much for you, Doctor. Take two and call me in the morning. (disappears)

RORY: OK, I don't like him.

AMY: (crosses arms) Who is he?

DOCTOR: I don't know. It's a big universe.

AMY: Why is he doing this?

DOCTOR: Maybe because he has no physical form. That gets you down after a while, so he's taking it out on folk like us who can touch and eat and feel. (stands and removes jumper)

RORY: What does he mean, deadly danger? Nothing deadly has happened here. A bit of natural wastage, obviously.

DOCTOR: They've all gone. They've all gone.

The DOCTOR runs out and the others follow.

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

Children are out in the playground next to the local ruins. A teacher is with them. The DOCTOR exits the old people's home and watches as some of the children head into the ruins.

RORY: Why would they leave?

AMY: And what did you mean about Mrs Poggit's act?

DOCTOR: One of my tawdry quirks – sniffing out things that aren't what they seem. So come on, let's think. The mechanics of this split we're stuck in... Time asleep matches time in our dream world, unlike in conventional dreams.

RORY: And we're dreaming the same dream at the same time.

DOCTOR: Yes, sort of communal trance, very rare, very complicated. I'm sure there's a dream giveaway. But my mind isn't working because this village is so dull! I'm slowing down, like you two have.

AMY: (grabs stomach) Oh. Ow. Really. Ow! (screams) It's coming.

DOCTOR: (to RORY) Help her, you're a doctor.

RORY: You're a doctor!

DOCTOR: It's OK, we're doctors. (squats down as if to catch the baby as it falls out) What do we do?

AMY: (stops panicking) OK, it's not coming.

DOCTOR: (stands) What?

AMY: This is my life now and it just turned you white as a sheet. So don't you call it dull again, ever. OK?

DOCTOR: Sorry.

AMY: Yeah. (walks off and RORY follows)

The DOCTOR sees MRS POGGIT heading for the ruins. AMY heads for the swing set and sits. The DOCTOR takes the other before RORY gets a chance.

DOCTOR: Now, we all know there's an elephant in the room.

AMY: I have to be this size, I'm having a baby.

DOCTOR: No, no. The hormones seem real, but no. Is nobody going to mention Rory's ponytail? (slowly smiles) You hold him down, I'll cut it off. (AMY chuckles)

RORY: This from the man in the bow tie.

DOCTOR: Bow ties are cool. (stands and watches MRS POGGIT watching the children) I don't know about you, but I wouldn't hire Mrs Poggit as a babysitter. (MRS POGGIT turns and watches the DOCTOR) What's she doing? What does she want?

Birdsong begins again.

AMY: Oh, no, here we go.

INT. TARDIS

The DOCTOR is at the console as AMY and RORY join him.

AMY: (rubs arms) It's really cold. Have you got any warm clothing?

DOCTOR: What does it matter if we're cold? We have to know what she is up to. Sorry. Sorry. (rubs face) There should be some stuff down there, have a look.

AMY goes to look and, with a defiant zip of his hoodie, RORY follows. The DOCTOR goes into the space under the console, setting an enamel mug on a box with a crank. The crank comes off so the DOCTOR hits it. The box opens showing a number of gadgets inside. In a different section, AMY is looking through boxes for warm clothes.

RORY: I want the other life. You know, where we're happy and settled and about to have a baby.

AMY: But don't you wonder, if that life is real, then why would we give up all this? Why would anyone?

RORY: Because we're going to freeze to death?

AMY: The Doctor'll fix it. (throws RORY a blanket)

RORY: OK. Because we're going to get married? (wraps AMY in the blanket)

AMY: (giggles) But we can still get married. Some day.

AMY: You don't want to any more? I thought you'd chosen me, not him.

AMY: You are always so insecure.

RORY: You ran off with another man.

AMY: Not in that way.

RORY: It was the night before our wedding.

AMY: We're in a time machine. It's the night before our wedding for as long as we want.

RORY: We have to grow up eventually.

AMY: Says who? (finds some other blankets)

AMY heads back to the console. The DOCTOR has created something out of kitchen gadgets and hands it to RORY.

DOCTOR: Ah, Rory, wind. (hands AMY the attached wire) Amy, could you attach this to the monitor, please.

RORY: I was promised amazing worlds. Instead I get duff central heating and a weird, kitchen wind-up device.

DOCTOR: It's a generator. Get winding.

AMY: It's not enough.

DOCTOR: Rory, wind.

RORY: (winding) You Why is the Dream Lord picking on you? Why us?

The monitor screen beeps to life and shows a starscape.

AMY: Where are we?

DOCTOR: We're in trouble.

RORY: What is that?

DOCTOR: A star. A cold star. (runs to the doors and opens it, letting in a blinding light) That's why we're freezing. It's not a malfunction. We're drifting towards a cold sun. That's our danger for this version of reality. (closes door and looks at the larger monitor on the wall)

AMY: This must be the dream. There is no such thing as a cold star. Stars burn.

DOCTOR: So's this one. It's just burning cold.

RORY: Is that possible?

DOCTOR: I can't know everything. Why does everybody expect me to, always? (heads to console area and sits dejectedly)

RORY: OK, this is something you haven't seen before. So does that mean this is the dream?

DOCTOR: I don't know, but there it is, and I'd say we've got about 14 minutes until we crash into it. But that's not a problem.

RORY: Because you know how to get us out of this?

DOCTOR: (puts on stethoscope) Because we'll have frozen to death.

AMY: Then what'll we do?

DOCTOR: (takes stethoscope to console) Stay calm. Don't get sucked in to it, because this just might be the battle we have to lose.

RORY: Oh, this is so you, isn't it?

DOCTOR: What?

RORY: What a weird new star, 14 minutes left to live and only one man to save the day. I just wanted a nice village and a family.

The DREAM LORD appears behind the DOCTOR.

DREAM LORD: Oh, dear, Doctor. Dissent in the ranks. There was an old doctor from Gallifrey, Who ended up throwing his life away, He let down his friends and... (stops at the sound of birdsong) Oh, no, we've run out of time. Don't spend too long there, or you'll catch your death here.

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

The DOCTOR rushes up the steps into the ruins.

DOCTOR: Where have the children gone?

The area is empty aside from small piles of dirt and cloth. The DOCTOR checks them with the sonic.

RORY: Don't know. Play time's probably over. (turns to AMY) You see, this is the real one. I just feel it. Don't you feel it?

AMY: I feel it both places.

RORY: I feel it here. It's just so tranquil and relaxed. Nothing bad could ever happen here.

AMY: Not really me, though, is it? Would I be happy settling down in a place with a pub, two shops and a really bad amateur dramatics society? That's why I got pregnant, so I don't have to see them doing Oklahoma. Doctor, what are you doing? And what are those piles of dust?

DOCTOR: (the DOCTOR lets some dust fall through his fingers) Play time's definitely over.

AMY: Oh, my God.

RORY: What happened to them?

The DOCTOR looks into the village and sees the elderly walking along the path.

DOCTOR: I think they did.

AMY: They're just old people.

DOCTOR: No. They're very old people. (heads down the steps) Sorry, Rory, I don't think you're what's been keeping them alive.

The elderly line up along the path facing the park. The DOCTOR, AMY and RORY are heading towards them when the DREAM LORD appears.

DREAM LORD: Hello, peasants. What's this, att*ck of the old people? Oh, that's ridiculous. This has got to be the dream, hasn't it? What do you think, Amy? Let's all jump under a bus and wake up in the TARDIS. (to DOCTOR) You first!

DOCTOR: Leave her alone!

DREAM LORD: Do that again. I love it when he does that. Tall dark hero, "leave her alone".

RORY: Just leave her!

DREAM LORD: Yes, you're not quite so impressive. But I know where your heart lies, don't I, Amy Pond?

AMY: Shut up! Just shut up and leave me alone.

DREAM LORD: But listen, you're in there. Loves a redhead, the Doctor! Has he told you about Elizabeth the First? Well, she thought she was the first...

DOCTOR: Drop it. Drop all of it. I know who you are.

DREAM LORD: Course you don't.

DOCTOR: Course I do. No idea how you can be here, but there's only one person in the universe who hates me as much as you do.

DREAM LORD: Never mind me! Maybe you SHOULD worry about them.

The elderly of the village begin advancing. The DOCTOR, AMY and RORY look to the DREAM LORD then back to the elderly residents.

RORY: Hi.

DOCTOR: Hello. We were wondering where you went. To get reinforcements! Are you all right? You look a bit tense.

RORY: (to old man) Hello, Mr Nainby!

DOCTOR: Rory...

RORY: Mr Nainby ran the sweet shop. He used to slip me the odd free toffee. (MR NAINBY lifts him by the collar) Did I not say thank you? (throws RORY backwards into the mud) How did he do that?! (stands)

DOCTOR: I suspect he's not himself. Don't get comfortable here. You may have to run. Fast.

AMY: Can't we just talk to them?!

The elderly open their mouths to reveal an eye.

AMY: There is an eye in her mouth!

DOCTOR: (uses sonic screwdriver) There's a whole creature inside her. Inside all of them. They've been there for years, living and waiting.

RORY: That is disgusting. They're not going to be peeping out of anywhere else are they?

MRS POGGIT leans forward and sh**t a green mist. RORY pulls AMY back to safety. The DOCTOR puts himself in front of them.

DOCTOR: RUN! (RORY and AMY leave) OK, Leave them. Talk to me. Talk to me. You are Eknodines, a proud, ancient race - you're better than this. Why are you hiding away here? Why aren't you at home?

"MRS POGGIT": We were driven from our pl...

DOCTOR: …Planet by upstart neighbours.

"MR NAINBY": So we've...

DOCTOR: …Been living here inside the bodies of old humans for...years. No wonder they live so long, you're keeping them alive.

"MRS POGGIT": We were humbled and destroyed. Now we will do the same to others.

DOCTOR: OK, makes sense, I suppose. Credible enough, could be real.

A man comes up alongside the DOCTOR, pushing his bicycle.

MAN: Morning.

"MRS POGGIT" sh**t the green mist at the man and he turns to dust.

DOCTOR: (turns on "MRS POGGIT") You need to leave this planet.

The creature within MRS POGGIT screeches.

EXT. COTTAGE FRONT, DAY

RORY and AMY are racing back to their cottage.

AMY: Wait! Stop! (rests against post)

RORY: (looks at the elderly following them) After all I've done for the over-70s in this village. (a woman is waiting for them at the front door) OK, this is crazy. She loves me, I fixed her depression, she's just a little old lady.

AMY: Mrs Hammill, we don't understand...

MRS HAMMILL opens her mouth to reveal an alien. AMY backs away.

RORY: I'll deal with this one, Chubs...Now...

"MRS HAMMILL" emits the gas and RORY dashes back behind the hedges. As "MRS HAMMILL" walks forward, RORY picks up stout piece of wood. He hesitates, backing up.

RORY: I can't hit her.

AMY: Whack her!

RORY does so and MRS HAMMILL falls to the ground. They make it inside as more advance across the field.

INT. COTTAGE, FRONT HALL, DAY

AMY collapses onto the stairs as RORY locks and bolts the door.

AMY: We just ran away. We just abandoned the Doctor. Don't ever call me Chubs again. We don't see him for years, and somehow we don't really connect any more and then, then he takes the b*llet for us.

RORY: (moves coffee table) You know the Doctor. He's Mr Cool.

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

The DOCTOR is practically stumbling down the road, a group of elderly residents following. He is fighting off falling asleep as we hear birdsong. He makes it into the butcher shop.

INT. BUTCHER SHOP, DAY

The DOCTOR locks the door and flips the sign to "Closed". The DREAM LORD is behind the counter dressed as a butcher complete with apron and boater.

DREAM LORD: Oh, I love a good butcher's don't you? We've got to use these places or they'll shut down. But you're probably a vegetarian, you big flop-haired wuss.

The DOCTOR takes a key from a shelf and tries to unlock another door.

DOCTOR: Oh, pipe down. I'm busy.

DREAM LORD: Maybe you need a little sleep.

The birdsong returns and the DOCTOR slips to the floor.

DREAM LORD: (leans over counter) Oh, wait a moment. (DOCTOR stands) If you fall asleep here, several dozen angry pensioners will destroy you with their horrible eye things. (The DOCTOR goes into the hall behind the counter) Fingers in the ear? Brilliant! (The DOCTOR slides down the wall) What's next, shouting boo? (motions for the elderly to enter) Come in. Come in. (The pensioners enter and make their way around the counter) Yes, we've got lots at "steak" here this week. Lots at steak. Get it? (The DOCTOR gets up with a burst of energy and grips at the door) Are these jokes wasted on you?

The DOCTOR makes his way to the second freezer door but slides to the floor as the pensioners come closer.

DOCTOR: Wait, stop... (reaches into pocket)

DREAM LORD: Oh, I can't watch. (puts hands over his eyes)

The DOCTOR stands with effort, uses the sonic screwdriver to unlock the door. He locks it behind him and falls asleep as the pensioners pound at the door.

INT. TARDIS

The DOCTOR wakes up on the TARDIS floor, AMY and RORY on either side.

AMY: (clutches blanket) Ah, it's colder.

DOCTOR: The three of us have to agree, now, which is the dream. (buttons jacket)

RORY: It's this, here.

AMY: He could be right. The science is all wrong here, burning ice?

DOCTOR: No, no, no ice can burn, sofas can read, it's a big universe. We have to agree which battle to lose. All of us, now.

AMY: OK, which world do you think is real?

DOCTOR: This one.

RORY: No, the other one!

DOCTOR: Yeah, but are we disagreeing, or competing?

AMY: Competing over what?

The DOCTOR and RORY stare and her and she groans as she gets up.

DOCTOR: (checks watch) Nine minutes till impact. (stands)

AMY: What temperature is it?

DOCTOR: Outside? Brrrr. How many noughts have you got? Inside? I don't know but I can't feel my feet and... other parts.

RORY: I think all my parts are basically fine.

DOCTOR: Stop competing!

RORY: Can't we call for help? (holds out the phone)

DOCTOR: (takes phone) Yeah, the universe is really small - bound to be someone nearby! (taps RORY on the head with it before hanging it up)

AMY: Put these on, both of you. (throws a blanket with a hole cut out at the DOCTOR and slips another over RORY's head)

RORY: Oh, a poncho. The biggest crime against fashion since lederhosen.

AMY: (puts hers on) Here we go! My boys... my poncho boys. (stands between them) If we're going to die, let's die looking like a Peruvian folk band.

The frozen star looms closer in the monitor.

RORY: We're not going to die.

DOCTOR: No, we're not, (checks watch) but our time's running out. If we fall asleep here, we're in trouble. (paces) If we could divide up, then we'd have an active presence in each world, but the Dream Lord is switching us between the worlds. Why, why, what's the logic?

DREAM LORD: (appears in a poncho and paces alongside the DOCTOR) Good idea, veggie, let's divide you three up, so I can have a little chat with our lovely companion. Maybe I'll keep her, and you can have Pointy Nose to yourself for all eternity, should you manage to clamber aboard some sort of reality.

Birdsong begins.

RORY: Can you hear that?

AMY: What? No.

DOCTOR: Amy, don't be scared, we'll be back.

The DOCTOR and RORY fall asleep on the floor.

AMY: Rory, Doctor, don't leave me.

DREAM LORD: Amy, we're going to have fun aren't we?

AMY: No, please, not alone.

INT. COTTAGE, FRONT HALL, DAY

RORY wakes up on the stairs next to a still-sleeping AMY. There is crashing glass as the pensioners break the window in an attempt to get inside. RORY lifts AMY under the shoulders and begins to drag her upstairs, apologizing at every bump. The pensioners make it through the window.

INT. COTTAGE, NURSERY, DAY

RORY drags AMY to the center of the cheery yellow room. He sets her down, apologizing once more. He then closes the door. He walks over to the waiting crib, complete with stuffed toys and a wind-up mobile. He looks out the window and sees the elderly residents working together to get in, some are even trying to get into the TARDIS. He props a chair under the doorknob then sits on it, nervously.

INT. BUTCHER SHOP, DAY

The DOCTOR wakes in the freezer and listens at the door. Outside, the pensioners are waiting, the aliens screeching from their mouths. The DOCTOR takes out the sonic screwdriver.

DOCTOR: OK, where is it? (tests the screwdriver before opening the door. He sh**t out the light and runs in the confusion)

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

The DOCTOR cuts through a yard and comes out in a different street where a pensioner is attacking a man in an old VW bus.

MAN: Oh, help, somebody!

DOCTOR: You couldn't live near the shops, could you? (races to bus, pushes pensioner away, and climbs into the driver's seat) It's OK, it's only me.

The DOCTOR drives the bus through the village. They see two young women as they are being surrounded by pensioners. The slide the back door open.

DOCTOR: Get in, get in, get in. Quickly, quickly, over here. Quickly, come on, jump in. Quick get in now, quickly. Hurry up. (the women climb into the car and the man closes the door) Are we in? (continues on and sees a young family) Come on, let's go, quickly, all four, that's it everyone in. (drives on)

SPACE

The TARDIS is drifting closer to the freezing star. Ice begins to coat the exterior.

INT. TARDIS

The inside of the TARDIS is coated in ice. AMY is sitting in a lonely vigil over the DOCTOR and RORY. The DREAM LORD appears beside her.

DREAM LORD: Poor Amy. He always leaves you, doesn't he? Alone in the dark. Never apologises.

AMY: He doesn't have to. (walks away)

DREAM LORD: That's good, because he never will. And now he's left you with me. Spooky old, not-to-be-trusted me. (relocates to a chair, lounging in a robe that bares a deal of chest) Anything could happen.

AMY: Who are you and what do you want? The Doctor knows you, but he's not telling me who you are. And he always does. Takes him awhile sometimes, but he tells me. So you're something different.

DREAM LORD: Oh, is that who you think you are? The one he trusts?

AMY: Actually, yes.

DREAM LORD: (stands) The one girl in the universe to whom the Doctor tells everything?

AMY: Yes.

DREAM LORD: So what's his name? (disappears and reappears back in tweed, squatting at the DOCTOR'S feet) Now, which one of these men would you really choose? Look at them. You ran away with a handsome hero. Would you really give him up for a bumbling country doctor who thinks the only thing he needs to be interesting is a ponytail?

AMY: Stop it!

DREAM LORD: But maybe it's better than loving and losing the Doctor. (stands) Pick a world and this nightmare will all be over. (stands between the two recumbent figures) They'll listen to you. It's you they're waiting for. Amy's men. Amy's choice. (disappears)

AMY bends over and straightens RORY'S poncho. She looks over at the DOCTOR before resuming her seat on the stairs.

EXT. UPPER LEADWORTH, DAY

The DOCTOR pulls the bus up in front of the church and moves everyone inside.

DOCTOR: Everybody, out, out out! Into the church, that's right. Don't answer the door.

The DOCTOR then drives the bus out of the village proper and towards AMY and RORY'S cottage. The DREAM LORD appears in the back seat wearing a race car driver's suit, helmet on his lap.

DREAM LORD: It's make your mind up time in both worlds.

DOCTOR: Bye. I need to find my friends.

DREAM LORD: Friends? Is that the right word for the people you acquire? Friends are people you stay in touch with. Your friends never see you again once they've grown up. The old man prefers the company of the young, does he not? (disappears)

EXT. COTTAGE FRONT, DAY

The DOCTOR arrives at the cottage and sees the elderly laying siege. He eyes the cottage, looking for a way in.

DOCTOR: OK... (gets out and ducks behind the bus)

INT. COTTAGE, NURSERY, DAY

RORY is sitting on the floor, cradling AMY'S head in his lap when she wakes.

AMY: How did I get up here?

RORY: I carried you. I'm afraid you may experience some bruising.

AMY: Where's the Doctor?

RORY: I don't know. I want to do something for you. (turns around, unzips a bag and takes out a pair of scissors. He then reaches back and cuts off his ponytail.)

AMY: (gasps) I was starting to like it.

There is a squeaking sound and they look to the window in alarm only to see the DOCTOR climbing in.

DOCTOR: It's all right, I had to stop off at the butcher's. (falls to the floor)

RORY: What are we going to do?

DOCTOR: I don't know. I thought the freezing TARDIS was real but now I'm not so sure.

AMY: (gasps) I think the baby's starting.

RORY: Honestly?

AMY: Would I make it up at a time like this?!

RORY: Well, you do have a history of... (she glares at him) being very lovely. (AMY cries out) Why are they so desperate to k*ll us?

DOCTOR: (stands) They're scared. Fear generates savagery.

A piece of garden statuary is thrown through the window. RORY goes to look and "MRS POGGIT" sh**t the green mist at him. He falls back with a groan and AMY goes to comfort him. The DOCTOR knocks "MRS POGGIT" from the roof with a lamp. The DOCTOR whirls around to watch AMY and RORY.

AMY: Rory!

RORY: No! I'm not ready. (begins to dissolve)

AMY: Stay.

The DOCTOR wipes his eyes.

RORY: Look after our baby. (dissolves away)

AMY: No. No. Come back.

The DOCTOR mouths "Amy".

AMY: Save him. You save everyone. You always do. It's what you do.

DOCTOR: Not always. I'm sorry.

AMY: Then what is the point of you?

AMY touches the pile of dust that was RORY then stands with the help of a bureau. The DOCTOR goes to help, to comfort, but can't bring himself to touch her.

AMY: This is the dream. Definitely, this one. Now, if we die here, we wake up, yeah?

DOCTOR: (nods) Unless we just die.

AMY: Either way, this is my only chance of seeing him again. This is the dream.

DOCTOR: How do you know?

AMY: Because if this is real life, I don't want it. I don't want it.

EXT. COTTAGE FRONT, DAY

The DOCTOR and AMY leave the house but the elderly do nothing.

AMY: Why aren't they attacking?

DOCTOR: Either because this is just a dream, or because they know what we're about to do.

They walk to the bus and AMY stops, facing the DOCTOR.

DOCTOR: Be very sure. This could be the real world.

AMY: It can't be. Rory isn't here. I didn't know. I didn't, I didn't, I honestly didn't, till right now. I just want him.

DOCTOR: OK. (gives her the keys and holds her hand tightly) OK.

AMY walks around to the driver's seat to start the car, and, as the DOCTOR walks to the passenger side, the DREAM LORD is there. Without a word, the DOCTOR gets into the vehicle.

AMY: I love Rory, and I never told him, but now he's gone.

The DOCTOR looks out the window at the DREAM LORD as AMY drives the car forward, smashing through the fence and straight at the front door.

SPACE

The TARDIS is now dwarfed by the star, about to be swallowed by its cold fire.

INT. TARDIS

A thick layer of ice covers everything in the TARDIS, including the three bodies. The DOCTOR opens his eyes and sees AMY who slowly opens hers. She reaches her hand out to RORY and they clasp on tightly.

DREAM LORD: So...you chose this world. Well done. You got it right. And with only seconds left. Fair's fair. Let's warm you up. (restores power) I hope you've enjoyed your little fictions. It all came out of your imagination, so I'll leave you to ponder on that. I have been defeated. I shall withdraw. Farewell. (disappears)

The DOCTOR rises slowly to his feet and starts to work the controls. AMY and RORY kneel, facing each other.

RORY: Something happened. I... What happened to me? I... (AMY slowly takes him in a hug) Oh. Oh, right. This is good. I am liking this. Was it something I said? (AMY releases the hug and looks at him) Can you tell what it was so I can use it in emergencies? And maybe birthdays.

They both turn at the sound of the TARDIS starting up again.

AMY: What are we doing now?

DOCTOR: Me, I'm going to blow up the TARDIS.

RORY: What?

DOCTOR: Notice how helpful the Dream Lord was? Okay, there was misinformation, red herrings, malice, and I could have done without the limerick, but he was always very keen to make us choose between dream and reality. (laughs)

AMY: What are you doing?!

RORY: Doctor! The Dream Lord conceded. This isn't the dream!

DOCTOR: Yes, it is!

AMY: (to RORY) Stop him.

DOCTOR: Star burning cold. Do me a favour! The Dream Lord has no power over the real world. He was offering us a choice between two dreams.

AMY: How do you know that?

DOCTOR: Because I know who he is.

The TARDIS explodes and fades to black. It comes back to see everything back to normal, all ice gone. The DOCTOR is leaning against the console looking at something in his hand as AMY and RORY come down the steps.

DOCTOR: Any questions?

AMY: What's that?

We see what is in the DOCTOR'S hand: six glittering bits.

DOCTOR: A speck of psychic pollen from the candle meadows of Karass don Slava. Must have been hanging around for ages. Fell in the time rotor, heated up and induced a dream state for all of us. (goes to the door and blows them

into space)

RORY: So that was the Dream Lord then, those little specks?

DOCTOR: No, no. No. Sorry, wasn't it obvious? The Dream Lord was me. Psychic pollen, it's a mind parasite. It feeds on everything dark in you. Gives it a voice, turns it against you. I'm 907. It had a lot to go on.

AMY: But why didn't it feed on us, too?

DOCTOR: Darkness in you pair? It would've starved to death in an instant. I choose my friends with great care. Otherwise I'm stuck with my own company, and you know how that works out.

AMY: But those things he said about you. You don't think any of that's true?

DOCTOR: Amy, right now a question is about to occur to Rory. (spins her by the shoulders to face RORY) And seeing as the answer is about to change his life, I think you should give him your full attention. (pushes her towards RORY and walks to the other side of the console)

RORY: Yeah. Actually, yeah.

DOCTOR: There it is.

RORY: Cos what I don't get is you blew up the TARDIS, that stopped that dream, but what stopped the Leadworth dream?

AMY: We crashed the camper van.

RORY: Oh, right, I don't remember that bit.

AMY: No, you weren't there, you were already...

RORY: Already what?

AMY: Dead. You d*ed in that dream. Mrs Poggit got you.

RORY: OK. But how did you know it was a dream? Before you crashed the van, how did you know you wouldn't just die?

AMY: I didn't.

RORY: (realizing) Oh.

AMY: Yeah.

RORY: Oh. (takes her hand)

AMY: Yeah, "Oh."

RORY leans in and kisses her. After a pause, AMY kisses him back. The DOCTOR watches with a smile.

DOCTOR: So... (applauds) Well, then, where now? Or should I just pop down to the swimming pool for a few lengths?

RORY: I don't know. Anywhere's good for me. I'm happy anywhere. It's up to Amy this time. Amy's choice.

The DOCTOR claps his hands and starts to work on the controls. In the reflective surface, he sees the DREAM

LORD smile back at him. The DOCTOR looks about nervously. He looks back and the reflection is his own.