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phantym_56TORCHWOOD 1.13 - END OF DAYS
(first scene missing as I didn't get the disk in in time)
***
Gwen's phone rings. She giggles and grabs it as-
RHYS (offscreen)
Don't answer it!
Gwen does anyway.
GWEN
Yep?
JACK (on phone)
You watching the news?
***
Gwen, in her dressing gown, stands in the living room, watching the TV. Rhys, naked, comes in behind her and makes coffee.
NEWS ANNOUNCER
There's speculation that the incidents overnight may be linked. Initial reports suggest a terrorist involvement.
Gwen glances back at Rhys, who leans forward on the counter.
NEWS ANNOUNCER
But this morning, some intelligence experts have claimed the incidents may be a stunt.
On the TV is an image of the Taj Mahal with enormous ships hovering pretty low over it. The scrolling text at the bottom of the news says "Fears of guillotine appearance in
NEWS ANNOUNCER
The first sightings were of UFOs over the Taj Mahal in
Now there are images of what look like knights around
NEWS ANNOUNCER
In
RHYS
Do you think it is terrorists?
GWEN
Terrorists bomb things. This is different
WOMAN INTERVIEWED ON TV
People didn't believe us. Now they should. Judgement Day is finally here. This is the end of days.
CREDITS
IANTO
"And I heard, but I did not understand, and I said 'Master, what is the end of all these things?'
And he said 'Go, Daniel: for the things are closed up and sealed until the end of time.'" Daniel 12, Verse 10.
GWEN
Sounds a bit close for comfort.
Owen is examining the hand in its jar, bubbling away.
OWEN
This machine's on the blink, keeps losing power.
He comes up the steps to the workstations, one hand on the gunshot wound on his shoulder.
OWEN
Sorry, don't let me stop your portents of doom. Or have you finished?
IANTO
Nope. Plenty more where that came from. Abaddon, the great devourer, who will lead the world into shadow.
Jack, who's been watching from his desk, now gets up.
JACK
Yeah, thanks Ianto, I can do without the superstition. You people love any story that denies the randomness of existence.
IANTO
Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better.
Jack stops where everyone can see him.
JACK
Okay, I've been fielding calls all night. The government, UNIT, the CIA - half the Western world and a good proportion of the Eastern are all asking the same question: is this anything to do with us?
Ianto looks at Jack briefly, then away.
GWEN
And is it?
Tosh comes across, tapping at her PDA.
TOSHIKO
I've run a profile on every reported temporal anomaly and tracked every physical and temportal pattern.
Her results appear on a world map on a screen behind them - lots of red lines, all connected to one spot. The map is too small to see too clearly, but it's somewhere in the
GWEN (horrified)
Shit!
JACK
The cracks in time trace back here to the Rift. This city, this Hub, is the centre. What you're seeing around the world are ripples and aftershocks. The Rift is splintering because of you.
He's looking directly at the horrified Owen.
OWEN (whispering)
What?
JACK
You opened the Rift without knowing what you were doing. You've caused the temporal cracks to widen. Time is seeping through.
Owen is both horrified and terrified. His voice isn't quite his as he says-
OWEN
If it wasn't for me, you two'd still be in the 1940s. So are we going to sit around crying into our lattes, or are we gonna do something about it?
JACK
Bring those who've fallen through time back here, into the Vaults.
OWEN
And do what with them?
JACK
We'll deal with phase one first. Then I'll tell you about phase two.
OWEN (angry)
You can't control time! You can't send them back! What are you gonna do?!
JACK
We'll think of something!
They all look at him, helpless.
JACK
Hey. This is *not* the end of the world.
They don't look convinced.
JACK
I'm certain of that.
A computer beeps. Ianto gets straight on it.
IANTO
Priority one attendants requested at the hospital. Mortality rate's gone through the roof. They're sealing off the area and designating a hot zone.
Owen gets on the phone.
OWEN
I'll go.
JACK
Tosh, go with him.
OWEN
No thanks, I'm fine on my own.
TOSHIKO
And you'll be even better with me alongside. Shut up, Owen.
They leave. Gwen looks at Jack.
GWEN
Did you have to pick on him in public like that?
JACK
All of our actions have consequences.
GWEN
And all your staff have feelings, Jack. Even Owen!
JACK
Well, you would know.
He walks off. Gwen stares at him, incredulous.
GWEN
He brought you back! Would you rather be stuck in World War Two?
Her phone rings. Jack looks at her, an odd expression in his eyes. Gwen answers her phone snappishly.
GWEN
Hello!
ANDY (on phone)
Gwen, it's Andy.
Her old police partner, Andy, is there.
ANDY
Listen. I didn't know who else to call.
***
At the police station, a man dressed as a Roman is locked in a cell, yelling at the CCTV camera. Jack and Gwen are with Andy, watching it.
ANDY
Double murder. Stabbed two blokes in Penarth, brutal it was, no mercy. What are we supposed to do? He doesn't speak a word of English and he's dressed as a bloody Roman soldier!
Jack tears his eyes away from the screen and looks at Andy.
JACK
He's not dressed as a Roman soldier, he *is* a Roman soldier, and he's shouting in Latin.
ANDY
The only word I could pick out was "Gelligaer"?
GWEN (correcting his pronunciation)
Gelligaer. There's a Roman fort up at Gelligaer, built around 75AD.
JACK
So, he was on his way there, time splinters, and he ends up here.
Andy stares at them.
ANDY
Excuse me?
They look at him, having almost forgotten he's there.
ANDY
Hi. Anytime you feel like talking sense...
JACK (matter of fact)
That soldier came through a crack in time.
ANDY
He's not serious, is he?
They head down to the cell where the Roman is.
ANDY
This sort of thing just doesn't happen. Not in
JACK
Just because you can't understand it, doesn't mean it isn't true.
GWEN
I know it sounds mad, Andy, but...
ANDY
Right, Mulder and Scully. Say I believe you - which I don't, cos it's bollocks - but say I do. How are we meant to handle a prisoner from two thousands years ago? I mean, has he got the same rights as anyone else? How's this gonna work with the CPS?
Jack opens a little tin, containing amongst other things, a syringe.
JACK
We'll take him off your hands.
He opens the flap in the door. The Roman instantly slams himself against it, shouting. Gwen and Andy both instinctively step back. Jack ignores him.
JACK
Under any other circumstances, an exuberant Roman soldier would be my idea of a perfect morning.
He hands the tin to Gwen.
GWEN
Careful, Jack.
Andy unlocks and opens the door. Jack, armed with the syringe, goes in and Andy slams the door behind him. Gwen holds it shut while Andy locks it. There's a lot of noise from inside. Andy and Gwen lean against the walls, either side of the door and wait.
ANDY
Everyone's saying it, you know, word on the streets. Do you think this is the end of the world?
GWEN (quickly)
Oh, Andy. Don't be silly. Do you think the world's gonna end on your shift?
ANDY (not fooled)
I've seen you use that smile on a lot of people.
GWEN
What smile?
ANDY
That smile you use to reassure people when, deep down, you know everything's going to shit.
***
Owen and Tosh, dressed in white biohazard suits, move through the hospital. Owen is talking to another doctor.
DOCTOR
This was the first one to die. No ID on her, she just appeared in the middle of A&E. No one saw her come through the doors, she didn't register at the desk...
TOSHIKO
So what happened?
DOCTOR
She started coughing up blood. We moved her into isolation immediately. An hour or so later, the staff started presenting similar symptoms.
He takes them through a plastic curtain to where a dead body is still lying in a bed.
TOSHIKO
Which were?
DOCTOR
Bite-like bumps on the skin, chills, fever, headaches, along with black patches on the skin.
Owen bends over the body to take a look at it.
OWEN
Indicating bleeding into the skin, possibly other organs.
DOCTOR
From the staff, it started spreading into other patients, who'd been in reception when she came in.
Tosh looks at the clothes in a plastic bag. They're rough and look very old.
TOSHIKO
These aren't contemporary clothes.
OWEN
The teeth aren't exactly modern-style either.
He pulls back the patient's lips with a stick to see the teeth.
OWEN
Shit.
DOCTOR
As soon as we realised the rate of infection, we closed down the whole area.
Owen goes out, his breath coming a little fast.
OWEN
How many others are infected?
DOCTOR
Thirty, maybe forty.
OWEN
They all quaratined off?
DOCTOR
We think so.
OWEN
Then have their clothes and the sheets destroyed immediately.
He looks at another patient, then turns back to Tosh. The doctor hurries away.
TOSHIKO
What is it?
OWEN
That woman that isn't from this century. .. more like the fourteenth. It's the...
He can't say it.
OWEN
It's the fucking.... Black Death, Tosh.
Tosh nods.
OWEN
She's infected Cardiff A&E with the Plague. And it's my fault.
The doctor comes back.
DOCTOR
The team are instigating procedures.
Owen walks off down the corridor.
OWEN
The infected'll need 30 milligrams of streptomycin and chloramphnicol plus two of tetracycline.
DOCTOR
That's Plague medicine! Standard issue for bubonic!
Owen comes back.
OWEN
Well done, House. That's what you're up against.
DOCTOR
So, what are you gonna do now?
OWEN
Well, you're a hospital, you've got procedures, haven't you?
DOCTOR
Yes, but everybody said Torchwood would sort it out. What if we get more carriers out of the blue?
TOSHIKO
We're working to stop that.
DOCTOR
We waited for you! You've got to stop this! You've got to do something!
OWEN
No, you've gotta do something! People are dropping through time and they are gonna bring every disease in history through your doors. So you better be ready!
TOSHIKO
Owen?
OWEN
You scared enough yet? Cos fuck knows I am!
To Tosh-
OWEN
Come on, Tosh.
TOSHIKO
Make sure they get the medicine, call us if things get worse.
They leave.
DOCTOR
How much worse can they get?
Tosh stops and looks at him.
***
Tosh steps through a plastic curtain, taking the helmet off her suit.
TOSHIKO
Owen? Owen!
Partway down the corridor, she suddenly spots an older Japanese woman and stops, shocked.
TOSHIKO (in Japanese)
Mum?
TOSHIKO'S MUM (in Japanese)
It is coming... out of the darkness.
TOSHIKO (in Japanese)
What is coming?
TOSHIKO'S MUM (in Japanese)
If there is no other way, you will have to do it.
TOSHIKO (in Japanese)
Do what? Mum!
But her mum has disappeared, as if she was never there. Tosh stares, then Owen appears through the curtain behind her.
OWEN
Tosh! Come on, stop pissing about.
Tosh follows, taking one last look down the empty corridor.
***
In the cell, Jack is running a bright green light over the unconscious Roman solider.
GWEN
If Owen managed to open the Rift to get you and Tosh back, can't we do the same for these people?
Jack looks up at her.
GWEN
We've still got the Rift manipulator.
JACK
There's a world of difference. We're talking about taking control of time, not bringing two people back from the past. Besides, look at the damage Owen caused. Have I ever let you down?
Gwen gives a tiny smile, then walks away. Jack gets back to his scanning. As Gwen walks down the corridor, she hears something.
VOICE
Gwen. Gwen.
She stops and looks in the cell to her left. Bilis is in there, sitting on the bench.
BILIS
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
But he's speaking without moving or even opening his mouth. Behind Gwen, Jack looks up from his Roman.
JACK
Gwen! Gwen!
.
She finally snaps out of it and looks at him
JACK
Come on. Hustle.
Gwen looks back in the cell. It's empty. Definitely empty. She steps back out and walks away.
***
In the Torchwood cells, Gwen is looking through the plastic at the Roman.
JACK
Are you sure it was the same guy?
GWEN
It was definitely him. Bilis. The caretaker at the dance hall.
JACK
That's all he said, sorry?
GWEN
Uh huh.
JACK
Well, what's he got to be sorry for?
The door bursts open and Ianto comes in, dragging a Weevil. Jack pushes Gwen behind him.
IANTO
Coming through!
The Weevil growls threateningly at Ianto, who sprays the Weevil spray at it. It quietens and he shoves it into a cell.
IANTO
Thirty more reports of Weevils on the loose. We're not gonna keep up on this one.
JACK
Everything's on the increase.
GWEN
Can we stop them from making that noise?
IANTO
If you've got any ideas how?
JACK
Maybe they're time-sensitive. This disturbance may be too much for them.
IANTO
We're now full in all vaults across all nine levels. Do you want me to activate the vaults below? It's just we've never used them since I've been here.
Jack nods.
JACK
Do it. Gwen, maybe you're right. Let's run a search on your dance hall buddy. We need to find him.
He and Gwen leave the cells. Ianto stares at the Weevil, then he looks round suddenly. At the far end of the vault is Lisa, pre-Cyber conversion.
LISA
Hello, Ianto.
Ianto backs away slightly. Flashbacks of Lisa's dead Cyber body on the floor, of Ianto crying. Lisa now steps forward. Ianto holds his ground, but looks like he would like to step back.
IANTO
What do you want? Why are you here? This is isn't helping anything..
LISA
There's only one way to stop this, before things get worse. People will die, Ianto. Thousands of people. Unless you open the Rift.
Ianto closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, she's gone. Ianto quickly turns around, but she's nowhere. He jumps slightly as the Weevil growls.
***
Owen and Tosh come back. Jack is preparing to go somewhere, already wearing his long coat.
JACK
Owen, how was the hospital?
OWEN
Laugh a bloody minute. They've got an outbreak of the Black Death.
GWEN
What? Oh my god!
JACK
Have they got it under control?
He's addressing Tosh, but she's staring at the computers, ignoring him. He smacks his hand on the edge of the desk.
JACK
Tosh! How are they coping?
TOSHIKO
Um... Owen got the place quarantined and organised treatments for those who were infected.
OWEN
Only consolation is that it's treatable these days, but you know, what happens when the next carrier comes through, Jack? Someone carrying smallpox or Ebola or something from the future that we don't even know about yet? What do we do then?
JACK
Yeah, well, it's not doing us any good standing around speculating.
He goes to walk out but Owen gets in his way.
OWEN
We need to be prepared. We're helpless! All we're doing here is putting sticking-plasters on gaping wounds!
Jack holds up his hands.
JACK
What do you suggest?
OWEN
I suggest you lead us and you tell us what the instructions are.
Gwen comes over to join in.
GWEN
Owen...
OWEN
No, come on. You're all thinking it too. You're the big man here. You keep all the secrets. Well, now's the time to tell us a few and tell us how we're gonna get out of this!
Jack walks away, then turns back to face them.
JACK
You wanna know a secret? There is no solution. I can't fix this. The first thing you learned when you joined Torchwood was "Don't mess with the Rift". But you disobeyed those orders, and now everything that's happening is down to you!
OWEN
I only disobeyed instructions to get you back!
JACK
And now people are dying.
OWEN
What, so I shouldn't have bothered.
Jack looks straight at him. He doesn't say it, but his eyes do.
OWEN
Who the fuck are you, anyway? Jack Harkness? You don't even exist. We've looked. So if you aren't even a real person, then why the hell should I follow your orders?
He's crossed a line.
JACK
Get out.
Owen looks shocked and surprised.
OWEN
What?
JACK
Get out! I'm relieving you of your duty.
TOSHIKO
No! You can't do that.
OWEN
Bollocks you are!
GWEN
Jack, wait.
He ignores her and walks straight past, right up to Owen.
JACK
You're done here.
OWEN
What, so that's it? The whole world is going to shit and you're going to fire me?
GWEN
For God's sake, both of you! We need to stick together on this!
Jack and Owen stare at each other.
JACK
If I can't rely on you, if I don't have your complete trust, you don't belong here. That goes for the rest of you. Anyone who agrees with Owen, leave now.
They all stare at him. They're all desperately sorry for Owen, but not a one of them is on his side on this. Owen looks at Jack and nods.
OWEN
So now we know how it is. So that leaves me twenty-four hours to savour the good times.
GWEN
What are you talking about?
OWEN
Think about it, Gwen. Nobody leaves this place intact. Sometime in the next twenty-four hours, I get Retconned. All my memories erased. I don't know where or when, but he'll get me.
GWEN
Jack, this has gone far enough.
But Jack's not backing down. Owen takes out his gun and lays it on the nearest desk.
OWEN
I guess this is goodbye. Heh. Good luck with the end of the world.
He turns to leave, then stops to look at Gwen.
OWEN
I would say thanks for the memories...
GWEN
Jack, for God's sake!
Owen goes out. In the stone corridor, he stops, leaning against the wall, gasping, trying desperately not to cry, as he waits for the lift to open. This is it. This is the end of Torchwood for Owen. He presses the button, obviously reluctantly, and the door closes.
