THE DOCTOR
Ancient Rome. Well, not to them, obviously. To all intents and purposes, right now, this is brand new Rome.
DONNA
Oh my God, it's... It's so Roman! This is fantastic!
She hugs him.
THE DOCTOR
Haha!
DONNA (enthusiastic)
I'm here, in Rome, Donna Noble, in Rome. This is just weird! I mean, everyone here's dead.
THE DOCTOR
Well, don't tell them that.
DONNA (sobered)
Hold on a minute, that sign over there's in English.
She points to a board advertising 'Two amphoras for the price of one'.
DONNA
Are you having me on, are we in Epcot?
THE DOCTOR
No, no, no, that's the TARDIS translation circuits, just makes it look like English. Speech as well, you're talking Latin right now.
DONNA
Seriously?
THE DOCTOR
Uh huh.
DONNA
I just said 'seriously' in Latin.
THE DOCTOR
Oh yeah.
DONNA
What if I said something in actual Latin? Like, 'Veni, vidi, vici'? My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said 'Veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would it sound like?
THE DOCTOR
I'm not sure. You have to think of difficult questions, don't you?
DONNA
I'm gonna try it.
She walks to a stallholder.
STALLHOLDER
Afternoon sweetheart. What can I get you, my love?
DONNA
Ehm... Veni, vidi, vici.
STALLHOLDER
Huh? Sorry? (gesticulating wildly) Me-no-speak-Celtic. No-can-do-missy.
DONNA
Yeah.
She walks back to the Doctor.
DONNA
How's he mean, Celtic?
THE DOCTOR
Welsh. You sound Welsh. There we are, learnt something.
As they walk away, a red-cloaked soothsayer is watching them.
DONNA
Don't our clothes look a bit odd?
THE DOCTOR
Nah. Ancient Rome, anything goes. It's like Soho, but bigger.
DONNA
You've been here before then?
The young soothsayer is following them.
THE DOCTOR
Mm. Ages ago. Before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me. Well... a little bit. But I haven't got the chance to look around properly. Colosseum, Pantheon, Circus Maximus... you'd expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything?
He looks up, then heads to a different alley, followed by Donna - and the soothsayer.
THE DOCTOR
Try this way.
They reach a wide street. Donna glimpses something.
DONNA
Not an expert, but there's seven hills of Rome, aren't there?
They both look at the one, huge mountain towering over the town.
DONNA
How come they've only got one?
There's a loud roar and an earthquake begins.
POMPEII CITIZEN
Here we go again!
The locals act like this is the most natural thing on earth, smiling while they try to prevent their properties falling down.
DONNA
Wait a minute. One mountain. With smoke. Which makes this...
THE DOCTOR
Pompeii. We're in Pompeii. And it's volcano day!
***
OPENING CREDITS
DAVID TENNANT
CATHERINE TATE
THE FIRES OF POMPEII
By James Moran
***
The soothsayer runs into a temple. She kneels and bows to the ground in front of a higher ranked priestess, Spurrina.
SOOTHSAYER
I beg audience with the High Priestess of the Sibylline.
SPURRINA
The High Priestess cannot be seen. What would you tell her, sister?
SOOTHSAYER
It has come. As foretold in the prophecy. The box. The blue box.
They both look confused, scared.
***
The Doctor runs back, Donna in tow. He reaches the place where they left the TARDIS, pulls away the curtain - but sees nothing. Donna arrives beside him.
DONNA
You're kidding. Not telling me the TARDIS has gone?
THE DOCTOR
OK.
DONNA
Where is it then?
THE DOCTOR
You... told me not to tell you.
DONNA
Oi. Don't get clever in Latin.
THE DOCTOR
Hold on.
He runs to the stallholder Donna talked with previously.
THE DOCTOR
'Scuse me, 'scuse me, there was a box, big blue box, big blue wooden box, just over there, where is it gone?
STALLHOLDER (smugly)
Sold it, didn't I?
THE DOCTOR
But... it wasn't yours to sell!
STALLHOLDER
It was on my patch, weren't it? I got 15 sesterce for it, lovely jubbly.
THE DOCTOR
Who did you sell it to?
STALLHOLDER
Old Caecilius. Look, if you want to argue, why don't you take it out with him? He's on Foss Street, big villa, can't miss it.
THE DOCTOR
Thanks.
He and Donna run away. Then the Doctor runs back, bemused.
THE DOCTOR
What did he buy a big wooden box for?
***
Roman Villa, the home of Caecilius and family. The TARDIS, having just been moved into the villa is surrounded by Caecilius and his servants, who are scurrying away.
CAECILIUS (joyfully)
Modern art! Out of the way, that's it!
He hurries his servants out of the way who toddle off.
CAECILIUS (talking to a servant)
Oh Rombus, I'm a little bit peckish. Get me some ants in honey, there's a good man. Ooh, maybe a dormouse!
Caecilius' wife, Metella, is watching on. It is clear on her face that she does not approve of this 'modern art'.
CAECILIUS
What do you think?
METELLA
You call it modern art; I call it a blooming great waste of space!
CAECILIUS
We're going up in the world, my love! Lucius Dextrus is coming to the house this afternoon. And with our Evelina about to be elevated...
Evelina, Metella and Caecilius' daughter, enters looking disdainful.
EVELINA
Don't go on about it, dad.
METELLA
If we'd moved to Rome like I said she could've been a Vestal virgin.
Quintus, Metella and Caecilius' son, walks in, yawning and rubbing the back of his head - tired, hungover.
QUINTUS
Someone mentioned vestal virgins?
METELLA
Quintus don't be so rude! Appologise to the household Gods!
QUINTUS
Get off!
METELLA
Apologise, right now! The Gods are always watching!
The house begins to shake and objects begin to move. The faces of the family suggest this is not unusual. Caecilius looks at the family and gasps.
CAECILIUS
Positions!
Each of the family members runs off to various points around the house to support one object or another - reminiscent of the scenes in Mary Poppins. The house stops shaking, the family relax. Metella gives Quintus an 'I-told-you-so' look.
METELLA
There, now you've made the heavens angry! Say sorry!
Quintus walks towards a shrine in the corner, with less than enthusiasm.
METELLA
I tell you Caecilius that boy will do no good!
Quintus, at the shrine, performs a quick ritual.
QUINTUS
Sorry household Gods.
CAECILIUS
Where were you last night? Down the thelopolium I bet, covorting with Christians! And all sorts! How's your head sunshine? HOW'S YOUR HEAD?!
QUINTUS
Alright dad! Give us a break!
METELLA
You want to smarten yourself up Quintus, before Lucius Dextrus gets here! Look at your sister.
Metella walks proudly over to Evelina who looks bored of the same old speech.
METELLA
She is giving us status!
QUINTUS
Oh yeah! Cos it's all about Evelina!
METELLA
She has the gift!
Metella shows Quintus the eye on the back of Evelina's palms, just like the ones belonging to the Sisterhood.
METELLA
She has the gift! Be proud of your sister for once!
She turns to Evelina.
METELLA
Have you been consuming?
EVELINA
Not this morning.
METELLA
Come on sweetheart, practise!
She takes Evelina towards the hypocaust grille in the centre of the room.
METELLA
It's hot today! A hypocaust on full blast! The mountain God must be happy! Breathe deeply! Remember what the sisterhood said.
Evelina breaths the fumes of the furnace. It is clearly painful.
EVELINA
It hurts!
METELLA
My love, is it too hot?
EVELINA
Sometimes in the smoke I see the most terrible things.
METELLA
Like what?
EVELINA
A face; a face of stone.
METELLA
It'll make sense. One day, Sister Spurrina promised. The veil will be parted and you'll be a seer.
Metella walks off, leaving Evelina to breath in the fumes. In the fire she sees the face of which she just spoke.
EVELINA Who are you?
***
The Doctor is running down the street and collides with Donna who was approaching from the opposite direction.
THE DOCTOR
Ha! I've got it. Foss Street, this way.
He makes to turn around and drag her with him.
DONNA
No! Well, I found this big sort of amphitheatre thing, we should start there, we can gather everyone together, maybe if we got a great big bell or something we could ring it, have they invented bells yet?
THE DOCTOR
What do you want a bell for?
DONNA
To warn everyone! Start the evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt, when's it due?
THE DOCTOR
It's 79AD, 23rd of August, which makes volcano day tomorrow!
DONNA
Plenty of time! We could get everyone out, easy!
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, except we're not going to.
DONNA
But that's what you do, you're the Doctor, you save people!
THE DOCTOR
Not this time; Pompeii is a fixed point in history, what happens happens, there is no stopping it.
He moves to go again but Donna pulls him back.
DONNA
Says who?
THE DOCTOR
Says me!
DONNA
What, you're in charge?!
THE DOCTOR
TARDIS, Time Lord, yeah!
DONNA
Donna, human, no! I don't need your permission, I'll tell them myself!
THE DOCTOR
You sound about the place, announce the end of the world, and they'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer, now come on! TARDIS, we are getting out of here!
He walks hurriedly away.
DONNA
Well I might just have something to say about that, Spaceman!
THE DOCTOR
Oh I bet you will!
Donna follows after him, but the pair are watched by the young soothsayer again. She stops and covers her eyes with her palms.
SOOTHSAYER
The tall one... he calls us mad...
The Sybelline Sisters can talk with her through a telepathic link.
SPURRINA
Then he is a stranger to Pompeii. Soon he will learn.
Another Sister, Thalina, walks to Spurrina.
THALINA
We have found it, Sister Spurrina, in the 13th book of the Sybilline Oracles. The blue box - a temple made of wood. And yet the Sybil foretold that the box would appear at the time of storms, and fire, and betrayal.
A voice sounds out from the front of the temple, causing all the Sisters to stop what they are doing.
HIGH PRIESTESS
Sisters...
They walk forward reverently towards her, a figure hidden behind a thin curtain.
SPURRINA
Reverend mother, you should sleep.
HIGH PRIESTESS
The Sybilline Oracles are wrong!
SPURRINA
But we have venerated her words for generations!
HIGH PRIESTESS
This is a new age. Heed my words! I predict a future of prosperity and might, an endless empire of Pompeii, reaching out from this city to topple Rome itself, and encompass the whole, wide world! If the Disciples of the Blue Box defy this prophecy, their blood will run across the temple floor!
A tremor shakes the room.
SPURRINA
The gods approve!
***
CAECILIUS
Positions!
They all run, but Caecilius is too far from his precious statue - however, the Doctor arrives just in time to catch it. The earthquake stops.
THE DOCTOR
There you go.
CAECILIUS
Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid bussiness is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor.
THE DOCTOR
But that's me, I'm a visitor. Hello.
He shakes his hand and dashes into the room.
CAECILIUS
Who are you?
THE DOCTOR
I am... Spartacus.
DONNA
And so am I.
CAECILIUS
Mr and Mrs Spartacus?
THE DOCTOR
Oh no no no, we're not, we're not married.
DONNA
We're not together.
CAECILIUS
Oh, then brother and sister? Yes of course! You look very much alike.
THE DOCTOR & DONNA TOGETHER
Really?
CAECILIUS
I'm sorry, but I'm not open for trade.
THE DOCTOR
And that trade would be?
CAECILIUS
Marble. Lobus Caecilius. Mining, polishing and design thereof. If you want marble, I'm your man.
THE DOCTOR
That's good. That's good, cos I'm marble inspector.
METELLA
By the gods of commerce, an inspection! (taking away a cup of wine from Quintus) I'm sorry, sir. I do apologise for my son.
QUINTUS
Oi!
CAECILIUS
And this is my good wife, Metella. I... I must confess, we're not prepared for...
THE DOCTOR
Nothing to worry about, I'm - I'm sure you've nothing to hide. Although, frankly, (he points to the TARDIS) that object looks rather like wood to me.
METELLA (hissing)
I told you to get rid of it.
CAECILIUS (apologising)
I only bought it today!
THE DOCTOR
Ah, well... Caveat emptor.
CAECILIUS
Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely.
THE DOCTOR
I'm sure it's fine, but I might have to take it off your hands, for a proper inspection.
DONNA
Although while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?
THE DOCTOR
Don't know what you mean, Spartacus.
DONNA
Oh, this lovely family. Mother and father and son. Don't you think they should get out of town?
CAECILIUS
Why should we do that?
DONNA
Well, the volcano, for starters.
CAECILIUS (puzzled)
What?
DONNA
Volcano.
CAECILIUS
WHAT-ano?
DONNA
That great big volcano right on your doorstep...
THE DOCTOR
Oh, Spartacus, for shame, we haven't even greeted the household gods yet.
He drags Donna away to the shrine.
THE DOCTOR (subdued, to Donna)
They don't know what it is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them, the top hasn't blown off yet. The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow.
DONNA (sarcastic)
Oh, great, they can learn a new word. As they die.
THE DOCTOR
Donna, stop it.
DONNA
Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flying round with in space, but you're not telling me to shut up. That boy, how old is he? Sixteen? And tomorrow, he burns to death.
THE DOCTOR
And that's my fault?
DONNA
Right now, yes.
SERVANT
Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the City Government.
CAECILIUS
Lucius. My pleasure, as always.
METELLA
Quintus, stand up!
CAECILIUS
A rare and great honour, sir, for you to come to my house...
He reaches out his hand, but Lucius keeps his right hidden under his cloak.
LUCIUS
The birds are flying north, and the wind is in the west.
CAECILIUS (puzzled)
Quite. Absolutely. That's good, is it?
LUCIUS
Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow.
CAECILIUS
There now, Metella. Have you ever heard SUCH wisdom?
METELLA
Never. It's an honour.
CAECILIUS
Pardon me, sir, I have guests, this is Spartacus and... Spartacus.
The Doctor and Donna wave at Lucius.
LUCIUS
A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind.
THE DOCTOR
But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark.
LUCIUS
Ah. (taking it as chellenge) But what is the dark, other than an omen of the sun?
THE DOCTOR
I concede that every sun must set...
LUCIUS
Hah!
THE DOCTOR
... and yet the son of the father must also rise.
LUCIUS
Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently, a man of learning.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, yes. But don't mind me, don't want to disturb the status quo.
CAECILIUS
He's Celtic.
THE DOCTOR
We'll be off in a minute.
DONNA (subdued)
I'm not going.
CAECILIUS
It's ready, sir.
THE DOCTOR (subdued, to Donna)
You've got to.
DONNA
Well, I'm not.
CAECILIUS
The moment of revelation.
He uncovers something that looks like a tile-sized circuit board, made of marble.
CAECILIUS
And here it is! Exactly as you've specified. It pleases you, sir?
LUCIUS
As the rain pleases the soil.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, now that's... different. Who designed that, then?
CAECILIUS
My Lord Lucius was very specific.
THE DOCTOR
Where did you get the pattern?
LUCIUS
On the rain and mist and wind.
DONNA (to the Doctor)
But that looks like a circuit.
THE DOCTOR
Made of stone.
DONNA
Do you mean you just dreamt that thing up?
LUCIUS
That is my job. As City Augur.
DONNA
What's that, then, like the mayor?
THE DOCTOR
Oh! You must excuse my friend, she's from... Barcelona. (subdued, to Donna) Not, but this is an age of superstition, of official superstition. The Augur is paid by the city to tell the future. 'The wind will blow from the west', that's the equivalent of Ten O'Clock News.
Evelina enters the room, looking pale and sick.
EVELINA
They're laughing at us. Those two, they use words like tricksters, they're mocking us.
THE DOCTOR
No, no, no. I meant no offence.
METELLA
I'm sorry, my daughter's been consuming the vapours.
QUINTUS
Oh for gods, mother, what have you been doing to her?
CAECILIUS
Not now, Quintus.
QUINTUS
Yeah but she's sick, just look at her!
LUCIUS
I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift.
METELLA (proudly)
Oh, she's been promised to the Sibylline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions.
LUCIUS
The prophecies of women are limited and dull, only the menfolk have the capacity for true perception.
DONNA
I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate.
There's another loud roar from the mountain.
LUCIUS
The Mountain God marks your words. I'd be careful, if I were you.
THE DOCTOR
Consuming the vapours, you said?
EVELINA
They give me strength.
THE DOCTOR
It doesn't look like it to me.
EVELINA
Is that your opinion... as a doctor?
THE DOCTOR
I beg your pardon?
EVELINA
Doctor, that's your name.
THE DOCTOR (taken aback)
How did you know that?
EVELINA
And you... you call yourself Noble.
METELLA
Now then, Evelina, don't be rude.
THE DOCTOR
No, no, no, no, let her talk.
EVELINA
You both come from so far away.
LUCIUS
The female soothsayer is inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, not this time, Lucius. No, I reckon you've been out-soothsayed.
LUCIUS
Is that so... man from Gallifrey?
THE DOCTOR
What?
LUCIUS
Strangest of images... your home is lost in fire, is it not?
DONNA
Doctor, what are they doing?
LUCIUS
And you, daughter of... London.
DONNA
How does he know that?
LUCIUS
This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth.
DONNA
That's impossible.
LUCIUS
Doctor... she is returning.
THE DOCTOR
Who is? Who's she?
LUCIUS
And you, daughter of London... there is something on your back.
DONNA (scared)
What's that mean?
EVELINA
Even the word 'doctor' is false. Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself. You are a Lord, sir. A Lord... of Time.
She collapses, the Doctor and Metella run to her.
METELLA
Evelina!
***
Evelina is in bed, still unconscious. Her mother and Donna are with her.
METELLA
She didn't mean to be rude, she's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her...
She unwraps the bandage on Evelina's arm, revealing grey skin beneath.
DONNA
What's wrong with her arm?
METELLA
Irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night.
DONNA
What is it?
METELLA
Evelina said you'd come from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like…?
Donna goes to touch it.
DONNA
It's stone.
***
The Doctor pulls away the grille of the hypocaust, revealing the chasm below.
THE DOCTOR
Different sort of hypocaust.
CAECILIUS
Oh, yes. We're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces. But we've got hot springs, leading from Vesuvius itself.
THE DOCTOR
Who thought of that?
CAECILIUS
The soothsayers. After the great earthquake, 17 years ago. An awful lot of damage. But we rebuilt.
THE DOCTOR
Didn't you think of moving away? No, then again, San Francisco...
CAECILIUS
That's a new restaurant in... Naples?
A howling sound comes from below.
THE DOCTOR
What's that noise?
CAECILIUS
Don't know. Happens all the time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring.
THE DOCTOR
But after the earthquake, let me guess... Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?
CAECILIUS
Oh, yes, very much so. I mean, they'd always been, shall we say, imprecise? But then - the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex, all of them, they saw the truth, again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision.
THE DOCTOR
Haven't they said anything about tomorrow?
CAECILIUS
No. Why, should they? Why d'you ask?
THE DOCTOR
No, no, no I'm just asking. But the soothsayers, they all consume the vapours, yeah?
CAECILIUS
That's how they see.
THE DOCTOR
Ipso facto...
CAECILIUS
Look you...
THE DOCTOR
They're all consuming this.
He rubs something between his fingers, then tastes it.
CAECILIUS
Dust?
THE DOCTOR
Tiny particles of rock. They're breathing in Vesuvius.
***
Quintus is lying on a sofa, drinking wine, bored.
THE DOCTOR
Quintus, me old son. This Lucius Petrus Dextrus, where does he live?
QUINTUS
It's nothing to do with me.
THE DOCTOR
Let me try again. This Lucius Petrus Dextrus...
He pulls out a coin from behind Quintus' ear.
THE DOCTOR
Where does he live?
Now Quintus gets interested. He leads the Doctor to Lucius' house.
QUINTUS
Don't tell my dad.
The Doctor climbs in through the window.
THE DOCTOR
Only if you don't tell mine. Pass me that torch!
After a moment of hesitation, Quintus follows him into the house. They look around and see some drapes. The Doctor pulls it away to reveal six stone circuits similar to the one Caecilius has made.
QUINTUS
The liar! He told my father it was the only one.
THE DOCTOR
Well, plenty of marble merchants in this town. Tell them all the same thing, get all the components from different places, so no-one can see what you're building.
QUINTUS
Which is what?
Lucius appears, followed by two armed guards.
LUCIUS
The future. Doctor, we are building the future. As dictated by the gods.
***
Evelina is now sitting on her bed, laughing as she watches Donna pose in a purple toga.
DONNA
You're not supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What d'you think? The Goddess Venus.
EVELINA (laughing)
Oh, that's sacrilege.
DONNA
Nice to see you laugh, though. (she sits beside Evelina) What d'you do in old Pompeii, then, girls your age? You got... mates? D'you go hanging about round the shops? TK Maximus?
EVELINA
I am promised to the Sisterhood for the rest of my life.
DONNA
D'you get any choice in that?
EVELINA
It's not my decision. The Sisters chose for me. I have the gift of sight.
DONNA
Then… what can you see happening tomorrow?
EVELINA
Is tomorrow special?
DONNA
You tell me. What d'you see?
She closes her eyes, smiling.
EVELINA
The sun will rise. The sun will set. Nothing special at all.
DONNA
Look, don't tell the Doctor I said anything cos he'll kill me, but I've got a prophecy too.
Evelina, looking worried, covers her eyes with her hands, creating a link to the Sisterhood so they can also hear Donna.
DONNA (her voice echoing also in the Temple of Sybil)
Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out.
SPURRINA
Sisters!
DONNA
Evelina, can you hear me? Listen...
EVELINA
There is only one prophecy.
DONNA
But everything I'm about to say to you is true. I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is gonna explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is gonna fill with ash and rocks, tons and tons of it, this whole town is gonna get buried.
EVELINA
That's not true.
DONNA
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. But everyone's gonna die.
SPURRINA
A new prophecy!
THALINA
Impossible. There is only one.
DONNA
Even if you don't believe me, just… tell your family to get out of town. Just for one day, just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out. You've got to leave Pompeii!
EVELINA (in despair)
This is false prophecy!
SPURRINA (kneeling in front of the High Priestess)
The noblewoman. She spoke of a new prophecy, the fall of Pompeii.
HIGH PRIESTESS
Pompeii will last forever.
SPURRINA
Then what must we do?
HIGH PRIESTESS
The false prophet must die. Sacrifice her!
***
The Doctor is arranging the stone circuits on the shelf.
THE DOCTOR
Put this one... there. This one... there. Er, keep that one upside down, and what we got?
LUCIUS
Enlighten me.
THE DOCTOR
What, the soothsayer doesn't know?
LUCIUS
A seed may float on the breeze in any direction.
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, I knew you would say that. But it's an energy converter.
LUCIUS
An energy converter of what?
THE DOCTOR
I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing. Keeps me on my toes. It must be awful being a prophet, waking up every morning, 'Is it raining? Yes it is, I said so.' Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius? hm? Who gave you these instructions?
LUCIUS
I think you've babbled enough.
THE DOCTOR
Lucius, really, tell me, honestly I'm on your side. I can help.
LUCIUS
You insult the gods. There can be only one sentence. At arms!
THE DOCTOR
Oh, morituri te salutant.
LUCIUS
Celtic prayers won't help you now.
QUINTUS
But it was him sir, he made me do it. Mr Dextrus, please, don't.
THE DOCTOR
Come on now, Quintus, dignity in death. I respect your victory, Lucius. (he reaches out his hand) Shake on it? Come on. Dying man's wish?
He grabs Lucius' right beneath the cloak - and breaks it off!
LUCIUS
Aargh!
QUINTUS
But he's...
THE DOCTOR
Show me.
Lucius throws back the cloak, revealing the strump of his right hand, all stoned.
LUCIUS (proud)
The work of the gods.
QUINTUS
He's stone!
THE DOCTOR
'Armless enough, though. Whoops! (he throws the arm at Lucius) Quintus!
Quintus throws the torch at the guards, the Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to push the circuits off the shelf, then he and Quintus jump out through the window.
LUCIUS
The carvings!
THE DOCTOR
Run!
LUCIUS
My carvings! (he picks one up) The work is unbroken.
The Doctor and Quintus run on the street. Lucius talks into the hypocaust.
LUCIUS
Oh, Lord of the Mountain, I beseech you! This man would prevent the rise of Pompeii. Lord, I beg of you, show yourself. Show yourself!
Down in the chasm, a stone creature with glowing eyes roars back to him.
The Doctor and Quintus stop running.
THE DOCTOR
No sign of them. Nice little bit of allons-y. I think we're all right.
QUINTUS
But his arm, Doctor. Is that what's happening to Evelina?
They hear a deep, loud bang.
THE DOCTOR
What was that?
QUINTUS
The mountain?
It is repeated, and then over and over again. It shatters the ground.
THE DOCTOR
No, it's closer. Footsteps...
QUINTUS
It can't be.
THE DOCTOR
Footsteps underground.
QUINTUS
What is it? What IS it?
The Doctor grabs him and they run. In Caecilius' villa they can hear and feel it too. The family and servants rush together.
METELLA
What is it? What's that noise?
CAECILIUS
Doesn't sound like Vesuvius!
The Doctor and Quintus arrive.
THE DOCTOR
Caecilius, all of you! Get out!
DONNA
Doctor! What is it?
THE DOCTOR
I think we're being followed. Just get out!
But they stand there, stunned, watching as the grille of the hypocaust flies away and a huge creature, a Pyrovile emerges from beneath.
EVELINA
The gods are with us.
THE DOCTOR
Water! We need water! Quintus, all of you, get water! Donna!
Donna, Quintus and most servants obey. But one servant just steps in front of the Pyrovile.
SERVANT Blessed are we to see the gods.
The Pyrovile blows fire at him, burning him to dust. The Doctor steps between the family and the Pyrovile, trying to negotiate.
THE DOCTOR
Talk to me, that's all I want! Talk to me, you just tell me you are. Don't hurt these people!
In the meantime, Donna has fetched a bucket, but she is kidnapped by the Sibylline Sisters before she could return to help.
DONNA (muffled) Doctor! Doctor!
THE DOCTOR
Talk to me! I'm the Doctor, just tell me who you are.
Quintus and a servant return and pour water on the Pyrovile. That puts its fire out and the whole thing collapses, shattering to pieces of rock.
CAECILIUS
What was it?
THE DOCTOR
Carapace of stone, held together by internal magma, not too difficult to stop. But I reckon that's just the foot soldier.
METELLA
Doctor, or whatever your name is, you bring bad luck on this house.
THE DOCTOR
I thought your son was brilliant, aren't you gonna thank him? (Metella and Caecilius hug Quintus) Still... If there are aliens at work in Pompeii, it's a good thing we stayed. Donna!
But she is nowhere…
THE DOCTOR
Donna? Donna?
***
Donna is tied to a stone altar, Spurrina stands beside her with a huge knife, the other Sisters in a circle around them.
DONNA
You have got to be kidding me.
SPURRINA
The False Prophet will surrender both her blood and her breath.
DONNA
I'll surrender you in a minute. Don't you dare!
SPURRINA
You will be silent.
DONNA
Listen, sister, you might have eyes on the back of your hands, but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I've finished with you! LET ME GO!
SPURRINA
This prattling voice will cease forever!
THE DOCTOR
Oh, that'll be the day.
The sisters are shocked by his appearance. Donna smiles at him.
SPURRINA
No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sibyl.
THE DOCTOR
Well, that's all right, just us girls. Do you know, I met the Sibyl once, yeah, hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance the Tarantella! Nice teeth. Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last, she said, 'I know'. Well, she would. (to Donna)You all right there?
DONNA (sarcastic)
Oh, never better.
THE DOCTOR
I like the toga.
DONNA
Thank you. And the ropes?
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, not so much.
He frees her with the sonic.
SPURRINA
What magic is this?
THE DOCTOR
Let me tell you about the Sibyl, the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. Is that how you spread the word, hey? On the blade of a knife?
SPURRINA
Yes, a knife that now welcomes you!
She lifts the knife at him.
HIGH PRIESTESS
Show me this man!
The sisters turn toward her bed and kneel down, except Spurrina who still stands behind the altar.
SPURRINA
High Priestess, the stranger would defile us.
HIGH PRIESTESS
Let me see. This one is different. He carries starlight in his wake.
The Doctor and Donna step closer to the bed.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?
HIGH PRIESTESS
The gods whisper to me.
THE DOCTOR
They've done far more than that. Might I beg audience? Look upon the High Priestess?
The curtains of the bad are drawn aside, revealing the High Priestess - a former human by now almost entirely turned to stone.
DONNA
Oh, my God. What's happened to you?
HIGH PRIESTESS
The heavens have blessed me.
THE DOCTOR
If I might...
He steps closer, touching the priestess' hand.
THE DOCTOR
Does it hurt?
HIGH PRIESTESS
It is necessary.
THE DOCTOR
Who told you that?
HIGH PRIESTESS
The voices.
DONNA
Is that what's gonna happen to Evelina? Is this what's gonna happen to all of you?
Spurrina shows her her hand, which is turning to stone like Evelina's.
SPURRINA
The blessings are manifold.
DONNA
They're stone.
THE DOCTOR
Exactly. The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts. But why?
HIGH PRIESTESS
This word, this image in your mind. This volcano... what is that?
THE DOCTOR
More to the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?
HIGH PRIESTESS
High Priestess of the Sibylline.
THE DOCTOR
No, no, no, no, no, I'm talking to the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust, in the lungs, taking over the flesh and turning it into... what?
HIGH PRIESTESS
Your knowledge... is impossible.
THE DOCTOR
Oh, but you can read my mind, you know it's not. I demand you tell me who you are!
Her voice changes - now she speaks as a Pyrovile.
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
We... are... awakening.
SPURRINA
The voice of the gods!
SISTERS (chanting non-stop)
# Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power...
THE DOCTOR
Name yourself! Planet of origin. Galactic coordinates. Species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation.
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
We... are... rising.
THE DOCTOR
Tell... me... your name!
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
Pyrovile.
SISTERS
# Pyrovile, Pyrovile, Pyrovile...
DONNA
What's a Pyrovile?
THE DOCTOR
Well that's a Pyrovile, growing inside her. She's a halfway stage.
DONNA
What, and that turns into...
THE DOCTOR
That thing in the villa, that was an adult Pyrovile.
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you, Doctor.
The Doctor pulls out a small yellow water pistol.
THE DOCTOR
I warn you, I'm armed! Donna, get that grille open.
DONNA
What for?
THE DOCTOR
Just... (to the priestess) What are the Pyrovile doing here?
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast, we were rendered into dust.
THE DOCTOR
Right, creatures of stone, shattered on impact. When was that, 17 years ago?
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
We have slept beneath for thousands of years.
THE DOCTOR
OK, so 17 years ago woke you up, and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourselves, but why the psychic powers?
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
We opened their minds and found such gifts.
THE DOCTOR
OK, get that fine, so you force yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond, I get that, I get that, yeah. But seeing the future, that is way beyond psychic, you can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?
DONNA
Got it!
THE DOCTOR
Now get down!
DONNA
What, down there?
THE DOCTOR
Yes, down there. Why can't this lot predict a volcano? Why is it being hidden?
SPURRINA
Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless!
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, but it's got a sting.
He sprays the High Priestess with water. She screams in pain.
THE DOCTOR (to Donna)
Get down there!
They jump down, while the Sisters run to help their High Priestess.
DONNA
You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you!
THE DOCTOR
This way!
DONNA
Where are we going now?
THE DOCTOR
Into the volcano.
DONNA
No way.
THE DOCTOR
Yes way. Appian way!
HIGH PRIESTESS/PYROVILE
The stranger would threaten our great endeavour. The time has come. The prophecy must advance!
LUCIUS
The prophecy must advance. Thy will be done. Summon the Cult of Vulcan.
SERVANT
Yes, sir.
LUCIUS
We must go to the mountain. Vesuvius awaits.
***
CAECILIUS
Sunrise, my love. A new day. Even the longest night must end.
QUINTUS
The mountain's worse than ever.
METELLA
We killed a messenger of the gods in our own house. (to Evelina) Sweetheart, can you see? Tell us. What's going to happen?
QUINTUS
Just… leave her alone.
EVELINA
I can see...
METELLA
What is it?
EVELINA
A choice. Someone must make a choice. (in tears) The most terrible choice.
***
DONNA
But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it all right, for you to stop it?
THE DOCTOR
Still part of history.
DONNA
But I'm history to you. You saved me, in 2008, you saved us all. Why's that different?
THE DOCTOR
Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.
DONNA
How do you know which is which?
THE DOCTOR
Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was, what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. And I'm the only one left.
DONNA
How many people died?
THE DOCTOR
Stop it.
DONNA
Doctor, how many people died?
THE DOCTOR
20,000.
DONNA
Is that what you can see, Doctor? All 20,000? And you think that's all right, do you?
There's a loud howl.
THE DOCTOR
They know we're here. Come on!
***
Lucius leads six black-cloaked people - each carrying a stone circuit- and the two armed guards to an opening in the side of Vesuvius.
LUCIUS
Almighty Vesuvius, accept these offerings, in Vulcan's design, and show unto us, I beseech you, the gods of the Underworld.
A Pyrovile comes out to them.
***
The Doctor and Donna arrive to a gigantic cave.
THE DOCTOR
It's the heart of Vesuvius. We're right inside the mountain.
DONNA
There's tons of them.
THE DOCTOR
What's that thing?
He uses a telescope to take a better look of a round thing in the middle of the cave. He can see the carvings inside.
DONNA
Oh, you better hurry up and think of something, Rocky fall's on its way.
THE DOCTOR
That's how they arrived. Or what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?
DONNA
But why do they need a volcano? Maybe... it erupts, and they launch themselves back into space or something?
THE DOCTOR
Oh, it's worse than that.
DONNA
How could it be worse? (there's another howl) Doctor, it's getting closer.
LUCIUS (from the other side of the cave)
Heathens! Defile us! They would desecrate your temple, My Lord Gods!
THE DOCTOR
Come on!
They run toward the middle of the cave.
DONNA
We can't go in!
THE DOCTOR
Well, we can't go back!
LUCIUS
Crush them! Burn them!
A Pyrovile steps in front of them, but the Doctor kills it with the water pistol, then they run toward the escape pod.
LUCIUS
There is nowhere to run, Doctor, and daughter of London.
THE DOCTOR
Now then, Lucius, My Lords Pyrovillian, don't get yourselves in a lather. In a lava? No? No. But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish... once this new race of creatures is complete, then what?
LUCIUS
My masters will follow the example of Rome itself. An almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilization.
DONNA
But if you've crashed, and you've got all this technology, why don't you just go home?
LUCIUS
The Heaven of Pyrovillia is gone.
THE DOCTOR
What d'you mean, 'gone'? Where's it gone?
LUCIUS
It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost. But there is heat enough in this world for a new species to rise.
THE DOCTOR
Yeah, I should warn you, it's 70% water out there.
LUCIUS
Water can boil. And everything will burn, Doctor.
THE DOCTOR
Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you. That's all I needed to know. Donna!
They get inside the pod, the Doctor seals the door with the sonic.
LUCIUS
You have them, My Lords!
DONNA
Could we be any more trapped?
The Pyroviles start to blow fire at the pod.
DONNA
Little bit hot.
THE DOCTOR
See? The energy converter takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix, which welds Pyrovile to human. Now it's complete, they can convert millions.
DONNA
But can't you change it? With these controls?
THE DOCTOR
Course I can, but don't you see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There IS no volcano. Vesuvius is never gonna erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power, and they use it to take over the world.
DONNA
But... you can change it back?
THE DOCTOR
I can invert the system, set off the volcano, and blow them up, yes. But… that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world.
DONNA (shocked)
Oh, my God.
THE DOCTOR
If Pompeii is destroyed then it's not just history. It's me. I make it happen.
DONNA
But the Pyrovile are made of rocks, maybe they can't be blown up.
THE DOCTOR
Vesuvius explodes with the force of 24 nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it. Certainly not us.
DONNA
Never mind us.
THE DOCTOR
Push this lever and it's over. 20,000 people.
He seems uncertain, unwilling to take responsibility for so many death, even for the sake of the whole planet. Donna puts her hands at his. They look at each other, then push it down together.
***
Hell breaks loose. Those with the gift of foresight scream in agony.
LUCIUS
Nooooooo!
SPURRINA
A new prophecy!
EVELINA
The future is changing!
Vesuvius erupts. There's a huge cloud of smoke and ash, but we can see the escape pod flying out.
CAECILIUS
Sky is falling!
EVELINA (in tears)
Death. Only death!
The Doctor and Donna get out of the pod, they are outside the town.
THE DOCTOR
It was an escape pod.
He grabs Donna's hand and they run back towards the town, the TARDIS. Clouds of ash hide the sun. The town is chaotic, people screaming, panicking, trying to escape.
CAECILIUS
Out! Out, everybody out! Quickly!
In the Temple of Sybil, the High Priestess/Pyrowile is still howling. Spurrina and Thalina are crouching in front of the altar, holding the unconscious young soothsayer in their laps.
SPURRINA
You lied to us! And yet, this was meant to be.
The Doctor and Donna run through the chaos on the streets. Donna still tries to save people but nobody listens to her.
DONNA
Don't! Don't go to the beach! Don't go to the beach, go to the hills! Listen to me! Don't go to the beach, it's not safe! Listen to me...!
She sees a little boy crying, alone, and goes to him.
DONNA
Come here.
The mother snatches him.
WOMAN
Give him to me!
Donna just stands there crying, devastated, until the Doctor grabs his hand.
THE DOCTOR
Come on.
They reach Caecilius' villa. The family is crouching on the ground, hugging each other, crying.
CAECILIUS
God save us, Doctor!
The Doctor looks at them, then turns away and enters the TARDIS.
DONNA
No! Doctor you can't!
She knows she should go, but can't leave them behind.
DONNA
Doctor!
The TARDIS engines start working. Donna finally runs inside.
DONNA
You can't just leave them!
THE DOCTOR
Don't you think I've done enough? History's back in place and everyone dies.
DONNA
You've got to go back! Doctor, I'm telling you, take this thing back! (after a pause, quietly) It's not fair.
THE DOCTOR
No, it's not.
DONNA
But your own planet... It burned.
THE DOCTOR
That's just it. Don't you see, Donna? Can't you understand? If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back, I can't. I just can't, I can't.
DONNA (in tears)
Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone.
The Doctor gives her a long look, before finally making up his mind.
***
The TARDIS rematerializes in Caecilius' villa. Surrounded by blinding light, the Doctor reaches out his hand to Caecilius.
THE DOCTOR
Come with me.
They grab each other's hand.
***
The Doctor, Donna and Caecilius' family are standing on a hillside, watching the destruction of Pompeii.
THE DOCTOR
It's never forgotten, Caecilius. Oh, time will pass, men will move on, and stories will fade. But one day, Pompeii will be found, again. In thousands of years. And everyone will remember you.
DONNA
What about you, Evelina? Can you see anything?
EVELINA
The visions have gone.
THE DOCTOR
The explosion was so powerful it cracked open a rift in time. Just for a second. That's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not any more. You're free.
METELLA
But tell me, who are you, Doctor? With your words, and your temple containing such size within?
THE DOCTOR
Oh, I was never here. Don't tell anyone.
CAECILIUS
The great god Vulcan must be enraged! It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of... volcano. (choking) All those people.
Metella hugs him, crying. Evelina and Quintus hold each other's hands. The Doctor and Donna enter the TARDIS quietly.
DONNA (sincere)
Thank you.
THE DOCTOR
Yeah.
THE DOCTOR
You were right. Sometimes I need someone. Welcome aboard.
DONNA
Yeah.
They share a smile.
***
ROME, 6 MONTHS LATER
***
CAECILIUS
Metella, my love, have you seen that clasp? The beetle one. The Egyptians do love a scarab.
METELLA
Here we are, I was giving it a polish. Now calm down.
CAECILIUS
If I get that contract, for the marble granaries of Alexandria, we'll be rich, you'll see... Hold on there, Evelina. You are not going out wearing that!
EVELINA
Don't start, Dad, it's what all the girls in Rome are wearing. (she kisses her dad) See you later.
CAECILIUS
Are you seeing that boy again?
METELLA (so proud)
Oh, look at Quintus. My son, the doctor.
QUINTUS
Mum, I've told you, I'm not a doctor, not yet. I'm just a student of the physical sciences.
METELLA
Well, that's a doctor to me. (she kisses his forehead) Give thanks to the household gods before you go. There's a good boy. (to Caecilius) Come here, let me fix it. You've got that folded all wrong...
QUINTUS
Thank you, household gods. Thank you for everything.
We see the new carving in the shrine: the Doctor, Donna, and the TARDIS as their temple.
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