The Pilot (TV story): Difference between revisions

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|scene analysis  = "It's Bigger On The Inside!" - Doctor Who Series 10
|scene analysis  = "It's Bigger On The Inside!" - Doctor Who Series 10
}}{{you may|The Pilot Episode}}
}}{{you may|The Pilot Episode}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the first episode of the [[Series 10 (Doctor Who)|tenth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' produced by [[BBC Wales]]. It introduced the [[Twelfth Doctor]]'s new companion, [[Bill Potts]].
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the first episode of the [[Series 10 (Doctor Who)|tenth series]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' produced by [[BBC Wales]]. It introduced the [[Twelfth Doctor]]'s new companion, [[Bill Potts]]. This marks the first time that a Revived Series episode opens without any music or dialogue for a few minutes, leaving only the sound of a clock in the background.


According to [[Steven Moffat]] in a video introduction, "series 10 sort of begins the show again. [''The Pilot''] introduces everything you need to know about ''Doctor Who'', and tips you into the [[Doctor Who universe|universe]]". Indeed, through Bill's eyes now, new viewers are introduced again to the character of [[the Doctor]], [[the TARDIS|his TARDIS]], his enemies the [[Dalek]]s, and his versatile tool, the [[sonic screwdriver]], much like they did through [[Rose Tyler]] in [[series 1 (Doctor Who)|series 1]]'s 2005 "pilot", ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'', or through [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] in the original 1963 introduction, "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]".
According to [[Steven Moffat]] in a video introduction, "series 10 sort of begins the show again. [''The Pilot''] introduces everything you need to know about ''Doctor Who'', and tips you into the [[Doctor Who universe|universe]]". Indeed, through Bill's eyes now, new viewers are introduced again to the character of [[the Doctor]], [[the TARDIS|his TARDIS]], his enemies the [[Dalek]]s, and his versatile tool, the [[sonic screwdriver]], much like they did through [[Rose Tyler]] in [[series 1 (Doctor Who)|series 1]]'s 2005 "pilot", ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'', or through [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Wright|Barbara]] in the original 1963 introduction, "[[An Unearthly Child (episode)|An Unearthly Child]]".
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This was also the first on-screen depiction of [[Movellan]]s since their debut in ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]''. The episode introduces [[St Luke's University]], where the Doctor apparently has been lecturing for over fifty years, and begins a plot thread surrounding what he and [[Nardole]] are hiding in [[Vault (The Pilot)|a vault]] beneath the campus. This bears some similarity to the era of the [[Third Doctor]], who was likewise restricted in his travels and held a job as the scientific adviser of UNIT.
This was also the first on-screen depiction of [[Movellan]]s since their debut in ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]''. The episode introduces [[St Luke's University]], where the Doctor apparently has been lecturing for over fifty years, and begins a plot thread surrounding what he and [[Nardole]] are hiding in [[Vault (The Pilot)|a vault]] beneath the campus. This bears some similarity to the era of the [[Third Doctor]], who was likewise restricted in his travels and held a job as the scientific adviser of UNIT.


Some things were different with Bill as a companion; she was panicky when first travelling in the TARDIS, and took a long time to figure out that it was "bigger on the inside". Continuing the unofficial theme of having the Daleks appear in each season of the Revived Series, the Doctor attempts to destroy the sentient oil with the deadliest fire in the universe, which turns out to the Daleks.
Some things were different with Bill as a companion; she was panicky when first travelling in the TARDIS (while others had been skeptical or enthusiastic), and took a long time to figure out that it was "bigger on the inside". Continuing the unofficial theme of having the Daleks appear in each season of the Revived Series, the Doctor attempts to destroy the sentient oil with the deadliest fire in the universe, which turns out to the Daleks.


By the Doctor's own admission, he has come to believe that if he encounters some kind of alien on Earth, it is likely going to be dangerous as most of the past aliens he's encountered on Earth have been. However, in a twist, the "threat" turns out to be a misunderstanding caused by a [[crush]].
By the Doctor's own admission, he has come to believe that if he encounters some kind of alien on Earth, it is likely going to be dangerous as most of the past aliens he's encountered on Earth have been. However, in a twist, the "threat" turns out to be a misunderstanding caused by a [[crush]]. In a sense of humor, the Doctor also brings up the fact that predators look evil, but only by things below it in the food chain; "hunger looks like evil from the wrong end of the cutlery."
 
Upon becoming sentient oil in this story, Heather is noticeably unskilled in using her new abilities; primarily, whenever she took form, she was still leaking and appearing wet. By the time she returns in [[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|''The Doctor Falls'']], Heather has mastered her abilities, able to appear as a dry version of herself and transform Bill into a fellow sentient oil being.


This episode marks the first time since [[The Snowmen|''The Snowmen'']] that the lights in the TARDIS have been off. However, unlike back then, ALL the lights are now able to be shut off when the Doctor hasn't been inside for a while.
This episode marks the first time since [[The Snowmen|''The Snowmen'']] that the lights in the TARDIS have been off. However, unlike back then, ALL the lights are now able to be shut off when the Doctor hasn't been inside for a while.
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The episode opens with an empty [[The Doctor's office (The Pilot)|university professor's office]]; nobody is in. The sound of mechanical whirring is heard for a while before the door opens and [[Nardole]] leads a woman called [[Bill Potts]] in; he gestures for her to take a seat at the professor's desk. A bolt falls out his arm, but he discretely kicks it away before Bill can notice. He leaves without a word, leaving Bill to wait for the professor to arrive.  
The episode opens with an empty [[The Doctor's office (The Pilot)|university professor's office]]; nobody is in. The sound of mechanical whirring is heard for a while before the door opens and [[Nardole]] leads a woman called [[Bill Potts]] in; he gestures for her to take a seat at the professor's desk, with his arm whirring. A bolt falls off his arm, but he discretely kicks it away before Bill can notice. Smiling, Nardole leaves without a word, leaving Bill to wait for the professor to arrive.  


[[File:The_Pilot_Cup_of_Sonic.jpg|thumb|Various [[sonic screwdriver]]s.]]Bill looks around the room, finding the TARDIS in a corner, with an "Out of Order" sign hanging on it. She notices a mug on the professor's desk full of the Doctor's old [[Sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdrivers]], and reaches out to examine one. However, she is startled by the sound of an [[electric guitar]] playing the opening bars to [[Beethoven's Fifth Symphony|''Beethoven's Fifth Symphony'']]. She coughs loudly to make her presence known, and the Doctor sticks his head round the door.  
Left to her thoughts, Bill looks around with room with nothing but the sound ticking clocks to keep her company. She notices the TARDIS in a corner, with an "Out of Order" sign hanging on it. Bill's attention is next drawn to the professor's desk, where there's a mug filled with the Doctor's old [[Sonic screwdriver|sonic screwdrivers]]. She reaches out to examine one, but is startled when the silence is broken by the sound of an [[electric guitar]] playing the opening bars to [[Beethoven's Fifth Symphony|''Beethoven's Fifth Symphony'']]. She coughs loudly to make her presence known, and the Doctor sticks his head round the door. He tells her to wait a moment. After that, Bill listens to him clumsily put away the guitar and turn off his amp. 


Putting his guitar away, the Doctor takes his seat and asks Bill for her name. He wonders why she's been attending his [[lecture]]s as he knows she is not a student at the university. She admits that she actually works at the [[St Luke's canteen|university canteen]], but attempts to deny sneaking into the Doctor's lectures. He counters that he has seen her and asks again why she keeps turning up. After fumbling over a story about a girl she fancied in the canteen, Bill confesses that she loves his lectures and always wanted to attend the university. She then challenges him, asking why the man has taken an interest in her as "plenty of people come to [his] lectures that aren't supposed to". He explains that he has noticed her because she smiles when she doesn't understand something, whilst the majority frown.  
[[File:The_Pilot_Cup_of_Sonic.jpg|thumb|Various [[sonic screwdriver]]s.]]The Doctor enters the room and takes his seat; he asks Bill for her name. He wonders why she's been attending his [[lecture]]s as he knows she is not a student at the university. She admits that she actually works at the [[St Luke's canteen|university canteen]], but attempts to deny sneaking into the Doctor's lectures. He counters that he has seen her and asks again why she keeps turning up. After fumbling over a story about a girl she fancied in the canteen, Bill confesses that she loves his lectures and always wanted to attend the university. She then challenges him, asking why the man has taken an interest in her as "plenty of people come to [his] lectures that aren't supposed to". He explains that he has noticed her because she smiles when she doesn't understand something, whilst the majority frown.  


Bill asks around about the Doctor, saying that it's rumoured he's lectured for over 70 years. The Doctor thinks she's asking about his age, but Bill says that she wants to know what subject he's supposed to be lecturing on. It seems he has permission to talk about whatever he wishes; on one occasion, he was supposed to give a lecture on quantum physics, but talked about poetry. He tells her that they're basically the same thing because of all the rhymes. The Doctor offers to be Bill's personal tutor, and sort out her enrolment with the university, on the condition that she comes to his office at 6pm every weekday (even if someone is dying) and that if she gets anything less than a First on every assignment, the tutoring will cease. As she leaves, she asks what she should call him, as everyone calls him [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]]. He tells her it's what he's called. Bill is sure this cannot be his real name, asking "Doctor what?" The Doctor just smiles.
Bill asks around about the Doctor, saying that it's rumoured he's lectured for over 70 years. The Doctor thinks she's asking about his age, but Bill says that she wants to know what subject he's supposed to be lecturing on. It seems he has permission to talk about whatever he wishes; on one occasion, he was supposed to give a lecture on quantum physics, but talked about poetry. He tells her that they're basically the same thing because of all the rhymes. The Doctor offers to be Bill's personal tutor, and sort out her enrolment with the university, on the condition that she comes to his office at 6pm every weekday (even if someone is dying) and that if she gets anything less than a First on every assignment, the tutoring will cease. As she leaves, she asks what she should call him, as everyone calls him [[Twelfth Doctor|the Doctor]]. He tells her it's what he's called. Bill is sure this cannot be his real name, asking "Doctor what?" The Doctor just smiles.


Bill goes through her daily routine: serving chips, attending the Doctor's lectures and tutoring sessions, and returning home to her foster mother, [[Moira (The Pilot)|Moira]]. Bill explains that the Doctor is kind of her foster tutor, as Moira goes over Bill's assignments, where she has scored at least 87% in each subject the Doctor has taught her, even very obscure topics. Moira is worried that the Doctor might be some kind of paedophile, warning Bill to be careful of men. Annoyed, Bill mutters under her breath she's not interested in men.  
Bill goes through her daily routine: serving chips, attending the Doctor's lectures and tutoring sessions, and returning home to her foster mother, [[Moira (The Pilot)|Moira]]. Bill explains that the Doctor is kind of her foster tutor, as Moira goes over Bill's assignments, where she has scored at least 87% in each subject the Doctor has taught her, even very obscure topics. Moira is worried that the Doctor might be some kind of paedophile, warning Bill to be careful of men. Annoyed, Bill mutters under her breath she's not interested in men.  
 
[[File:St Luke's lecture hall (The Pilot).jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|The Doctor giving a lecture on time and relative dimension in space]]
The Doctor gives a lecture on the concept of the passage of time; in truth, time doesn't pass, because life is a great magician that only allows people to live one day at a time. As people remember living yesterday, they hope they'll live another day tomorrow. He further explains that each day is like a photo, a frozen moment, which, like a movie, when played in quick succession, comes alive. The Doctor tells his audience to imagine all time happening at once. Every moment from birth to death, all the triumph and heartbreak of their lives comprising an entire city; it's the best place a person can ever hope to be.  Writing on the chalk board, the Doctor calls this Time and Relative Dimension in Space, going on to say "it's called life". That night, when out at the student [[Bar (The Pilot)|bar]] with her friends, Bill's eye's meet those of another girl across the room. As she heads to the bar, Bill bumps into her and notices that the girl has a gold pattern like a star in her eye.  
The Doctor gives a lecture on the concept of the passage of time; in truth, time doesn't pass, because life is a great magician that only allows people to live one day at a time. As people remember living yesterday, they hope they'll live another day tomorrow. He further explains that each day is like a photo, a frozen moment, which, like a movie, when played in quick succession, comes alive. The Doctor tells his audience to imagine all time happening at once. Every moment from birth to death, all the triumph and heartbreak of their lives comprising an entire city; it's the best place a person can ever hope to be.  Writing on the chalk board, the Doctor calls this Time and Relative Dimension in Space, going on to say "it's called life". That night, when out at the student [[Bar (The Pilot)|bar]] with her friends, Bill's eye's meet those of another girl across the room. As she heads to the bar, Bill bumps into her and notices that the girl has a gold pattern like a star in her eye.  


The next morning, Bill sees the Doctor and Nardole suspiciously hurrying through the university quad and decides to follow them out of curiosity. The pair descend into [[Vault (The Pilot)|a hidden vault]] under [[St Luke's University|the university]], and Bill is surprised to find that the security door opens for her. She overhears snatches of their conversation but accidentally kicks over some clutter on the floor and fearing detection, hurriedly makes her way out again. Outside, she notices [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]], whom she recognises as the girl from the bar, sitting on a bench looking distraught. Bill asks if she is okay and enquires about the star in her eye, but Heather brushes this off as a "defect in the iris." Sensing that Heather is troubled, Bill asks if she is "freaking out about something." Heather hesitates, before asking Bill to come with her and see something; Bill accepts and they set off across campus. On the way Heather says that she hates the university but doesn't know why, remarking "Everywhere I go, I just want to leave." The pair arrive at a concrete service yard behind one of the university buildings, entering through a gap in the security fence. Heather points out [[Sentient oil|a mysterious puddle]] on the concrete that ought not to be there, as it hasn't rained in a week. When Bill finds this unremarkable, Heather asks her to look at her reflection in the puddle and tell her what's wrong with it. Bill notices that her face ''does'' appear wrong in the puddle's reflection, but can't figure out how. Whilst Bill ponders the unsettling reflection, Heather is overcome by her desire to leave and walks off, though not without regret. Bill is left crestfallen, and leaves too. When the yard is empty again, a voice issuing from the dark liquid announces that the "pilot is located".
The next morning, Bill sees the Doctor and Nardole suspiciously hurrying through the university quad and decides to follow them out of curiosity. The pair descend into [[Vault (The Pilot)|a hidden vault]] under [[St Luke's University|the university]], and Bill is surprised to find that the security door opens for her. She overhears snatches of their conversation but accidentally kicks over some clutter on the floor and fearing detection, hurriedly makes her way out again. Outside, she notices [[Heather (The Pilot)|Heather]], whom she recognises as the girl from the bar, sitting on a bench looking distraught. Bill asks if she is okay and enquires about the star in her eye, but Heather brushes this off as a "defect in the iris." Sensing that Heather is troubled, Bill asks if she is "freaking out about something." Heather hesitates, before asking Bill to come with her and see something; Bill accepts and they set off across campus. On the way Heather says that she hates the university but doesn't know why, remarking "Everywhere I go, I just want to leave."  


The pair arrive at a concrete service yard behind one of the university buildings, entering through a gap in the security fence. Heather points out [[Sentient oil|a mysterious puddle]] on the concrete that ought not to be there, as it hasn't rained in a week. When Bill finds this unremarkable, Heather asks her to look at her reflection in the puddle and tell her what's wrong with it. Bill notices that her face ''does'' appear wrong in the puddle's reflection, but can't figure out how. Whilst Bill ponders the unsettling reflection, Heather is overcome by her desire to leave and walks off, though not without regret. Bill is left crestfallen, and leaves too. When the yard is empty again, a voice issuing from the dark liquid announces that the "pilot is located".
[[File:Bill Potts' flat.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Bill "celebrates" Christmas with Moira]]
At Christmas time, Bill celebrates with the Doctor, giving him a rug as a present; though the Doctor admits that he hasn't gotten her anything. They discuss travelling, Bill saying that she can sense that the Doctor travels around, even though he denies it. She says "With some people you can smell the wind in their clothes." This is what she presumes her birth mother would have said, revealing that she died when Bill was young. Bill tells the Doctor that she apparently looks like her mother but doesn't know this as there are no photographs of her. She wonders whether photos really help after loved ones are gone, causing the Doctor to look wistfully at the photographs of his wife [[River Song|River]] and granddaughter [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] on his desk. At home, Bill's foster mother Moira shows her a newly discovered box containing photos of [[Bill Potts' mother|Bill's birth mother]]. Bill weeps upon discovering that she looks just like her mother. She notices the reflection in a mirror in one of the photos, in which the Doctor can be seen holding the camera.  
At Christmas time, Bill celebrates with the Doctor, giving him a rug as a present; though the Doctor admits that he hasn't gotten her anything. They discuss travelling, Bill saying that she can sense that the Doctor travels around, even though he denies it. She says "With some people you can smell the wind in their clothes." This is what she presumes her birth mother would have said, revealing that she died when Bill was young. Bill tells the Doctor that she apparently looks like her mother but doesn't know this as there are no photographs of her. She wonders whether photos really help after loved ones are gone, causing the Doctor to look wistfully at the photographs of his wife [[River Song|River]] and granddaughter [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] on his desk. At home, Bill's foster mother Moira shows her a newly discovered box containing photos of [[Bill Potts' mother|Bill's birth mother]]. Bill weeps upon discovering that she looks just like her mother. She notices the reflection in a mirror in one of the photos, in which the Doctor can be seen holding the camera.  


[[File:Sentinent_oil_The_Pilot.jpg|left|thumb|The strange [[sentient oil|liquid]].]]
Months later, Bill walks past the service yard again and is delighted to find Heather, who is once more staring into the puddle. Bill calls out and Heather smiles, though her demeanour is noticably different to the last time they met; there is a knowing look in her eyes. She asks if Bill ever worked out what was wrong with her reflection in the puddle. When Bill answers that she did not, Heather invites Bill to come round and offers to show her. Remembering her hasty departure when they last met, Bill asks Heather to promise not to go without her. Heather promises, but when Bill has run around the building and through the gap in the fence, her friend is nowhere to be seen. Assuming Heather to have walked out on her again, Bill is slightly offended, and leaves; not seeing Heather's screaming face beneath the surface of the puddle. As she is pulled down into the liquid, a voice announces "Pilot confirmed. Pilot engaged."
[[File:Sentinent oil The Pilot.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|The puddle begins chasing Bill and the Doctor]]
Worried about Heather and her fascination with the strange puddle, Bill consults the Doctor. She tells him about Heather's eye and the inexplicable reflection in the puddle. On hearing this, the Doctor runs out of his office to investigate, and Bill follows. Bill begins rambling on about Heather, wondering if something has taken over her mind, like in the science fiction shows she's seen on [[Netflix]]. When Bill presents an idea, which is that an alien lizard is in Heather's head, a confused Doctor states "you see a girl with a star in her eye and your first though is that she has a lizard in her brain?" The Doctor eventually figures out that the reflection looks wrong because it is not a reflection at all. He explains that when looking at your reflection you never see your face the right way round; it looks wrong in the puddle because it looks right.
 
Bill then notices that the badge on her jacket is on the wrong side in the puddle. The Doctor explains that it was for Heather to spot because the star in her eye makes her face asymmetrical. Bill questions how it behaves like a reflection, leading the Doctor to conclude "It's not reflecting you, it's mimicking you. There's something in the water pretending to be you."  He scoops up a sample in a test tube and examines the pattern of scorch marks on the concrete nearby. Sensing danger, the Doctor sends Bill home to keep her safe; he tells her it's just a freak optical trick to shut Bill up. As she heads off, the voice from the puddle declares "Passenger selected. Pursuit engaged" and the puddle begins to move.


Months later, Bill walks past the service yard again and is delighted to find Heather, who is once more staring into the puddle. Bill calls out and Heather smiles, though her demeanour is noticably different to the last time they met; there is a knowing look in her eyes. She asks if Bill ever worked out what was wrong with her reflection in the puddle. When Bill answers that she did not, Heather invites Bill to come round and offers to show her. Remembering her hasty departure when they last met, Bill asks Heather to promise not to go without her. Heather promises, but when Bill has run around the building and through the gap in the fence, her friend is nowhere to be seen. Assuming Heather to have walked out on her again, Bill is slightly offended, and leaves; not seeing Heather's screaming face beneath the surface of the puddle. As she is pulled down into the liquid, a voice announces "Pilot confirmed. Pilot engaged."
Back at her flat, Bill hears the shower and guesses Moira is in. However, she then gets a call from Moira, who she knows is seeing her ex-boyfriend [[Neville (The Pilot)|Neville ]]again because the mobile number belongs to him. Bill asks if Moira allowed anyone to stay at the flat, to which Moira denies; when she asks why, Bill passes it off as a random concern and hangs up. She grabs an umbrella as a blunt weapon and enters the bathroom to find no-one is in there. She looks in the drain to find Heather's starry eye star. Realizing it's not a freak optical trick like the Doctor dismissed it as, Bill runs out the flat to see if he's still at the university.
[[File:HeatherCreatureOffice.JPG|thumb|220x220px|The Doctor meets the new Heather]]
Outside [[St Luke's University]], Bill is confronted by her pursuer; it's Heather. When Bill trys to speak to her however, she only mimics Bill's words. As Bill steps closer, she sees that liquid is constantly pouring over Heather's body, dripping off her hair and hands; her face is pale and expressionless. Bill is horrified, exclaiming "You're dead?" Heather suddenly glides towards her, but Bill escapes and rushes into the Doctor's office, where he is examining a sample of the puddle. Though Bill bars the door, the puddle gushes under it and reforms into Heather; she tells the Doctor he was wrong about what the puddle was.
 
The Doctor convinces Bill to enter his blue box, taking the sign off as they do. Bill protests that the box can't save them, since the doors looked wooden and they had windows, only to turn around as the console lights up and the Doctor reveals [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. Bill asks if it's a knock-through, which the Doctor confirms is partially correct. Amazed by the sight of the console room, Bill compares it to a "really posh kitchen", before wondering why the doors to the TARDIS aren't as fancy; she wonders if he ran out of money building it. Annoyed, the Doctor begins pondering what to do; on the monitor, Heather hasn't moved. Bill asks him if there's a toilet in the TARDIS, as she needs to go after having that fright. He gives her directions on where it is. On the way down, Bill runs into Nardole; he asks if the Doctor wants Bill removed. The Doctor tells him she needs the toilet; Nardole tells Bill to wait a bit (he just used it.)
 
Suddenly the TARDIS shakes. Nardole asks what's happening, to which the Doctor explains is an attack. On the monitor, Heather is shown attacking the TARDIS to get in. The Doctor proceeds to take them down to the vault, where Bill realises that the police box in the corner of the Doctor's office is his spaceship, which is bigger on the inside. The Doctor and Bill infer that the puddle creature is not here for whatever is hidden inside the vault and is instead there to chase them. Even as they reach this conclusion however, liquid trickles down the steps and Heather reappears. She issues a piercing scream as the Doctor, Bill and Nardole escape in the TARDIS.
[[File:Sydney establishment.jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|"Run! Shark attack!!"]]
The Doctor decides to give Heather a challenge, taking the TARDIS away from the university. He exits the TARDIS into daylight, confusing Bill; they are now at a dock. Bill asks if they've gone to the future, prompting the Doctor to tell her that they haven't; they've just moved to the other side of the world, where it's daytime. The Doctor moves out of Bill's sight to reveal the Sidney opera house; they're in Australia. Bill begins panicking and runs into restroom in a nearby establishment.  


Worried about Heather and her fascination with the strange puddle, Bill consults the Doctor. She tells him about Heather's eye and the inexplicable reflection in the puddle. On hearing this, the Doctor runs out of his office to investigate, and Bill follows. The Doctor eventually figures out that the reflection looks wrong because it is not a reflection at all. He explains that when looking at your reflection you never see your face the right way round; it looks wrong in the puddle because it looks right. It was easy for Heather to spot because the star in her eye makes her face asymmetrical. Bill questions how it behaves like a reflection, leading the Doctor to conclude "It's not reflecting you, it's mimicking you. There's something in the water pretending to be you." He scoops up a sample in a test tube and examines the pattern of scorch marks on the concrete nearby. Sensing danger, the Doctor sends Bill home to keep her safe. As she heads off, the voice from the puddle declares "Passenger selected. Pursuit engaged" and the puddle begins to move. Back at her flat, Bill notices the sounds of someone in the bath, even though Moira is out that night. Bill runs to the university upon seeing Heather's starry eye staring out of her bathroom drain.
The Doctor follows after her, asking if Bill is fine. Bill asks the Doctor if he's from space; he tells her that he's not: "Nobody's from space. I'm from a planet like everybody else." When asked if he's from Earth, the Doctor tells her "not particularly". Calmed down some, Bill then states that TARDIS doesn't make sense then, as it only works in English; if he's an alien, why would he name his spaceship in English instead of his native language? The Doctor replies that most people don't bring this up. Heather soon catches them up, forming out of droplets on a mirror, so the trio again escape in the TARDIS.  


Outside [[St Luke's University]], Bill is confronted by her pursuer. When Bill trys to speak to her however, she only mimics Bill's words. As Bill steps closer, she sees that liquid is constantly pouring over Heather's body, dripping off her hair and hands; her face is pale and expressionless. Bill is horrified, exclaiming "You're dead?" The creature suddenly glides towards her, but Bill escapes and rushes into the Doctor's office, where he is examining a sample of the liquid from the puddle. Though Bill bars the door, the puddle gushes under it and reforms into Heather. The Doctor convinces Bill to enter his blue box, taking the sign off as they do. Bill protests that the box can't save them, since the doors looked wooden and they had windows, only to turn around as the console lights up and the Doctor reveals [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]]. Coming to terms with its size, Bill claims she needs the toilet, meeting Nardole on her way down. The Doctor proceeds to take them down to the vault, where she realises that the police box in the corner of the Doctor's office is his spaceship, which is bigger on the inside. The Doctor and Bill infer that the puddle creature is not here for whatever is hidden inside the vault and is instead there to chase them. Even as they reach this conclusion however, liquid trickles down the steps and Heather reappears. She issues a piercing scream as the Doctor, Bill and Nardole escape in the TARDIS, which the Doctor flies to Australia to test the Heather creature's abilities.
Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor noted it took Heather mere minutes to catch up to them; this time, he's going to give her a real challenge. Bill wonders where they're going, to which the Doctor explains:the other side of the universe, 23 million years in the future. Bill is amazed to be on alien planet, which has a yellow sky; she wonders what it's made of. The Doctor jokes "lemon drops". Bill then asks the Doctor if he thinks the possessed Heather is evil; he explains that evil is based on perspective. Some things in the universe are not trying to cause harm, but are just hungry; "hunger looks like evil from the wrong end of the cutlery." He then jokingly asks if Bill thinks her food loves her back. Nardole asks the Doctor why he thinks the creature is hostile, to which the Doctor explains is because most things in the universe that they're encountered have turned out to be so.
[[File:Planet (The Pilot).jpg|thumb|200x200px|The unknown planet]]
The Doctor hypothesises that the puddle is a type of sentient oil or perhaps a small part of a shape-shifting "liquid spaceship" which had lain dormant until it saw something it needed. On the Doctor's prompting Bill remembers Heather's desire to leave, explaining why the puddle chose her; it needed a pilot, someone who wanted to fly away. When Nardole asks why the creature wants Bill, the Doctor begins to suspect that it may be the result of the mutual crush she and Heather had on one another, asking: "What, in the end, are any of us looking for? We're looking for someone who's looking for us." As the Doctor says this, Bill looks into a pool of liquid she has found. Heather begins to rise to the surface, smiling at Bill, who smiles back. But then her smile fades and Heather grabs Bill, trying to pull her down. The Doctor and Nardole free Bill and they retreat to the TARDIS, as liquid gushes out of the pool and begins to reform.  


In Australia, Bill asks the Doctor if he's from space; he tells her that he's not: "Nobody's from space. I'm from a planet like everybody else." Bill contends that the acronym TARDIS doesn't make sense then, as it only works in English, to which the Doctor replies that most people don't bring this up. Heather soon catches them up, forming out of droplets on a mirror, so the trio again escape in the TARDIS, this time to a planet on the other side of the universe, 23 million years in the future. Here, the Doctor hypothesises that the puddle is a type of sentient oil or perhaps a small part of a shape-shifting "liquid spaceship" which had lain dormant until it saw something it needed. On the Doctor's prompting Bill remembers Heather's desire to leave, explaining why the puddle chose her; it needed a pilot, someone who wanted to fly away. When Nardole asks why the creature wants Bill, the Doctor begins to suspect that it may be the result of the mutual crush she and Heather had on one another, asking: "What, in the end, are any of us looking for? We're looking for someone who's looking for us." As the Doctor says this, Bill looks into a pool of liquid she has found. Heather begins to rise to the surface, smiling at Bill, who smiles back. But then her smile fades and Heather grabs Bill, trying to pull her down. The Doctor and Nardole free Bill and they retreat to the TARDIS, as liquid gushes out of the pool and begins to reform.  
The Doctor's last test of Heather's abilities is basic sterilization. They are going to run her through "the deadliest fire in the universe"; Nardole likes the wondering. However, the Doctor adds that there's only one way to run her through it, and that's to run through themselves first. Nardole notices the one flaw in that plan. However, he soon becomes terrified of where the Doctor is taking them next. The Doctor hands him the Fourth Doctor's sonic screwdriver, telling him to run interference. The TARDIS lands and Bill is curious as to why they've landed; the Doctor explains that they've arrived in a battle in the middle of a war. He's got "old friends" here. They exit the TARDIS in one direction, while Nardole goes in the other.
[[File:Dalek (The Pilot).jpg|left|thumb|200x200px|"The deadliest fire in the universe."]]
As they walk through the wreckage of the area, Bill wonders if this is the future again. The Doctor tells her that this is the past (on a different planet). She wonders if they're safe, to which the Doctor says is up to Nardole; not really. Moments later, [[Movellan|Movellans]] rush in and are blasted by [[Dalek]] fire. The Doctor and Bill notice Heather has appeared and he leads Bill into another corridor. A lone Dalek is there; the Doctor tells Bill that iot's the deadliest fire in the universe. It demands to know who they are. The Doctor holds out his sonic screwdriver and demands it be scanned. Indentified as an enemy, the Doctor smiles and pulls Bill away as the Dalek fires. The blast hits Heather, who appeared behind them; however, it passes through her. The Dalek fires in vain, as Heather repeats its "exterminate" cries in an annoyed tone.  


The Doctor's last test of Heather's abilities is to run her through "the deadliest fire in the universe". Nardole is terrified of where they're going; the Doctor hands him the Fourth Doctor's sonic and tells him to run interference. Once they land, Nardole runs off in the opposite direction. The Doctor leads Bill to a skirmish in the [[Dalek-Movellan War]]. They are found by Heather, who is shot by a Dalek; but the blast goes straight through her and she reforms after it. The Dalek fires in vain as the Doctor and Bill run. They are then confronted by a Dalek, but when it appears to malfunction, the Doctor realises something is wrong with it. He looks into the Dalek's eye stalk, which is displaying the striking star pattern of Heather's eye. The Dalek dissolves and reforms as Heather. [[File:Bill and Heather.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Heather tries convincing Bill to join her ]]
Elsewhere, Nardole is sealing off the area, but is caught by a Dalek and fired upon. Nardole manages to escape, yelling for the Doctor. The Doctor and Bill attempt to get back to the TARDIS, but are halted by a shot fired by a Dalek. It says "exterminate" in a garbled voice; the Doctor knows something is off as he has TONS of experience with Daleks. He gets close and notices something off with its eye stalk. He tells Bill to look at it as well. Heather's eye is in it; it's not a real Dalek, just her. The Dalek leaks fluid and dissolves into a puddle. The puddle then reforms as Heather. [[File:Bill and Heather.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Heather tries convincing Bill to join her ]]
The Doctor infers that the creature doesn't mean to harm Bill, as it didn't use the Dalek's weaponry. He challenges Heather, demanding she leave Bill and fly away; asking "why won't you just go?" At this, Bill suddenly remembers that the last thing Heather said was a promise not to leave without her. "Never underestimate a crush" the Doctor notes, as they realise that Heather is inviting Bill to fly with her. The Doctor tells Bill to release Heather, so Bill sadly absolves her of the promise, telling her "I really liked you." However, Heather reaches out her hand to Bill, who takes it, in spite of the Doctor's protests. As their hands clasp a sphere of water surrounds them and Bill sees a stunning vision of planets and stars interspersed with Heather's memories of their mutual attraction. The Doctor tells Bill to resist, still fearing the possiblity that it is a trick. Bill sadly says goodbye to Heather, to which Heather responds "Goodbye, Bill": the first thing she has said since her transformation that is not mimicry, indicating that Heather remains herself and is not possessed. Heather departs leaving Bill shaken and upset.
The Doctor infers that the creature doesn't mean to harm Bill, as it didn't use the Dalek's weaponry. He challenges Heather, demanding she leave Bill and fly away; asking "why won't you just go?" At this, Bill suddenly remembers that the last thing Heather said was a promise not to leave without her. "Never underestimate a crush" the Doctor notes, as they realise that Heather is inviting Bill to fly with her. The Doctor tells Bill to release Heather, so Bill sadly absolves her of the promise, telling her "I really liked you." However, Heather reaches out her hand to Bill, who takes it, in spite of the Doctor's protests. As their hands clasp a sphere of water surrounds them and Bill sees a stunning vision of planets and stars interspersed with Heather's memories of their mutual attraction.


The Doctor brusquely returns to his ship while Nardole comments on the former's seemingly ignorant behaviour. Bill comments that the tears she sheds don't feel like her own.
The Doctor tells Bill to resist, still fearing the possiblity that it is a trick. Bill sadly says goodbye to Heather, to which Heather responds "Goodbye, Bill": the first thing she has said since her transformation that is not mimicry, indicating that Heather remains herself and is not possessed. Heather departs leaving Bill shaken and upset. The Doctor brusquely returns to his ship while Nardole comments on the former's seemingly ignorant behaviour. Bill comments that the tears she sheds don't feel like her own.  


Back in the university office,  Bill seems to regret her decision not to leave with Heather, asking the Doctor if they will see her again and looking hopefully at the TARDIS. The Doctor says that she must forget about seeing Heather or travelling in the TARDIS and tries to wipe her memories of doing so, explaining that he must remain in disguise, unknown to everyone owing to a promise he made. Bill retorts, asking how he would feel if [[Clara Oswald|someone]] tried to wipe ''his'' memories. The Doctor tells Bill to leave immediately without another question, before he changes his mind. He looks at the picture of River, telling it to shut up, then the same for Susan's picture. Even the TARDIS briefly hums causing the Doctor to confess he "can't keep doing this".
Back in the university office,  Bill seems to regret her decision not to leave with Heather, asking the Doctor if they will see her again and looking hopefully at the TARDIS. The Doctor says that she must forget about seeing Heather or travelling in the TARDIS and tries to wipe her memories of doing so, explaining that he must remain in disguise, unknown to everyone owing to a promise he made. Bill retorts, asking how he would feel if [[Clara Oswald|someone]] tried to wipe ''his'' memories. The Doctor tells Bill to leave immediately without another question, before he changes his mind. He looks at the picture of River, telling it to shut up, then the same for Susan's picture. Even the TARDIS briefly hums causing the Doctor to confess he "can't keep doing this".
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