Rose Talks to an Ood

The TARDIS materializes in a Sanctuary Base far out in deep space. The Doctor and Rose Tyler start to explore and discover strange symbols on the wall that defy the TARDIS' ability to translate, which indicates that the writing is older than his people might know.

Then they are surrounded by a group of bizarre alien creatures - which they later discover are called the Ood - who they believe are attacking them but are, in fact, seem to be docile subordinates to the humans who inhabit this base.

When a massive impact hits the base, The Doctor and Rose realise where they are... an impossible planet, an airless world orbiting a black hole which cannot possibly exist. They learn, from the human occupants, that the expedition is now stuck here, monitoring the black hole in a place where by all scientific probability it - and they - cannot exist. The team is drilling to reach a power source, which keeps the world in balance, ten miles below... something buried down within the planet that they have not yet identified.

The Doctor and Rose

The Doctor then realises that they themselves are trapped because when the impact hit, it wiped away part of the base where the TARDIS had materialised. But before they can start to worry about this misfortune The Doctor and Rose get caught up in other strange events.

Archaeologist, Toby, who has been examining the ancient writing, has started hearing voices while the ancient symbols start to appear on his hands, and soon he is not in control of his body. Then he goes outside the base, watched by Maintenance Trainee Scooti, who is then killed when Toby shatters the window. But by the time The Doctor and company respond, Toby has returned to normal and has no memories of what's happened.

Ancient Writing

Rose and Danny start to hear the otherwise docile Ood say things that they shouldn't and are all confined after demonstrating further unusual behaviour and worrying psychic patterns.

When the drill reaches its destination ten miles below, The Doctor accompanies scientist Ida down the mine shaft where they discover a huge cavern, the ruins of an ancient civilisation and a huge engraved seal protecting something even deeper in this impossible planet.

Back on the base, Toby is once again transformed into a hideous servant of something called The Beast. The Ood are now completely possessed as an army for this 'beast' and break free from their confinement and start to kill the humans.

The Control Center

Suddenly the planet's gravity field starts to collapse and the world starts moving toward the black hole, while in the depths of the planet, The Doctor and Ida watch helplessly as the seal opens and something alien inside starts to become free - An alien known as The Beast who, acting through the Ood, takes control of the viewscreens to deliver a stark message to the crew. He even announces to Rose that she "will die in battle, so very soon"…

The Doctor tries to restore some confidence and faith in the crew by explaining how The Beast just preys on basic fears and how they can rise above it. And he seems to succeed until The Beast snaps the cable supporting the lift so trapping The Doctor and Ida deep below the surface of the planet. As they only have one hour of oxygen left Ida suggests she ventures into the Pit as they have not much left to lose. The Doctor disagrees and suggests he go instead.

It is therefore up to The Doctor to discover who The Beast is and to find a way of defeating him while Rose, along with the rest of the crew, has to find a way of defeating the Ood and to find a way of this planet before it is consumed by the black hole.

Luckily for The Doctor discovers where the TARDIS is and Rose discovers that the crew have a rocket that can be used for all those still alive on surface to escape in. But will she leave The Doctor and what of Toby – will he allow the humans to leave the planet? And if The Doctor and Rose do manage to escape what of The Beast’s prediction to Rose?