There must be something I can do, tell me!
DThe Doctor
Too late, Peri. Going soon. Time to say goodbye.
Don't give up! You can't leave me now!
DDoctor
I might regenerate! I don't know.
DDoctor
Feels different this time.
What was it you always told me, Doctor? Brave heart? You'll survive, Doctor.
You must survive. Too many of your enemies would delight in your death, Doctor.
KKamelion
Turlough speaks the truth, Doctor.
You're needed. You mustn't die, Doctor.
Too many of your enemies would be delighted.
No, my dear Doctor, you must die! Die, Doctor! DIE, DOCTOR! [laughs wickedly]
FDFirst Doctor
Well. You’re obviously one of the more determined of us. Hm?
FDFirst Doctor
You refused to pass through. Quite the strength of character, this incarnation.
The question is, what are we going to do about it now?
DThe Doctor
Do about what?
Our predicament. This is supposed to get handed on - you can’t just ruin it for the next one.
FDFifth Doctor
And you were doing so well.
DThe Doctor
Um - where am I, exactly? Cos the last thing I remember, is being forced to regenerate.
That’s why we’re here. To stop you moving through any further. You’re not finished. We are not finished.
FDFifth Doctor
Vestiges of your consciousness.
DThe Doctor
Why are you not...?
There's always one. Has to be different.
I am a manifestation of our consciousness. I can wear what I like.
DThe Doctor
Could we just focus on this? Whatever this is. You said Guardians of the Edge. The edge of what?
FDFifth Doctor
It’s symbolic, obviously. Consciousness will do that. But this is the place you pass through, during the process of regeneration. Go past here, there’s no way back.
But time’s running out. We cannot let the Master permanently hijack our existence.
DThe Doctor
Yes. Very aware of that. But I’m thinking, in the immediate aftermath of regeneration, the body’s weak. Unstable, while it reforms.
Ah good, yes! Even more so, with a forced regeneration.
So until it’s settled, he may be vulnerable. We’d need help on the outside. But that’s easier said than done.
DThe Doctor
Unless one of us, or all of us, was very clever. I mean, that’s why you’ve manifested here, to remind me: there’s always a way. Things will work out. Right?
DThe Doctor
You wanna hear a story?
Don't give him more power.
DThe Doctor
Really short, really short. You know Hemingway. I saw some of his books back there. I met him. I wanted to see how good he was, so I challenged him. "Hemy, baby, write me the shortest story you can". He wrote it in six words. Short as hell! Do you wanna hear mine? I'm born. I die. I'm born.
[The Barber's haircut machine overloads.]
BThe Barber
You are giving me power. But how? I am not connected to you!
DThe Doctor
No, the engine is connected to me. My stories, my voice. Look. On!
[The screens turn on and play parts from the Doctor's past.]
...in the universe can do what we're doing.
[Cut to a quick flash of the Third Doctor.]
I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord.
When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die!
When people need help, I never refuse.
FDThe Fifth Doctor
I am definitely not the man I was.
[Cut to a short glimpse of the Eleventh Doctor.]
DThe Doctor
My body is like a barbershop. All of them inside, telling their stories, bickering! I... will not... fail them!
[In the barbershop they are treated to colour versions of the Fourth, Eighth and First Doctors. The spider starts moving again, faster and faster. The little screen shows the Fifth Doctor with Tegan Jovanka and Vislor Turlough, then the Sixth Doctor.]
BThe Barber
[laughs] You told a never-ending story, and gave me never-ending power!
He's taken out a third of the engine. You can't process that power. Your engine could overload and explode! We'll all be sucked into space!
BThe Barber
You will not do that. You will not! No. No! Would you? The stories say you protect life.
DThe Doctor
That is what I am doing.
You know, I loved being you. Back when I first started, at the very beginning, I was always trying to be old and grumpy and important — like you do, when you're young. And then, I was you. And it was all dashing about and playing cricket and my voice going all squeaky when I shouted. I still do that, the voice thing, I got that from you. Oh, and the trainers. And... [puts his glasses on] snap! 'Cos you know what, Doctor? You were my Doctor.
[Five beams and tips his hat to his future self.]
FDThe Fifth Doctor
To days to come.
All my love to long ago. [bows]
Doctor Who · 1,966 quotes
