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int. stephan's house - evening

Stephan walks in the front door. The children are running around the house, playing a game. They go past him as he hangs up his hat and coat. He stretches wearily and goes into the kitchen. Nancy comes around the corner and runs right into him. He hugs her to keep them both from falling down.

NANCY

Oh my gosh, you scared me!

STEPHAN

(wearily)

Likewise.

NANCY

(seeing the bandaged arm)

Are you okay?

STEPHAN

Fine. Just a little accident.

NANCY

(concerned)

What happened?

STEPHAN

My own damn fault. Nothing to worry about.

NANCY

Are you sure?

STEPHAN

Yeah. No problem. Have you started dinner?

NANCY

No.

STEPHAN

Excellent. There's hope for you yet.

NANCY

You did tell me not to.

STEPHAN

Following instructions. Well done.

NANCY

So, Mr. Gourmet, what's for dinner?

STEPHAN

Stew. Carrots, potatoes, meat, celery. Get them out. I'll cut up the meat and you can cut the vegetables. One inch cubes on everything.

NANCY

That I can do.

They go into the kitchen. Stephan washes his hands in the sink. He lifts the bandage a little bit, wincing with the pain. Nancy comes over to look. He pulls away from her.

NANCY

(gently)

Just let me look, alright? I'm not gonna hurt you.

STEPHAN

(relenting)

It already hurts.

NANCY

The skin is really dry. You need to keep it moist. I have some lotion you can use.

STEPHAN

Thanks.

They start chopping.

NANCY

So, how was your first day at work?

STEPHAN

Just some orientation stuff. Nothing I couldn't handle.

NANCY

What do they have you doing?

STEPHAN

Just some team organization stuff, mostly clerical.

NANCY

Well, how'd you do that to your arm?

STEPHAN

(lying)

I said mostly clerical. The other is practical applications of some of my military skills, mostly working with chemicals.

NANCY

Oh. So who are you working with?

The kids rush in.

allison

What's for dinner?

jaime

Yeah, Mom, what's for dinner?

Stephan looks at them sideways, but says nothing. Nancy looks to see if he noticed, then continues on like nothing has happened.

NANCY

It's supper. And we're having stew!

JAIME

You're not cooking it, are you, Mommy?

Stephan laughs to himself.

NANCY

No, darling, Stephan is.

JAIME

Yay!

NANCY

Go on, get out. You're in the way.

She shoos the kids out. She glares at Stephan, daring him to laugh again. He obviously pretends like nothing happened.

NANCY

So, your coworkers, what are they like?

STEPHAN

Nancy, can we talk about work later? I'm tired and I have to concentrate on not cutting the tips of my fingers off.

NANCY

(embarassed)

Yeah, sorry. I should have realized.

STEPHAN

It's okay.

He takes the meat and puts it in a pot. Then he goes to the high cabinet and pulls out the scotch and the glass. He pours a drink, downs it, and pours another. He takes the bottle with him over to the stove. Nancy looks, but says nothing.

int. dining room - later

Everyone is sitting at the dinner table, eating. Stephan sits at the head of the table, eating his soup in silence. Nancy sits at the end, taking care of Jaime and Allison, who are eating messily, too short to reach up above the table. The others eat in silence as well.

GERALD

(belligerently)

So are we going to talk about this?

NANCY

About what?

GERALD

What we're doing here. This is stupid. We don't even know this bastard, how do we know we can trust him?

NANCY

Gerald! Language!

GERALD

How do we know he's who he says he is? I want him to prove it.

NANCY

Captain Broom has very generously offered to help us. Don't insult him.

GERALD

And what is he getting in return? Are you sleeping with him?

STEPHAN

(hitting the table)

That's enough!

Gerald stares at him. Stephan looks him in the eye. Nancy looks down at her plate, her cheeks very red.

STEPHAN

Ask me.

GERALD

Why are you helping us?

STEPHAN

Because I can.

GERALD

That's not good enough.

STEPHAN

Contrary to what you might think, I don't have to answer to you.

GERALD

People just don't help others without getting something for themselves.

STEPHAN

I am getting something. But I'm not going to tell you what it is. Since you're all here, let me lay a few groundrules. Tonight, you are free to go. If you're still here in the morning, that means you agree to abide by my rules and to do what I say. This is your last chance to leave.

GERALD

You're not our father.

STEPHAN

No. But I am protecting you so maybe you can see your real parents again.

GERALD

I still don't understand why you're doing this.

STEPHAN

Your understanding is not critical to how this situation works. Now, eat your soup before it gets cold.

Stephan resumes eating. Gerald looks at Nancy who just looks back at him. He sits down slowly and eats. Stephan is the first to finish. He takes his dishes away and puts them in the kitchen, then he goes upstairs.

GERALD

Nancy-

NANCY

No, Gerald. Just don't.

int. living room - later

Nancy comes down the stairs. It's late. She just finished putting the children to sleep. Stephan is sitting on a box in front of the fire, smoking a cigarette. She sits down beside him.

NANCY

You got more.

STEPHAN

On the way home from work. I forgot the food. I'll do it tomorrow.

NANCY

That's fine. About what happened-

STEPHAN

It's over. Don't worry about it.

NANCY

I'm sorry.

STEPHAN

You're not the one who should apologize.

NANCY

Still-

STEPHAN

(emphatically)

Nancy, don't worry about it.

He takes a drag in silence.

NANCY

So, you didn't tell me about work.

STEPHAN

Not much to tell.

NANCY

Is that code for you're just not going to tell?

STEPHAN

Nancy, we need to talk. This confrontation with Gerald highlights the fact that we need a story to explain what we're doing. The neighbors will ask questions.

NANCY

What should we tell them?

STEPHAN

Well, I was going to leave that up to you. I won't be home much. You'll be the one they talk to. Anything you say is fine by me, but we need to be consistent with our story.

NANCY

All right. Um-

STEPHAN

(interrupting wearily)

Not right now. I just can't handle it right now.

NANCY

(standing)

Okay. You should rest.

STEPHAN

You'll have to tell them something about Jaime, too. Unlike us, he can't lie to the neighbors.

NANCY

I wondered if you'd caught that.

STEPHAN

I knew there was something up before. He looks like you.

NANCY

I'm not a whore.

STEPHAN

I didn't think you were. One thing you never have to worry about is what I think of you. With me, reputation is based on what you do, not what you've done.

NANCY

Thank you.

STEPHAN

You're welcome. Good night, Nancy.

NANCY

Good night, Captain.

int. upstairs hallway - later

Stephan walks down the hallway in the dark, quietly. He looks inside Nancy's bedroom and sees her asleep, a protective arm draped over Jaime's small frame. He looks for a moment, then walks on to the closet door at the end of the hall. He opens it to reveal a ladder. He climbs the ladder.

int. attic

He comes out into an attic. He goes over to a desk. The broken typewriter is there. He sits down at the desk and works with it for a little while. He opens a drawer of the desk and pulls out a device. The device is a small, square box made out of computer part. Wires stick out of it and a small, clear tube connected to a container of orange liquid. It is a strange piece of equipment, completely out of place in the 1940s. He takes it and places it inside the typewriter, attaching wires to parts of the typewriter.

Once he's finished, he puts a piece of paper in the typewriter and types.

/THE DOCTOR:/

He waits for a moment, hands on either side of the typewriter. A second later the typewriter starts typing on its own.

/THE DOCTOR:/

HOME PLANET: GALLIFREY

CURRENT LOCATION: UNKNOWN

MEANS: T.A.R.D.I.S.

DESIGNATION: TIME TRAVELLER

CONTACT: UNKNOWN

Stephen yells in triumph. He catches himself and settles himself quickly. It works. He types again

/DAVID WELLMAN:/

Stephen waits again. The typewriter types again.

HOME PLANET: EARTH

CURRENT LOCATION: LONDON, ENGLAND - YEAR|1941

MEANS: NONE

DESIGNATION: MISFIT

CONTACT: TORCHWOOD ONE COMMUNICATION'S BOARD

Stephen sits back, brow furrowed in frustration. The camera zooms out, revealing the rest of the room.

The room is completely modern. There are modern furnishings, modern lighting, posters of U2 and Metallica. Stephan looks out of place in his uniform.

fade out

End.