Mummy On The Orient Express OR How Ze Doctuer Used 'Is Leetle Grey Cells.

At the end of Kill The Moon the Doctor said that the year 2049A.D would signify the start of humanity's great leap into space exploration and when you see a space ship designed to look like the classic train the Orient Express, you'd have to say he was right.

Inside one of the compartments, the passengers and staff are all dressed in the styles of the 1930's to add to the illusion. An old woman and her granddaughter, Maisie Pitts, are enjoying a meal. When the lights momentarily flicker the old woman looks up to see the hideous form of a mummy, arms outstretched, coming towards her. In the corner of the screen a timer begins to count down and despite the old woman protesting for the ship's captain to do something, none of the crew or other passengers can see the monstrosity. The mummy places its hands on either side of the old lady's head and she dies. From the time she sees the mummy to the time it actually kills her has only been 66 seconds....

Enter The Doctor.

The TARDIS materialises in the ship's baggage compartment and the Doctor and Clara emerge just after the death of the old woman. For her part, Clara apologises to the Doctor for her outburst at the end of Kill the Moon, explaining that she was angry. The Doctor understands and say he has brought Clara along to experience something luxurious and unique since she has decided to end her travels in the TARDIS. Clara thinks the old woman's death should be investigated but the Doctor counters that people die all the time for all sorts of reasons. They both retire to their respective compartments, the Doctor to talk to himself and formulate an investigation whilst Clara phones Danny. The Doctor decides to investigate the old woman's wheel chair (in reality an Excelsior Life Extender.) and decides against waking Clara.
The Doctor meets Chief engineer Perkins who is also suspicious  of the old lady's death and it becomes apparent that they are now both suspicious of each other. Meanwhile, Maisie Pitt, the victim's granddaughter has smashed a lock with the heel of her shoe to gain access to her gran's body she is joined by Clara and both women find themselves locked in the room with what appears to be something to contain the mummy.

More Victims and Even More Clues.

The Doctor can't release Maisie and Clara with his sonic screwdriver but reassures them they will be safe. He has spoken toProfessor Emile Moorhouse an  expert on the Fortold (a.k.a the Mummy) and then the Doctor notices that there seems to be a lot of scientists and professional types on board. The Captain is still highly suspicious of the Doctor.
The chef is killed by the Mummy, followed by one of the train guards and the information that Perkins has supplied to the Doctor relating to the passengers indicates that the one thing they all have in common is a physical or mental illness. The Doctor now knows that the Mummy is picking off the weakest first.

The Doctor has asked all the victims to describe exactly what they see as the Forsaken approaches them. The Doctor tells the ship's computer GUS that it can stop the pretence, he knows why they are here. Suddenly most of the passengers disappear as do the familiar surroundings, leaving a bare room full of scientific workstations. All these experts have been given a faked trip in order for them to discover the secrets of the Forsaken and work out a way to capture it. GUS tells them that the mummy is summoned by a scroll. Clara calls the Doctor but to prompt the Doctor to get back to work and end the call, the computer depressurises the galley, sending all the kitchen staff floating out into space.
Captain Quell tells the Doctor that he knows he will be the next to die because he suffers from post trauma syndrome over a previous mission. The Doctor tries to get Quell to describe the mummy in as much detail as he can before the 66 seconds are up.

When the Doctor learns that Maisie is traumatised over her gran's death he realises that she will be the next victim. He tells GUS that he can capture the mummy but only if it will allow Clara and Maisie to come to the car he is in. Clara is horrified to think the Doctor will allow Maisie to die but the Doctor actually transfers Maisie's trauma and bad childhood memories into himself so the mummy will attack him instead. With time rapidly diminishing at the mummy's approach, the Doctor realises that the symbols on the scroll are actually flags.

The mummy is actually a soldier kept alive beyond a normal lifespan by stealing the life "energy" of its victims. When the Doctor shouts "I surrender!" the mummy halts its advance and gives the doctor a salute before the Doctor grabs the machine that has kept it alive and the soldier crumbles to dust.
Now that the mystery of the Forsaken has been solved GUS has no reason to keep the passengers alive and blows up the remaining carriages but the Doctor has uncoupled the engine and returned all the passengers to the nearest inhabited planet. Clara meanwhile awakes from a sleep on the beach and the Doctor informs her everyone is safe.
Aboard the TARDIS, Clara phones Danny and tells him her last trip has just ended, she lies to the Doctor and tells him that Danny is fine with her travelling with the Doctor.
It seems Miss Oswald is not quite ready to stop travelling...just yet.

For another great review of this Doctor Who story and other great sci fi please visit Stranger Views

NEXT POST:

We'll take a look at the good and bad elements of Mummy On The Orient Express.