The Sarah Jane Adventures s01e03 Episode Script
Eye of the Gorgon: Part 1
OWL HOOTS Hello? Who's there? The nun! Help me! She's here! The nun! The nun! My nan and Mrs Randall go way back.
She lived next door until her old fella died.
Nan says Mrs Randall doesn't see things or make things up.
It's not just her that's been scared by this ghostly nun? Other residents have seen it? Yeah, always at night, in their rooms.
Nora Connelly saw her first.
She'd been to the loo dreadful trouble she has with her waterworks.
Three or four times every night.
She comes out of the bathroom, and there she isthe nun by her chest of drawers.
And what happened? Well, she fainted clean away like a schoolgirl.
No constitution at all.
Surprised, the amount of times she's been married.
Since then, most of us have seen her.
Them that's not too ga-ga not to notice, anyways.
Well, thank you for your help, Mrs Randall.
So, will there be a photographer? You wouldn't think it, but I was in all the papers once.
Miss Ealing of 1951.
Well, it depends I have to talk to the manager first.
While you do that, I've got a few little jobs for Clyde to do.
Your grandma said you wouldn't mind.
Delicious.
It's his own stupid fault.
If he hadn't spent so much time in the office, I wouldn't have gone to salsa classes.
Salsa? Ivan gets the hump, gets all possessive.
Next thing I know, Carlos is on the ballroom floor with a bloody nose.
Carlos? Hmm.
My salsa teacher.
So Ivan's got the push, has he? Don't get your hopes up, it's just a nudge.
Let him know what he stands to lose unless he sharpens up.
And you plan to stay here? Well, where else am I going to go? It'll be like old times.
Mum! The Colonel won't believe us, darling.
But who would? Better to keep mum.
Yes, better that way Are you all right? Yes, yes, yes.
Quite all right, thank you.
Are you one of theone of the Colonel's chaps? The Colonel? No, I I'm Bea Nelson-Stanley.
I'm looking for my husband, the Professor.
He said to meet him between the paws of the Oh, what do you call it, the blessed thing? .
.
er, the Sphinx.
The Sphinx? Yes.
That's in Egypt.
You're the boy in the window.
My name's Luke.
We were visiting Mrs Randall.
She says this place is haunted by a nun.
Have you seen her? Yes.
I have, and she's no ghost.
There's something different about you.
Oh, don't be afraid.
It's all right, I've seen unusual people before.
Perhaps you can help me.
I understand you're looking for a good story, MisserSmith.
I suggest you try Westminster for something rather more newsworthy.
You don't believe Lavender Lawns is haunted, then? One of the old dears has a nightmare, she tells her friend she's seen a ghost, then, next thing, what do you know? They've all seen one.
It's hysteria, Miss Smith.
It's as simple as that.
Perhaps.
Or maybe it's a cry for attention.
We have to be quick, Luke in case anyone's watching.
Who's watching? The Oh, for goodness' sake I have these gaps Um, hold this.
I knew they might find me one day.
But I couldn't be parted from it.
Foolish old woman.
What is it? Never you mind.
Just promise me, you will not tell anyone you have the talisman.
And whatever you do, do not let her get it.
Do not let her get it.
Who? Put it away and promise me! I promise.
But who's after it? Do I know you? What? Anything I can help with? You and maths? I don't think so.
At school the only figures I was interested in were fellas' phone numbers.
Maybe we can do something together after you've finished? Go into town, do some more maths on my credit card? I'd like to, Mum, but I said I'd go over Sarah Jane's later.
Sarah Jane's? Maria, come on, I'm your mum.
Why are you always gallivanting with those weirdos over the road? Sarah Jane and Luke aren't weirdos.
It's weird how much time you spend with her.
There's something about that boy.
I hope you don't fancy him, I don't know what it is, but he's not right.
Well, you don't know anything about them! I'm your mum, Maria.
I'm just trying to protect you.
I don't need you to protect me.
Come on, darling, every girl needs her mum.
How come you walked out on me, then?! Maria Get out! Get out! Why is it old people want you to do everything for them? Turn the mattress over.
Move things around on the shelf.
Take that spider out the bath.
I came here looking for spooks, not jobs.
Everyone gets old, Clyde.
Even you.
Ah, no, not me.
Way technology's moving, by the time I'm 40 I can get my brain put in a robot and live for ever.
Oh Where have you been? Just looking around.
Come on.
Let's get going.
So is this place haunted, or what? I don't know.
But there's something about it here I don't like.
What's the problem? She doesn't like me seeing Sarah Jane and Luke.
She knows nothing about them! We'll be back to normal in a few days.
You mean she'll be back with Ivan.
Unless he sees sense and does a runner.
Doesn't it bother you? Maria, your mum and me you know that's all over.
That's great for you, isn't it? Some solicitor gives you a bit of paper and it's all over! What good is that to me? She's always going to be my mum! Of course she is.
Well, maybe I want her to get to know my friends, so she doesn't think they're weird, and maybe I don't want her to go with Ivan.
But that's never going to happen, because you've got a bit of paper! SHE KNOCKS I've come to see Sister Helena.
Mr Smith, I need you! Yes, Sarah Jane.
What can I do for you? The Lavender Lawns Rest Home is apparently being haunted by a nun.
I need you to access central land registry database, see if anything supports the possibility.
Of a haunting? Just run the check, Mr Smith.
Very well.
Doesn't Mr Smith believe in ghosts? Not as such.
And neither do I.
There is no record of any past ecclesiastical building on the site of Lavender Lawns.
No obvious reason for the home to be haunted by a nun? I assume that by haunting you mean the projection of energies imprinted on psychic-assimilating matter.
Obviously.
Come again? Events get recorded on their surroundings, then, under certain circumstances, they get played back.
Sarah Jane, Luke has brought an unidentified element of alien technology into the attic.
What? Whoa, Luke! No way did that come off the Shopping Channel.
Give it to me.
One of the residents, Mrs Nelson-Stanley, gave it to me.
Sorry.
Was that wrong? I don't know.
Mr Smith, is it safe? Insufficient data.
I'd like to carry out a detailed analysis.
Do you mind? There's a lot of sensitive equipment in here.
Sorry.
So what's going on? Some old biddy's given Luke an alien gizmo.
She said the nun wasn't a ghost and it's looking for the talisman.
Well, I'd better go back and talk to Mrs Nelson-Stanley.
Do you want to come with me? You two stay here.
But she gave it to me.
And I brought you in on this, it's likemy case.
No arguments! Are you all right? Mum's back.
'It isn't like my Maria,' running off like this.
She never used to be such a drama queen.
No.
Thank goodness.
That's another gene she managed to miss.
She'll be over there, with that Sally Jane.
We all need a friend.
You've got your salsa teacher.
There's nothing going on with Carlos.
I've got too good a thing going on with Ivan.
You hadn't with me and Maria? If you want to pick a fight over dirty old laundry, do it some other washday.
I'm too worried about our daughter.
You're worried now.
What's that supposed to mean? It means, why didn't you think before you dumped yourself on us today, like nothing had happened? It isn't your home, Chrissie.
You took our home apart six months ago.
Showing up like that, with your And you're sure it was the talisman? Absolutely.
I saw her give it to the boy.
Why would she give it to the boy unless she knew we were looking for it? You told us she barely knows her own name.
I know where you can find him.
All the same, we have paid you well for your assistance, Mrs Gribbins, but this just complicates everything.
The Abbess will want to see you.
The Abbess? CLEARS THROAT LOUD SCREAM Poor Bea, she can't really tell you anything, Miss Smith.
It's the Alzheimer's, you know.
Such a tragedy.
After the life she led.
She's been everywhere.
Was this her husband? Archaeologist, so the nurses reckon.
They went all over the world together.
What happened to him? He died about five years ago.
Bea started to lose it after that.
That's when she washed up here.
The talisman! Talisman? I thought you wanted to talk to her about the ghost? Bea, you've got visitors.
Do I know you? I'm sorry, these days I'm not very good with faces.
This is Miss Sarah Jane Smith.
She's a reporter.
Oh, oh, well, it's my husband you want to talk to, then.
It's you I need to talk to, Bea.
Can you tell me where you got this talisman? That's my Edgar.
Your husband? Yes.
He used to say the Sontarans were the silliest-looking race in the galaxy.
What did you say? She's always going on about monsters and spacemen She's seen Sontarans! What's a Sontaran? The silliest race in the galaxy! That's what Edgar used to say.
Like a hugepotato with aa ray gun.
Quite nasty blighters they were, all the same.
Yes, Bea, they are! You're right! You're absolutely right.
You shouldn't encourage her, Miss Smith.
She'll go on and on about monsters, and especially the Gorgon.
I saw that years ago at the flicks with Christopher Lee and, er, Barbara Shelley.
Hello.
Hello, I'm Sister Helena from St Agnes's Abbey.
And who might you be? He's Luke.
I'm Clyde.
And which one of you fine young men were at Lavender Lawns today and left with a gift from one of the old ladies? Don't know what you mean.
How do you know she gave me anything? Can it, Luke.
Why are you looking for the talisman? Luke! Boys, you don't understand what you've got your hands on! You're not getting your hands on it, either.
Give me the talisman! Hello, Sister.
Collection, is it? Abbey roofs don't fix themselves.
We're still working on that miracle! I always give to needy causes.
You could say it's a good HABIT of mine.
I was after Maria.
She was upset earlier.
You haven't seen her, have you? She's gone out with Sarah Jane.
Look, do me a big favour, will you? When they get back, tell her I was looking? Please.
Of course.
Cheers.
Listen, Luke.
When weirdo nuns turn up on your doorstep asking about freaky glowing alien gizmos, one thing you never do is tell them you got one.
I didn't.
We should call Mum and tell her.
We should go round there.
Isn't phoning quicker? Sure we could phone.
Or we could go round there and get back in on the action.
Yeah? If Bea's wearing the alien talisman, and she's seen these Sontarans, she isn't just talking about horror movies, like Mrs Randall thinks.
Aliens have been coming to Earth for centuries, Maria.
Maybe Bea's adventures with her archaeologist husband involved more than just old pots and bones.
This was our song.
Edgar had such a lovely voice.
Did he? I'm sure he was quite a man.
It's so sad.
The things she must have seen.
And now everyone just thinks she's crazy.
Who knows where any of us will end up? Someone doesn't think you're Someone knows what the talisman is and they want it.
The talisman? Yes, Bea.
The talisman.
Tell me what you know.
I promise I'll believe you.
People have thought I've been mad.
But I've seen things, too.
Like you.
Edgar unearthed it in a dig in in Syria and he gave it to me.
He had no idea what it was.
He had no idea.
So, what is it? They mustn't find it! They mustn't find it! Who, Bea? Who do you mean? The Sisters! The nuns? They protect her.
Protect who? The Gorgon.
It's all in here, I know it is.
A Gorgon - snakes for hair and turning people to stone by looking at them? It's a fairy story, isn't it? A myth.
A Greek myth.
There's a big difference.
And, incidentally, for future reference, Maria, even some fairy tales have a foundation in fact.
Here it is.
There were three Gorgons.
The hideous daughters of Phorcys the sea god and Ceto.
Stheno, Euryale and Medusa.
That's right.
But in some versions of the story there was just one - Medusa.
And she wasn't always ugly.
She was a beautiful nymph with golden hair, but Poseidon fell in love with her and jealous Athena turned her into a Gorgon.
Medusa was killed by Perseus as a challenge.
The Greeks were always dishing out challenges to each other.
It must be a man-thing.
But this one really had to be a tough call.
Warriors tried to slay the Gorgons, but all of them turned to stone.
Because they had to look at them to kill them.
Perfect defence mechanism.
Once you laid eyes on a Gorgon, you couldn't run or attack.
Your body was already turning to stone.
And there was nothing you could do to stop it.
One glance is all it took Terrifying.
Does Bea believe Gorgons existed? I think she believes one still does.
It's Sister Sinister again.
Don't run away, Luke.
I won't hurt you.
I just want a little chat.
What about? Don't listen to her.
No way is she really a nun.
Whatever else would I be? I don't know.
I bet you ain't got legs under there, just a bunch of slimy tentacles, or something.
Your friend watches too much TV.
I think we could talk a little more sensibly without him.
Jump in the car.
We'll go to the abbey.
I don't think so.
You're safe with me.
We're not going anywhere with you.
It's not an open invitation.
Listen to your friend here and you'll be in far more danger, I guarantee.
But I can help you.
I want to help you.
The talisman's dangerous? More than you can imagine.
No way.
Luke! Clyde! Clyde! Clyde! So it's an alien? Remember what I said.
Aliens have been coming here for thousands of years.
And one's survived all this time? Yeah, perhaps.
How can it turn people to stone just by looking horrible? PHONE RINGS Luke's been nabbed by a nun.
What? I warned him not to talk to that freaky nun! It just happened so fast.
They pull up, and, bam! Clyde, calm down.
She was after the talisman.
Where's she gone? Any idea? She was from some abbey.
Well, she's a nun, Clyde! Which one? Think! I'm trying to! I dunno, some old woman's name Like the lady writer The old lady detective Miss Marple? Agatha Christie? St Agatha? Agnes! St Agnes' Abbey! Get in the car! Oh, hello, my name is Felicity Barnes.
I'm doing a story for the Times on religion in the 21st century.
Is there anyone I can talk to? Oh, perhaps Sister Helena? So much for fake ID.
Now what? Where do we go? I don't know.
What do nuns do with kids they kidnap? Let's start here.
Hold on.
What if it's in there? This Gorgon thing.
Just keep your eyes closed and hold my hand.
Luke! Are you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
What do you think you're doing, getting into a stranger's car? For an intelligent boy, sometimes I can't believe how stupid you are! I didn't just get in Luke was never in any danger, Miss Smith.
Bringing him here was the fastest way of attracting your attention.
Although your other two young friends were a surprise.
We found Mrs Gribbins She's been turned to stone.
Unfortunately Mrs Gribbins always was something of a useless old fossil.
Are you really protecting a Gorgon here? A creature with writhing serpents for hair? Those melodramatic Greeks.
They never could resist embellishing a story, but, yes, as you've seen, the myth isn't entirely without foundation.
But it's an alien.
Right? The Gorgons travelled to our world 3,000 years ago.
Once there was three.
Now only one.
A real live Gorgon? Generations of our Sisters protected the Gorgons down the centuries.
If she's survived 3,000 years, what happened to the other two? One was killed during ancient days, when our sisterhood served Demeter, when the key was stolen The key to whatever brought the Gorgons to Earth.
And the Sisters have been searching for it ever since.
Did you get close once, Sister Helena? Maybe fifty years ago? When the second Gorgon died? Professor Nelson-Stanley and his meddlesome wife.
I'm sure you will be more reasonable.
I wouldn't bet on it.
Kidnapping, turning people to stone, not the kind of things that make me feel reasonable.
Sarah Jane, 3,000 years is a long time, even for a being with a Gorgon's lifespan.
She is old.
The talisman opens a portal to the Gorgon's world.
She only wants to go home to die.
You can understand that, can't you? Why should I believe you? Miss Smith, you have no choice.
All right.
We'll get it.
The boys stay here.
No! They'll be perfectly safe as long as you don't try to deceive us.
We can't give them the talisman.
At least we're on my territory now, not theirs.
We are.
But they've still got the boys.
The girl stays with me.
I'm sorry, analysis incomplete.
Keep your voice down! Is this because I'm picking up a hostile alien intelligence? Yes, and it's about to meet another one.
Doesn't she speak English? The Gorgon doesn't need to speak.
You mean she's, like, telepathic? Is that how she controls you? Looking after a Gorgon isn't exactly normal for a bunch of nuns, is it? I'd shut up if I were you, or the Abbess might show you her idea of solving a problem like Maria.
Is this what you've spent The key to the portal! BUZZING What do you think you're doing? Either you let my son and his friend go, or I will destroy the talisman with sonic disruption.
I warned you, Miss Smith.
Now look on the face of the Gorgon and feel your flesh turn to stone! Don't look, Maria! Hello? The door was open Dad! Dad!
She lived next door until her old fella died.
Nan says Mrs Randall doesn't see things or make things up.
It's not just her that's been scared by this ghostly nun? Other residents have seen it? Yeah, always at night, in their rooms.
Nora Connelly saw her first.
She'd been to the loo dreadful trouble she has with her waterworks.
Three or four times every night.
She comes out of the bathroom, and there she isthe nun by her chest of drawers.
And what happened? Well, she fainted clean away like a schoolgirl.
No constitution at all.
Surprised, the amount of times she's been married.
Since then, most of us have seen her.
Them that's not too ga-ga not to notice, anyways.
Well, thank you for your help, Mrs Randall.
So, will there be a photographer? You wouldn't think it, but I was in all the papers once.
Miss Ealing of 1951.
Well, it depends I have to talk to the manager first.
While you do that, I've got a few little jobs for Clyde to do.
Your grandma said you wouldn't mind.
Delicious.
It's his own stupid fault.
If he hadn't spent so much time in the office, I wouldn't have gone to salsa classes.
Salsa? Ivan gets the hump, gets all possessive.
Next thing I know, Carlos is on the ballroom floor with a bloody nose.
Carlos? Hmm.
My salsa teacher.
So Ivan's got the push, has he? Don't get your hopes up, it's just a nudge.
Let him know what he stands to lose unless he sharpens up.
And you plan to stay here? Well, where else am I going to go? It'll be like old times.
Mum! The Colonel won't believe us, darling.
But who would? Better to keep mum.
Yes, better that way Are you all right? Yes, yes, yes.
Quite all right, thank you.
Are you one of theone of the Colonel's chaps? The Colonel? No, I I'm Bea Nelson-Stanley.
I'm looking for my husband, the Professor.
He said to meet him between the paws of the Oh, what do you call it, the blessed thing? .
.
er, the Sphinx.
The Sphinx? Yes.
That's in Egypt.
You're the boy in the window.
My name's Luke.
We were visiting Mrs Randall.
She says this place is haunted by a nun.
Have you seen her? Yes.
I have, and she's no ghost.
There's something different about you.
Oh, don't be afraid.
It's all right, I've seen unusual people before.
Perhaps you can help me.
I understand you're looking for a good story, MisserSmith.
I suggest you try Westminster for something rather more newsworthy.
You don't believe Lavender Lawns is haunted, then? One of the old dears has a nightmare, she tells her friend she's seen a ghost, then, next thing, what do you know? They've all seen one.
It's hysteria, Miss Smith.
It's as simple as that.
Perhaps.
Or maybe it's a cry for attention.
We have to be quick, Luke in case anyone's watching.
Who's watching? The Oh, for goodness' sake I have these gaps Um, hold this.
I knew they might find me one day.
But I couldn't be parted from it.
Foolish old woman.
What is it? Never you mind.
Just promise me, you will not tell anyone you have the talisman.
And whatever you do, do not let her get it.
Do not let her get it.
Who? Put it away and promise me! I promise.
But who's after it? Do I know you? What? Anything I can help with? You and maths? I don't think so.
At school the only figures I was interested in were fellas' phone numbers.
Maybe we can do something together after you've finished? Go into town, do some more maths on my credit card? I'd like to, Mum, but I said I'd go over Sarah Jane's later.
Sarah Jane's? Maria, come on, I'm your mum.
Why are you always gallivanting with those weirdos over the road? Sarah Jane and Luke aren't weirdos.
It's weird how much time you spend with her.
There's something about that boy.
I hope you don't fancy him, I don't know what it is, but he's not right.
Well, you don't know anything about them! I'm your mum, Maria.
I'm just trying to protect you.
I don't need you to protect me.
Come on, darling, every girl needs her mum.
How come you walked out on me, then?! Maria Get out! Get out! Why is it old people want you to do everything for them? Turn the mattress over.
Move things around on the shelf.
Take that spider out the bath.
I came here looking for spooks, not jobs.
Everyone gets old, Clyde.
Even you.
Ah, no, not me.
Way technology's moving, by the time I'm 40 I can get my brain put in a robot and live for ever.
Oh Where have you been? Just looking around.
Come on.
Let's get going.
So is this place haunted, or what? I don't know.
But there's something about it here I don't like.
What's the problem? She doesn't like me seeing Sarah Jane and Luke.
She knows nothing about them! We'll be back to normal in a few days.
You mean she'll be back with Ivan.
Unless he sees sense and does a runner.
Doesn't it bother you? Maria, your mum and me you know that's all over.
That's great for you, isn't it? Some solicitor gives you a bit of paper and it's all over! What good is that to me? She's always going to be my mum! Of course she is.
Well, maybe I want her to get to know my friends, so she doesn't think they're weird, and maybe I don't want her to go with Ivan.
But that's never going to happen, because you've got a bit of paper! SHE KNOCKS I've come to see Sister Helena.
Mr Smith, I need you! Yes, Sarah Jane.
What can I do for you? The Lavender Lawns Rest Home is apparently being haunted by a nun.
I need you to access central land registry database, see if anything supports the possibility.
Of a haunting? Just run the check, Mr Smith.
Very well.
Doesn't Mr Smith believe in ghosts? Not as such.
And neither do I.
There is no record of any past ecclesiastical building on the site of Lavender Lawns.
No obvious reason for the home to be haunted by a nun? I assume that by haunting you mean the projection of energies imprinted on psychic-assimilating matter.
Obviously.
Come again? Events get recorded on their surroundings, then, under certain circumstances, they get played back.
Sarah Jane, Luke has brought an unidentified element of alien technology into the attic.
What? Whoa, Luke! No way did that come off the Shopping Channel.
Give it to me.
One of the residents, Mrs Nelson-Stanley, gave it to me.
Sorry.
Was that wrong? I don't know.
Mr Smith, is it safe? Insufficient data.
I'd like to carry out a detailed analysis.
Do you mind? There's a lot of sensitive equipment in here.
Sorry.
So what's going on? Some old biddy's given Luke an alien gizmo.
She said the nun wasn't a ghost and it's looking for the talisman.
Well, I'd better go back and talk to Mrs Nelson-Stanley.
Do you want to come with me? You two stay here.
But she gave it to me.
And I brought you in on this, it's likemy case.
No arguments! Are you all right? Mum's back.
'It isn't like my Maria,' running off like this.
She never used to be such a drama queen.
No.
Thank goodness.
That's another gene she managed to miss.
She'll be over there, with that Sally Jane.
We all need a friend.
You've got your salsa teacher.
There's nothing going on with Carlos.
I've got too good a thing going on with Ivan.
You hadn't with me and Maria? If you want to pick a fight over dirty old laundry, do it some other washday.
I'm too worried about our daughter.
You're worried now.
What's that supposed to mean? It means, why didn't you think before you dumped yourself on us today, like nothing had happened? It isn't your home, Chrissie.
You took our home apart six months ago.
Showing up like that, with your And you're sure it was the talisman? Absolutely.
I saw her give it to the boy.
Why would she give it to the boy unless she knew we were looking for it? You told us she barely knows her own name.
I know where you can find him.
All the same, we have paid you well for your assistance, Mrs Gribbins, but this just complicates everything.
The Abbess will want to see you.
The Abbess? CLEARS THROAT LOUD SCREAM Poor Bea, she can't really tell you anything, Miss Smith.
It's the Alzheimer's, you know.
Such a tragedy.
After the life she led.
She's been everywhere.
Was this her husband? Archaeologist, so the nurses reckon.
They went all over the world together.
What happened to him? He died about five years ago.
Bea started to lose it after that.
That's when she washed up here.
The talisman! Talisman? I thought you wanted to talk to her about the ghost? Bea, you've got visitors.
Do I know you? I'm sorry, these days I'm not very good with faces.
This is Miss Sarah Jane Smith.
She's a reporter.
Oh, oh, well, it's my husband you want to talk to, then.
It's you I need to talk to, Bea.
Can you tell me where you got this talisman? That's my Edgar.
Your husband? Yes.
He used to say the Sontarans were the silliest-looking race in the galaxy.
What did you say? She's always going on about monsters and spacemen She's seen Sontarans! What's a Sontaran? The silliest race in the galaxy! That's what Edgar used to say.
Like a hugepotato with aa ray gun.
Quite nasty blighters they were, all the same.
Yes, Bea, they are! You're right! You're absolutely right.
You shouldn't encourage her, Miss Smith.
She'll go on and on about monsters, and especially the Gorgon.
I saw that years ago at the flicks with Christopher Lee and, er, Barbara Shelley.
Hello.
Hello, I'm Sister Helena from St Agnes's Abbey.
And who might you be? He's Luke.
I'm Clyde.
And which one of you fine young men were at Lavender Lawns today and left with a gift from one of the old ladies? Don't know what you mean.
How do you know she gave me anything? Can it, Luke.
Why are you looking for the talisman? Luke! Boys, you don't understand what you've got your hands on! You're not getting your hands on it, either.
Give me the talisman! Hello, Sister.
Collection, is it? Abbey roofs don't fix themselves.
We're still working on that miracle! I always give to needy causes.
You could say it's a good HABIT of mine.
I was after Maria.
She was upset earlier.
You haven't seen her, have you? She's gone out with Sarah Jane.
Look, do me a big favour, will you? When they get back, tell her I was looking? Please.
Of course.
Cheers.
Listen, Luke.
When weirdo nuns turn up on your doorstep asking about freaky glowing alien gizmos, one thing you never do is tell them you got one.
I didn't.
We should call Mum and tell her.
We should go round there.
Isn't phoning quicker? Sure we could phone.
Or we could go round there and get back in on the action.
Yeah? If Bea's wearing the alien talisman, and she's seen these Sontarans, she isn't just talking about horror movies, like Mrs Randall thinks.
Aliens have been coming to Earth for centuries, Maria.
Maybe Bea's adventures with her archaeologist husband involved more than just old pots and bones.
This was our song.
Edgar had such a lovely voice.
Did he? I'm sure he was quite a man.
It's so sad.
The things she must have seen.
And now everyone just thinks she's crazy.
Who knows where any of us will end up? Someone doesn't think you're Someone knows what the talisman is and they want it.
The talisman? Yes, Bea.
The talisman.
Tell me what you know.
I promise I'll believe you.
People have thought I've been mad.
But I've seen things, too.
Like you.
Edgar unearthed it in a dig in in Syria and he gave it to me.
He had no idea what it was.
He had no idea.
So, what is it? They mustn't find it! They mustn't find it! Who, Bea? Who do you mean? The Sisters! The nuns? They protect her.
Protect who? The Gorgon.
It's all in here, I know it is.
A Gorgon - snakes for hair and turning people to stone by looking at them? It's a fairy story, isn't it? A myth.
A Greek myth.
There's a big difference.
And, incidentally, for future reference, Maria, even some fairy tales have a foundation in fact.
Here it is.
There were three Gorgons.
The hideous daughters of Phorcys the sea god and Ceto.
Stheno, Euryale and Medusa.
That's right.
But in some versions of the story there was just one - Medusa.
And she wasn't always ugly.
She was a beautiful nymph with golden hair, but Poseidon fell in love with her and jealous Athena turned her into a Gorgon.
Medusa was killed by Perseus as a challenge.
The Greeks were always dishing out challenges to each other.
It must be a man-thing.
But this one really had to be a tough call.
Warriors tried to slay the Gorgons, but all of them turned to stone.
Because they had to look at them to kill them.
Perfect defence mechanism.
Once you laid eyes on a Gorgon, you couldn't run or attack.
Your body was already turning to stone.
And there was nothing you could do to stop it.
One glance is all it took Terrifying.
Does Bea believe Gorgons existed? I think she believes one still does.
It's Sister Sinister again.
Don't run away, Luke.
I won't hurt you.
I just want a little chat.
What about? Don't listen to her.
No way is she really a nun.
Whatever else would I be? I don't know.
I bet you ain't got legs under there, just a bunch of slimy tentacles, or something.
Your friend watches too much TV.
I think we could talk a little more sensibly without him.
Jump in the car.
We'll go to the abbey.
I don't think so.
You're safe with me.
We're not going anywhere with you.
It's not an open invitation.
Listen to your friend here and you'll be in far more danger, I guarantee.
But I can help you.
I want to help you.
The talisman's dangerous? More than you can imagine.
No way.
Luke! Clyde! Clyde! Clyde! So it's an alien? Remember what I said.
Aliens have been coming here for thousands of years.
And one's survived all this time? Yeah, perhaps.
How can it turn people to stone just by looking horrible? PHONE RINGS Luke's been nabbed by a nun.
What? I warned him not to talk to that freaky nun! It just happened so fast.
They pull up, and, bam! Clyde, calm down.
She was after the talisman.
Where's she gone? Any idea? She was from some abbey.
Well, she's a nun, Clyde! Which one? Think! I'm trying to! I dunno, some old woman's name Like the lady writer The old lady detective Miss Marple? Agatha Christie? St Agatha? Agnes! St Agnes' Abbey! Get in the car! Oh, hello, my name is Felicity Barnes.
I'm doing a story for the Times on religion in the 21st century.
Is there anyone I can talk to? Oh, perhaps Sister Helena? So much for fake ID.
Now what? Where do we go? I don't know.
What do nuns do with kids they kidnap? Let's start here.
Hold on.
What if it's in there? This Gorgon thing.
Just keep your eyes closed and hold my hand.
Luke! Are you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
What do you think you're doing, getting into a stranger's car? For an intelligent boy, sometimes I can't believe how stupid you are! I didn't just get in Luke was never in any danger, Miss Smith.
Bringing him here was the fastest way of attracting your attention.
Although your other two young friends were a surprise.
We found Mrs Gribbins She's been turned to stone.
Unfortunately Mrs Gribbins always was something of a useless old fossil.
Are you really protecting a Gorgon here? A creature with writhing serpents for hair? Those melodramatic Greeks.
They never could resist embellishing a story, but, yes, as you've seen, the myth isn't entirely without foundation.
But it's an alien.
Right? The Gorgons travelled to our world 3,000 years ago.
Once there was three.
Now only one.
A real live Gorgon? Generations of our Sisters protected the Gorgons down the centuries.
If she's survived 3,000 years, what happened to the other two? One was killed during ancient days, when our sisterhood served Demeter, when the key was stolen The key to whatever brought the Gorgons to Earth.
And the Sisters have been searching for it ever since.
Did you get close once, Sister Helena? Maybe fifty years ago? When the second Gorgon died? Professor Nelson-Stanley and his meddlesome wife.
I'm sure you will be more reasonable.
I wouldn't bet on it.
Kidnapping, turning people to stone, not the kind of things that make me feel reasonable.
Sarah Jane, 3,000 years is a long time, even for a being with a Gorgon's lifespan.
She is old.
The talisman opens a portal to the Gorgon's world.
She only wants to go home to die.
You can understand that, can't you? Why should I believe you? Miss Smith, you have no choice.
All right.
We'll get it.
The boys stay here.
No! They'll be perfectly safe as long as you don't try to deceive us.
We can't give them the talisman.
At least we're on my territory now, not theirs.
We are.
But they've still got the boys.
The girl stays with me.
I'm sorry, analysis incomplete.
Keep your voice down! Is this because I'm picking up a hostile alien intelligence? Yes, and it's about to meet another one.
Doesn't she speak English? The Gorgon doesn't need to speak.
You mean she's, like, telepathic? Is that how she controls you? Looking after a Gorgon isn't exactly normal for a bunch of nuns, is it? I'd shut up if I were you, or the Abbess might show you her idea of solving a problem like Maria.
Is this what you've spent The key to the portal! BUZZING What do you think you're doing? Either you let my son and his friend go, or I will destroy the talisman with sonic disruption.
I warned you, Miss Smith.
Now look on the face of the Gorgon and feel your flesh turn to stone! Don't look, Maria! Hello? The door was open Dad! Dad!