θ 35 [Say Goodbye]
[it's not the slight change in the cut of his suit, the change from cotton blend to wool gabardine, nor how his suit is now a black and white double breasted pinstripe with thin filaments of gold running through every stripe that draws the Doctor's attention. no, it's the dove grey fedora set at a jaunty angle upon his slicked back, oiled hair and the shiny wingtip shoes now covering his feet. he has to admit the hat amuses him the most; how long has it been since he's worn a hat of any kind, or has bothered to blend in at all?]
[walking along a busy Chicago street, the Doctor tips his hat in greeting to all passers-by, but doing so earns him several responses. some gibber nervous replies, clutching whatever they've got with them to their chests. others run up to him to shake his hand--passing off a money to him in doing so--or hand him flowers, or fresh fruit from their shops. he's just finishing up a particularly tasty apple when someone runs into him, but before he can even apologise, the young man's eyes go wider than dinner plates and he bolts in the opposite direction. this wouldn't bother him so much if it isn't for what the young man's shouting:]
The Doc's back! The Doc's back!
[not really sure what he thinks about that--he's fairly certain he didn't do anything to warrant such a reaction the last time he visited Chicago--he looks at the Sphere, an almost hurt expression on his puzzled face.]
Has anyone else encountered this? Free gifts and cries of bloody murder? I haven't even given them my name and yet they fear my face... [mumbles under his breath] I don't think I've even visited Chicago in this regenerative cycle...
[suddenly, a group of men yank and push him down an alley and through a side door to a nearby theatre (which is actually the Goodman Theatre, but he doesn't know that yet.)] Oi! What're you--?!
Sorry Boss, but da coppers're lookin' for youse! What're use doin' wanderin' around in broad daylight?!
What? What?!
Yeah, some punk played pigeon--saw us leavin' da last job--but don't worry Boss, we cooled 'im off for youse!
[the Doctor frowns and looks between these two men and the other ones who soon pool in after them.] Why, was he too hot? [but his questions only earn him laughs.]
Dat's a good one, Boss!
[once their laughter dies down, he hears the cries of someone and the same person who ran away from him earlier is thrown down at his feet.]
Go on, tell da Boss yer sorry for dippin' his wallet! [and kicks the poor person on the ground in the stomach.] Here youse go, Boss. [toss the Doctor his wallet.]
[he catches, still trying to absorb why he's being called "Boss"--and why he has a fancy wallet like this one.]
I'm sorry Mister The Doc, sir! Please, please don't bump me off! I have--[but whatever the man has, the Doctor doesn't get a chance to know. a gag is stuffed into the man's mouth soon after that.]
Youse want we should, uh, cool dis one off too, Boss?
[he stares, confused, at the suggestion] What?! No! I don't want--
[then another man comes running into the room, a perturbed look on his sweaty face] Will you be quiet?! We're in the last act of--[then his face goes white] Ahhh, I, uh, I'm sorry, Doc. I didn't realize you was visitin' today! I'll have your 'sugar' for you after da show, alright?[and then that man runs off before the Doctor can say another word.]
What the hell's going on here?!
Hey Boss, when'd youse start usin' dat funny accent?
I've--! [the Doctor sighs heavily, rubbing his temples] Just...just dust that man off and leave me alone for a minute, alright?
[his men shrug their shoulders and drag the gagged man off with them.] Youse da boss, Boss.
[just when he thinks he has a quiet moment to himself at last, he hears a single gunshot ring out from the open door leading to the alley.]
[walking along a busy Chicago street, the Doctor tips his hat in greeting to all passers-by, but doing so earns him several responses. some gibber nervous replies, clutching whatever they've got with them to their chests. others run up to him to shake his hand--passing off a money to him in doing so--or hand him flowers, or fresh fruit from their shops. he's just finishing up a particularly tasty apple when someone runs into him, but before he can even apologise, the young man's eyes go wider than dinner plates and he bolts in the opposite direction. this wouldn't bother him so much if it isn't for what the young man's shouting:]
The Doc's back! The Doc's back!
[not really sure what he thinks about that--he's fairly certain he didn't do anything to warrant such a reaction the last time he visited Chicago--he looks at the Sphere, an almost hurt expression on his puzzled face.]
Has anyone else encountered this? Free gifts and cries of bloody murder? I haven't even given them my name and yet they fear my face... [mumbles under his breath] I don't think I've even visited Chicago in this regenerative cycle...
[suddenly, a group of men yank and push him down an alley and through a side door to a nearby theatre (which is actually the Goodman Theatre, but he doesn't know that yet.)] Oi! What're you--?!
Sorry Boss, but da coppers're lookin' for youse! What're use doin' wanderin' around in broad daylight?!
What? What?!
Yeah, some punk played pigeon--saw us leavin' da last job--but don't worry Boss, we cooled 'im off for youse!
[the Doctor frowns and looks between these two men and the other ones who soon pool in after them.] Why, was he too hot? [but his questions only earn him laughs.]
Dat's a good one, Boss!
[once their laughter dies down, he hears the cries of someone and the same person who ran away from him earlier is thrown down at his feet.]
Go on, tell da Boss yer sorry for dippin' his wallet! [and kicks the poor person on the ground in the stomach.] Here youse go, Boss. [toss the Doctor his wallet.]
[he catches, still trying to absorb why he's being called "Boss"--and why he has a fancy wallet like this one.]
I'm sorry Mister The Doc, sir! Please, please don't bump me off! I have--[but whatever the man has, the Doctor doesn't get a chance to know. a gag is stuffed into the man's mouth soon after that.]
Youse want we should, uh, cool dis one off too, Boss?
[he stares, confused, at the suggestion] What?! No! I don't want--
[then another man comes running into the room, a perturbed look on his sweaty face] Will you be quiet?! We're in the last act of--[then his face goes white] Ahhh, I, uh, I'm sorry, Doc. I didn't realize you was visitin' today! I'll have your 'sugar' for you after da show, alright?[and then that man runs off before the Doctor can say another word.]
What the hell's going on here?!
Hey Boss, when'd youse start usin' dat funny accent?
I've--! [the Doctor sighs heavily, rubbing his temples] Just...just dust that man off and leave me alone for a minute, alright?
[his men shrug their shoulders and drag the gagged man off with them.] Youse da boss, Boss.
[just when he thinks he has a quiet moment to himself at last, he hears a single gunshot ring out from the open door leading to the alley.]