After spending Christmas with his grandmother and aunt, Maitu works on equations that will allow him to travel in time. Christmas Eve, 1953 Maitu is riding a train to Auckland when he is confronted by another passenger. The passenger, who introduces himself as the Doctor, claims that Maitu is an anachronism. Later, as the train is passing over a bridge, the bridge collapses due to flood waters and the engine and first six cars fall into the water, including the car carrying Maitu and the Doctor. Maitu returns home.