The Doctor and Sarah have landed in Victorian England. The Doctor plans to take Sarah to a show, though when he learns the date, he notes that entertainment "will soon be rather hard to come by". Meanwhile, Mary Prout visits the a chophouse and orders some food. She tells the proprietor, Freddie, that her aunt made money from something that no one can do without — ink. She has a bottle of ink that radiates heat. The show over, many of the performers are relaxing backstage when word comes from their manager that Prince Albert has died.