TheTARDISlandsinLondononChristmasEve,1851andalmostimmediatelytheDoctorhearshisnamebeingcalled.WhenhemeetsthewomanshoutingforhimshefailstorecognisehimandcontinuescallinguntilanothermanarrivesandclaimstobetheDoctorandacknowledgesthewoman,Rosita,ashiscompanion.TheDoctorthenattemptstohelpthenewcomerlassoaman-sizedog-likecreaturewhichhasacyber-mask,butitdragsthemboththroughtheupperfloorofawarehouseuntilRositacutstherope,savingthembothfromplungingthroughahighwindow.Thenewcomerexplainshehaslosthismemory,andtheDoctorassumesheisalaterincarnation,andfollowshimtothehouseofamurderedvicar,wherethenewDoctorsaysheisinvestigatingthemurderofthevicarandateachercalledJacksonLake,andthathismemorywaswipedwhenhewasattackedbytheCybermen.AtthehousetheDoctorfindsprimitivememorydevicescalledinfostampsandsaystheyhavebeenusedbytheCybermenbecauseofthelackoftechnologyin19thcenturyLondon.TwoCybermenattacktheDoctors,butaredestroyedwhenthenewDoctorsetsoffafeedbackloopinoneoftheinfostamps,somethinghesaidwasthecauseofhismemoryloss.ThenewDoctortakestheDoctorbacktohisbase,inthestablesofanInn,andshowshimhisTARDIS,aballoon(TetheredAerialRelease,DesignedInStyle).TheDoctorfindsanotherinfostampinthenewDoctorsluggage,thisonefilledwithinformationabouthim,andconcludesthatthenewDoctorisreallyJacksonLake,buthismemoryhasbeenover-writtenwithdetailsoftheDoctorslifebytheinfostamp,whichitselfmayhavebeenstolenfromtheDaleks.Lakesmemorystartstoreturn,andheremembershiswifebeingkilledandhissonbeingtaken.Meanwhile,MercyHartigan,aworkhousematronhasjoinedtheCybermenandhadthemkillthevicarsoallthelocalgentlemenwouldattendhisfuneral;shearriveswiththeCybermentoselectfourofthem(therestarekilled)soshecanhavethechildrenintheirworkhouses(includingLakesson)asalabourforcefortheCybermen,whoarebuildingaCyberKingtoruleEarth.TheDoctorisunabletostoptheriseofthe200-foottallCyberKing,whichiscontrolledbyareluctantly-conditionedMissHartigan,butrescuesthechildren.HethenusesLakesballoonTARDIStogetuptotheCyberKingthrone,whereMissHartiganisheld.Hebreaksherconditioning,andherhumanangerdestroystheCybermen.TheDoctorusestheCybermensowntimetraveldevicetodragtheCyberKingbackintotheVoid,savingLondon.Thedangerover,Lake,hismemorynowreturning,hiresRositaasnursemaidforhissonandgetstoseeinsidetherealTARDIS,beforeinsistingthattheDoctorjoinsthemforChristmasdinner.