The Doctor and Turlough have landed in Pretoria on 11 April 1877, expecting to see the announcing of the annexation of the Transvaal into the British Empire. However, nothing happens. The Doctor is concerned that someone or something has changed history, though he has set the TARDIS to detect such things and it hasn't found anything. The next morning, 12 April, Haggard brings the Doctor a proclamation from Sir Theophilus that allows the Transvaal its independence. The Doctor and Haggard proceed to alter the proclamation slightly so that it announces the annexation instead.