As Mickey was waiting in his car while Rose Tyler was talking to Clive, a plastic garbage bin near Mickey became animated. Mickey got out to investigate, but was swallowed by the bin and taken to the Nestene Consciousness' lair. He was replaced by an Auton facsimile that took Rose out for pizza. Rose, who strangely didn't notice that her "boyfriend" was plastic, tried not to talk about the Ninth Doctor, but the Auton persisted. When it pretended to be affectionate, it suffered a verbal tic twice, repeating "sweetheart", "sugar", and "babe" at differing pitches. Rose grew suspicious and the Auton's patience ceased. Moments before it sought to use violence against Rose, the Doctor showed up, and shot a champagne cork at the Auton, which merely absorbed it and spat it out.