The episode opens with Gwen on tape, talking about the Doctor and wondering if the reason he has not helped, is because he is ashamed of the human race, and says she is taping this so people can see how the world ended.

We then see a broadcast by the Prime Minister, who puts the fake vaccination plan into motion. We then see Ianto’s sister Rhiannon who arranges to take in all the local children as she has been told it is not safe.

At a cabinet meeting the US general Pierce says he is taking charge, and Denise outlines the timing of the plan.

At Thames house the UNIT Colonel Oduya arrives, and is greeted by Mr Decker who managed to survive, The Oduya is then taken to meet the 456 and says they have agreed to the plan but wants to know how the “456” will take the children. They say by the same means they arrived. He then asks what the “456” need the children for and it turns out the “456” use them as drugs.

We then see Jack and Gwen meet with Frobisher and Bridget. Gwen then threatens the release of the material, but Frobisher acts as if it does not matter. Jack then tells Gwen to phone Rhys and tell him that they’ve lost. She then informs Rhys of what happened. While Lois has been arrested, Frobisher says that Jacks daughter and grandson have been released. Jack then arranges for Gwen to be taken home.

At Johnson’s facility she frees Alice and Steven and shows Alice the footage of the child taken from 1965 and informs Alice that the children will be handed over.

Back at the cabinet office, Frobisher meets with the PM. The PM then tells Frobisher that his children will be chosen for inoculation and footage shown on TV, and his children will then be taken by the “456”. Frobisher refuses to do this and threatens to expose what is going on, but the PM just says that then they will know what will happen to them he then makes a token apology and dismisses him.

Frobisher then acts Bridget to get a requisition 31 which she reluctantly agrees to, he gets a small box off, kisses her on the cheek and leaves.

Gwen is picked up in Wales by her old colleague Andy Davidson who takes her to see Rhiannon. In the car, Gwen is disconsolate and talks about how Torchwood ruined her life and considers getting rid of her unborn child.

Back with the cabinet, we hear how plans are proceeding and then see the army mobilise. We then see Frobisher arrive at home and Bridget going to see Lois. Bridget then tells her how she met Frobisher, and how he had always worked hard and was a good man, and that it wasn’t his fault. This is intercut with scenes of Frobisher talking with his family, we then see Frobisher get a gun (the requisition), and hear him kill his family, and then himself.

Gwen arrives at Rhiannon’s and ask Rhys to keep an eye out, when they arrive we see the her house is full of children and she misunderstands what Andy and Gwen are there for, thinking it is about the children.

The time hits 12.00 and the plan goes into full swing, and children being put into busses and some parents watching on in despair. A little later we find out that they have only reached 60% of the target number as a lot of children have remained at home and so Phase 2 goes into motion where they go to peoples homes

Back at Rhiannon’s we see that she has been told the news of his death, Gwen tries to comfort her but fails. Rhys then comes to tell them that the army has arrived and Gwen tells Rhiannon that if they don’t get the children somewhere safe they will never see them again.

We then see Johnson and Alice talking, with Johnson uncomfortable about what is about to occur. Alice then convinces her to get Jack and a little later we see him being forcibly released from the police station and taken to meet Johnson, along with Mr Decker.

At Rhiannon’s, we see the local parents confronting the army and fighting them off with Andy after removing his outer uniform joining in, Gwen, Rhiannon and Rhys then manage to escape with the children and hide in a nearby empty warehouse.

At Johnsons facilty we see, that they have set up equipment to analyse wavelengths as they think that is the key to fighting the 456. When Decker says its hopeless, Johnson shoots him in the leg, Jack then gets to work.

Alice then points out a pirate station 141 which has footage of what is happening to the children, who we then see arriving at the designated co-ordinates.

Back with Gwen we see her record the message we saw at the opening of the episode. She then tells Rhys she did not mean what she said about getting rid of her unborn child.

We then find out that the government have 80% of the children, they ask the “456” if that is enough but they demand “all of them”. General Pierce then authorises use of maximum force to get the rest of them. We then see Bridget is back at the cabinet meeting and looking intently at the PM.

Back with Jack we find out that they are trying to develop a “constructive wave” but Decker dismisses it, as he believes the effect will be like shouting at them. Jack then wonders about Clements death, and wonders if the connection hurt them in some way as he was not a threat to them.

Jack works out what to do but claims they have no way of transmitting it, Decker then says they do, use a child but it will cause the childs death. Alice works out that they have to use Steven, she then pleads with Jack not to do it, but he reluctantly agrees.

We then see that the Army have found Gwen and the children, who flee but one child is caught in the warehouse and they eventually catch up to and get all of them. This is intercut with scenes of Alice trying and failing to get to Steven, and Jack setting up the wave. Jack then activates it.

We then see Steven and all the rest of the children of the world start to scream, as the time progresses we see Stevens condition worsening intercut with the “456” reacting badly and eventually disappearing in a pillar of fire. Oduya then informs Pierce that the “456” have gone. While back at Johnsons facility we see that Steven has died.

At the cabinet office we see everyone leave except for the PM, Denise and Bridget. The PM then says they were lucky, as given that Pierce took charge without UN authority so he can blame it on them. Bridget is disgusted by this and then reveals when she visited Lois, she got the contact lenses off her, and has been recording the footage. When the PM says he can have her arrested, Denise countermands him and says Lois is free to go and she will be taking charge of many things in the days to come.

Back at Johnsons we see Jack leave, after Alice turns her back on him, we then jump forward 6 months and see a heavily pregnant Gwen along with Rhys meet with Jack in the middle of nowhere, we see that Jack has not forgiven himself and is waiting to be beamed aboard a ship at the edge of the solar system once they are given the signal. Gwen then gives him his Vortex Manipulator and tries to convince him to stay and to not run away, but fails and Jack sends the signal and leaves.