This Doctor Who narrative begins when the companions encounter a centuries-old statue of Rose Tyler, identified as the goddess Fortuna, while visiting the British Museum. This discovery leads the Doctor and Rose to travel to Imperial Rome in AD 120, where they uncover a conspiracy involving a sculptor named Ursus who possesses a futuristic wishing device known as a GENIE. Ursus is responsible for turning both missing persons and Rose herself into immortal works of art, necessitating a desperate rescue attempt by the Doctor, who must race against time while avoiding a forced appearance in the Colosseum. After Rose is petrified, the Doctor finds a curative liquid and a time-traveling girl named Vanessa to help him neutralize the threat of the GENIE and restore the victims. The story concludes with the Doctor revealing that he was the one who fabricated the statue discovered in the museum to create a stable time loop and ensure Rose's survival.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.