Episode Summary

The episode opens with Jack and Toshiko investigating something at an old dance hall building. There have been reports of old music playing upstairs in the dancehall. They search through the building, and at first seem to find nothing unusual. However, as they're leaving, Jack hears music playing. They return back upstairs, to find themselves in the middle of the dancehall filled with people, and apparently back in 1941. When they try to leave, they discover they've been transported back to January 20th, 1941, and can't get back.

Ianto and Owen are back at the hub when Jack and Toshiko disappear. When Tosh's computer signals rift activity, Ianto calls Gwen and asks her to check out the old dance hall. Gwen can't find Tosh or Jack at the dance hall, and back at the hub, Ianto and Owen argue over whether or not to open the rift to get them back. Tosh has part of the equation needed to open the rift safely on her computer in the hub, but the rest of the equation is on her laptop. Which she has with her, back in 1941. They discover where Jack and Tosh are while reviewing records of the old dance hall; both Tosh and Jack are in a picture with the owner, Bilis Manger. Gwen continues to search the building, and runs into Bilis.

While he lets her into the basement to look around, Tosh and Jack try to figure out a way to send a message back to Torchwood, with the remaining equation. However, while around the dance hall, they meet a young man named Captain Jack Harkness. Both Tosh and Jack are taken aback (for different reasons). Tosh realizes Jack is hiding more secrets, while Jack fumbles to give her answers. Back in present day, Ianto and Owen continue to argue over opening the rift; Owen wants to use the machine back at the hub, but is missing a piece. After Ianto and Owen realize the Bilis that Gwen met is the same Bilis who ran the dance hall back in 1941, Gwen takes off to try to find clues from Tosh. Owen mets her at the dance hall and searches through Bilis' office, discovering the missing piece to open the rift.

Tosh manages to leave a partial message for the team outside the dance hall through a picture, but realizes she's only got part of the equation in the photograph. While she's hiding the picture, the bombings start in London. She runs back into the dance hall, and along with Jack and the rest of the soldiers, they hide in the basement of the dance hall. She manages to write the rest of the equation on a card, leaving it in a can for Gwen to find.

After the bombing ends for the night in London, everyone returns upstairs to the dancehall. Gwen finds Tosh's message, but the last few numbers of the equation have been scribbled out, leaving the team with no hope of opening the rift safely. Jack finally breaks down and tells Tosh the truth about his past. He was a conman, and took the identity of the real Captain Jack. He also tells Tosh about being brought back to life (which occured in season 1 of Doctor Who), and how he thinks he's being kept alive for some reason. Back at the hub, Owen and Ianto finally come to blows. They argue while Owen prepares to open the rift, and Ianto ends up shooting Owen in the shoulder.

However, Owen manages to get the machine working, and the rift opens. Back in 1941, Jack and the real Captian Jack are sharing a dance. The rift opens, and before Tosh and Jack leave, Jack kisses Captain Jack, and then returns to the present.