Peri and Erimem arrive at a fancy dress party in Monte Carlo, 1966. The Doctor, after conferring with a mysterious man in a weird vest and a straw hat, has given them orders to prevent the theft of a precious diamond: the Veiled Leopard. Peri has dressed up as an Egyptian Pharaoh for the occasion (with Erimem doing her makeup and protesting that Peri should be wearing even less for historical accuracy). Erimem has picked more modern garb and tries to get around in a bodice and heels.
At the party, the two quickly befriend the richest person there, Lady Lillian Hawthorne. Lillian saves them from having to talk to a sleazy git named Peter, and catches them up on local gossip. After Peri and Erimem have fun mocking the guests (there's a weird bodyguard in a tux and a girl in really awful colours), Erimem reveals that she knows quite a bit about the diamond Veiled Leopard. The diamond used to belong to her father, and Erimem made sure he was buried with it.
The two soon sneak out to go save the Leopard from being stolen, and the famous cat burglar, Janus, turns out to be Lady Lillian Hawthorne herself. She claims she wants to steal from the rich and give to the poor. Erimem admires her gall, and toys with the idea of letting Janus steal the leopard (after all, it technically belongs to Erimem), but they leave it be in the end.
As they leave, we hear a familiar voice... "Okay, Hex. Game on."
Ace and Hex are also at the fancy dress party in Monte Carlo, 1966. The Doctor has given them orders to prevent the theft of a precious diamond: the Veiled Leopard, which actually contains the consciousness of an entire alien culture. The Doctor made sure that it was sent to Earth for safekeeping for a few centuries, since its technology prevented it from being taken through time. In royal hands, the diamond would be safe until the time would come to steal it back. Hex (dressed as James Bond, although no one in 1966 Monte Carlo recognises him) and Ace (dressed in a rather ugly Queen Bess outfit) enjoy the party for a bit before going on their mission. Hex soon catches a man named Peter in the act, who's secretly in league with Lady Lillian Hawthorne, both going by "Janus" (named for the two-faced Roman God). The whole thing is set up to be an elaborate insurance fraud. Hex convinces Peter to take a fake diamond, leave another fake diamond in the safe, and let Hex make off with the real thing.
Incidentally, the story also mentions that a guest at the party is dressed as a Centurion. Many people have decided that it's Rory Williams.
Tropes:
- A Day In The Lime Light: This episode is basically Peri & Erimem, and Ace & Hex.
- Break the Fake: A diamond is proved a fake when a real diamond scratches it.
- Call-Forward: "That funny guy in the weird pullover."
- Call-Back: Ace gives Hex some very military
commands. - Casanova Wannabe: Peter Mathis.
- Classy Cat-Burglar: Lillian is (one half of) Janus, the infamous jewel thief.
- Cloak and Dagger: All that stealth and jewel-stealing...
- Curtain Camouflage: Peter. Hex hides under the bed.
- Everything Sounds Sexier in French: It is Monte Carlo.
- Fakin' MacGuffin: Twice. Hex and Ace are stealing the real diamond and they brought two copies. One for Lillian to sell, the other to expose the Insurance Fraud.
- Fling a Light into the Future: A dying alien civilisation put all the information needed to recreate their world and its life forms into the Veiled Leopard.
- Go-to Alias: Erimem and Peri inherit the Doctor's "Smith". Peri lampshades it.
- As do "Dorothy" and "Thomas" Smith, but because of Hex.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Peri states this. In the last line, so does Lillian.
- Insecurity System: It takes Hex five seconds, tops, to get the safe combination. Peri and Erimem have been given a bunch of skeleton keys by the Doctor.
- Insurance Fraud: The reason there is a plan for the diamond to be stolen. One of the plans, anyway.
- Jack the Ripoff: Welllll, a copy cat thief.
- Just Like Robin Hood: Lillian only steals from people who have gained their wealth by evil deeds and gives the money away to those in need.
- Kicking Ass in All Her Finery: Erimem.
- Lower-Deck Episode: The two teams of companions are operating on their own this time. The Fifth Doctor is currently off experiencing "The Gathering", and the Seventh is on Világ for "Thicker Than Water".
- MacGuffin: The Veiled Leopard.
- Meaningful Name: "The Janus", a jewel thief who leaves a Janus Calling Card.
- Noodle Incident
- Noodle Implements: A waiter, a lobster's claw, and a plate of soup that complained that didn't want to be eaten. And a yellow sock.
- Of Corsets Sexy: Erimem complains about her dress. Ace cuts off Hex's compliments about hers with a curt "Shut your face."
- Public Hater, Private Fan: Peter and Lillian pretend to despise each other in public. Actually, they're partners in crime.
- Pun: Peri: "Monte Carlo or bust."Erimem: In these dresses it's definitely bust.
- Ace's "We deal in futures."
- Quintessential British Gentleman: Five, according to Peri.
- Running Gag: In Ace and Hex's part of the story, she keeps insisting she's in charge. When Hex is called to provide explanations, he happily leaves this duty to Ace. She's in charge, after all.
- Sarcastic Confession: Ace's havin' fun when asked "what brings you to my party":Ace (merrily): A time machine!
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Hex claims this of Ace. (Ace then claims the same thing about him, despite not being into the James Bond look).
- Shout-Out:
- The "Veiled Leopard" is very obviously one to The Maltese Falcon or The Pink Panther.
- Ace calls Hex "007" at one point.
- Tampering with Food and Drink: The security guards get drugged.
- Title Drop: It's the MacGuffin.
- Tom Boy And Girly Girl: Erimem and Peri emphasize this once again:Erimem: I'll snap your arm.
Peri: She'll do it. - Undercover as Lovers: Actually, Ace only claims to be Hex's wife to get rid of a guy who flirts a bit agressively.
- Upper-Class Twit: Comes with the setting. Also, as handy cover for people like Peter.
