The Doctor is presented with a moral dilemma when Icthar reveals his plans to get rid of the human race so the Silurians can take back what was once theirs.

The Malus is forcing the towns people to preform the re-enactment for real as it needs the psychic forces created by the suffering of war to feed off of and recharge it's energies. It is up to the Doctor to prevent the Malus plans from reaching fruition.