[he clears his throat and settles back, trying to set the proper mood]

This is the story of a soldier, a good soul traveling home from twenty years of war with nothing in his pocket but a single shilling and three hard biscuits for the long journey home. The soldier had marched a thousand miles and along the way had had many adventures, for he was a man with a quick mind, and rare courage, and good humor. After spending his last shilling, the soldier whistled as he walked, and met upon his road a beggar who played a wonderful fiddle. Though the soldier's whistle was tuneless, he stopped and whistled with the poor beggar, and in doing so, began a journey that led him to tangle with Death himself.

Since the soldier had nothing else to give, he gave the beggar one of his last three dry biscuits. But the beggar was grateful and wished with all his heart that the soldier might have a better whistle as he continued his lonely journey. Though his company was brief, the soldier departed the beggar with a lighter heart, and found to his astonishment that his toneless whistle was now beautiful to hear, like you might imagine a pretty gemstone would sound if it could make a noise.

[with a quick grin at Elicia in the camera, the Doctor purses his lips and whistles a pretty melody to demonstrate.]