Captain Jack Harkness ( TV story ) Captain Jack Harkness was the twelfth episode in the first series of " Torchwood " . By returning Jack Harkness to The Blitz during World War II , it allowed for a story that explored the origins of the " Jack Harkness " alias . However , in so doing , it left Jack ' s teammates with even less understanding of who he really was . " Harkness " introduced the character of Bilis Manger , someone who would play an important role in the series 1 finalé , but who remained a mystery that was never fully unpacked . It was also one of the episodes that decidedly established " Torchwood " was indeed in the same universe as " Doctor Who " , since prominent set decoration established the Harold Saxon political campaign was still ongoing . This episode marked the breaking point for Owen Harper after letting Diane Holmes return to her era . Driven wild with pangs to see her again by opening the Cardiff Rift , he instinctively tried to set off Torchwood Three ' s rift manipulator , which led to a falling out with Ianto Jones at gunpoint . Despite being shot in the shoulder by Ianto , Owen ' s ultimate action is to set off the manipulator . Although his choice rescued his fellow teammates , it set off a chain of chaotic events leading directly into the next episode . Synopsis . Investigating reports of ghost ly music , Jack and Toshiko find themselves stranded in a packed dance hall — in 1941 . As Gwen , Owen and Ianto work to rescue their colleagues , Jack and Toshiko meet a handsome young American squadron leader by the name of Captain Jack Harkness . Plot . Captain Jack Harkness and Toshiko Sato investigate a report that music from the 1940s has been drifting out of a derelict dance hall called " the Ritz " . They enter the dance hall and are transported back to 20 January 1941 through a temporal shift . The hall is full of people dancing to live music . They go downstairs to return to the present , but cannot resist going back to 1941 once more . When they go downstairs for the second time they do not go back to the present , and they realise they are trapped . Jack encounters an American captain by the name of Captain Jack Harkness . Torchwood ' s Jack quickly invents the name " Captain James Harper " . When Toshiko asks him , " James Harper " admits he used to be a con - man . He took Jack Harkness ' s name as a disguise . The real Captain Jack will die the next day in a routine training exercise . " James Harper " and Toshiko devise a plan to leave the second half of an equation on something that will last through time so back in the present day , Torchwood can find it and combine it with the half they have already . The full equation will let them bring Toshiko and " James Harper " back to the present . Toshiko finds the manager , Bilis Manger , has a Polaroid camera , which has not yet been invented . While taking the photo , Toshiko misses the first part of the equation . When Bilis gets the camera , she must find another way to get this part back to present . She decides to use her own blood and writes the missing bit of the equation on a card . She puts the card inside a can for the Torchwood team . Back in the present day , Ianto and Owen find they cannot get through to Toshiko when they try to call her . They order Gwen to investigate . Just as Gwen hears music drifting from 1941 , " James Harper " and Tosiko hear Gwen ' s calls drifting the other way . Back at the Hub , Ianto and Owen argue over the best way to bring them back . Ianto realises the real reason why Owen wants to open the rift is to bring back Diane Holmes . Meanwhile , at the Ritz , Gwen encounters the caretaker called " Bilis Manger . " He opens the hall for her to look around . After Ianto checks with the records , he realises the Bilis Manger of now is the Bilis Manger from 1941 and orders her to withdraw . Outside , Gwen finds the photograph left by Toshiko and notices part is missing . She continues searching . At the Hub , Owen ignores Ianto ' s protests and tries to open the rift with the rift manipulator . Owen finds there is a piece missing and decides to look for it in Bilis ' s office . At the Ritz , Owen finds the missing piece in a grandfather clock . Gwen also finds the card left by Toshiko in 1941 and informs Ianto . She also tells them three of the numbers have been scraped out by someone ( most likely Bilis ) and reads the message that Toshiko has written below the equation : " Tell my family , I love them . " While all this is happening , " James Harper " gets to know the real Captain Jack and slowly begins to fall in love with him . " James " and Jack are joined by Jack ' s girlfriend , who wishes to be with him . She makes to leave hoping he will follow . When he does not , " James " insists that Jack kiss her goodbye , hinting at his death tomorrow . Jack takes " James ' " advice , but thinks it has made things worse ; now she thinks she loves him . On the stairs , Jack and " James " recount their worst war stories . Jack tells how he saw a young boy shot through the eyes . He yelled for his mother as he died . " James " tells how he had to watch his best friend , whom he had persuaded to enlist , tortured by the enemy and killed in front of him . Later , during a bomb raid , Jack confesses he is scared . They sit down at a table for a private talk . Jack slowly realises " James " knows something bad is going to happen and goes to his girlfriend . Jack returns later , however , to find " James " on his own and joins him . They hold hands for a few seconds but are interrupted by a couple who want the " lover ' s corner " . Jack tells the couple he and " James " were just discussing strategies . Jack turns down " James ' s " offer to go somewhere else . Disheartened , " James " returns to the edge of the dance floor where he is joined by Toshiko . He says tomorrow Jack will lead his men in a routine training exercise to be surprised by the Messerschmitts . Jack kills three of them before dying when his plane bursts into flames . His men all make it back to safety . Back in the present day and at the Hub , Owen and Ianto are still arguing about the rift . When Owen goes into Jack ' s safe to retrieve the rift manipulator ' s blueprints , Ianto tries to snatch the blueprints . Owen overpowers Ianto and kicks him to the ground before heading towards the rift manipulator . Ianto orders him to stop . He is now pointing a gun at him . After Owen taunts Ianto about his relationship with Jack , Ianto shoots Owen in the shoulder to stop him . He is too late . The manipulator activates . Owen falls unconscious while Ianto screams at him . Back in 1941 , " James " and Toshiko sit at a table . " James " explains someone brought him back to life one day and hints he has not been able to die ever since . " James " apologises to Toshiko for " dragging " her into " James ' s " business . Toshiko replies it was her choice to get involved . " James " promises her he will look after her but breaks down when he realises that there is nothing that can be done to save Jack . During the next song , Jack stands at the other side of the dance floor , thinking about what " James " has told him . He takes " James ' s " hand and they begin to dance to the slow music . They start to kiss , but are interrupted by the rift bursting open in the doorway . Toshiko rushes to it and pleads with " James " to follow her . James " explains to Jack that it is his duty , unwillingly lets go and heads towards the rift . At the last minute , " James " turns back to kiss Jack passionately before letting him go again . In the rift , " James " turns around to face the real Jack who salutes him before he vanishes . Back in the present day , Gwen gleefully greets Jack and Toshiko as they leave the Ritz . Jack takes one last look at the dance hall before returning to the Hub . At the Hub , Owen is performing self - aid on the bullet wound courtesy of Ianto . Ianto says he never meant to kill Owen . He meant to hit his shoulder . He also says there is no sign of Bilis . Toshiko , who is helping Owen , explains what she and Jack saw in 1941 , while Owen taunts Ianto about opening the rift not having any immediate side - effects . Owen and Toshiko flirt mildly . Jack walks past them looking down as he enters his office . Toshiko joins him . They toast to the real Captain Jack Harkness . Story notes . " to be added " Production errors . " to be added "