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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{TitleShortStory}}
{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Other Short Story|
|image = DWF10b Captain Jack.jpg
story name=Best Friends|
|series = [[Doctor Who Files]]
image=DWF10b Captain Jack.jpg|
|main character = [[Jack Harkness]]
series=[[Doctor Who Files]]|
|featuring =  
main character=[[Jack Harkness]]|
|setting =
featuring=|
|writer = Justin Richards
year=|
|publication=''[[Doctor Who Files 10: Captain Jack|10: Captain Jack]]''
writer=[[Justin Richards]]|
|release date=30 August 2007
publication=[[Doctor Who Files 10: Captain Jack|10: Captain Jack]]|
|prev = Needle Point (short story)
previous story=Needle Point (short story)|
|next = Birth of a Legend (short story)
next story=[[Birth of a Legend]]|
|reprint = Heroes and Monsters Collection
|}}
|series2 = ''[[Heroes and Monsters Collection]]''
|prev2 = Once Upon a Time (DWAN short story)
|next2 = Most Beautiful Music (short story)
|enemy = Lawphoram}}'''''Best Friends''''' was a story featured in ''[[Doctor Who Files 10: Captain Jack]]''. It was written by [[Justin Richards]].


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
Mr Sutton, overseer of the Clarendon Workhouse, in 1895 over hears a young boy, [[Anthony Bradshaw]], on his own talking to his best friend ever – but there is nobody with him in the room.
In [[1897]], Mr [[Sutton (Best Friends)|Sutton]], overseer of the [[Clarendon Workhouse]], overhears a young boy, [[Anthony Bradshaw]], on his own talking to his best friend ever – but there is nobody with him in the room.
<br />
 
A year later, Anthony is being billed as ‘The Amazing Anthony – The Wonder of 1898’ in a variety act at a music hall along with his ‘Uncle’ ([[Edward Hardiman]]). In the audience is [[Captain Jack Harkness]], watching as the boy (now beginning to look unwell), answers questions from the audience fielded by his ‘Uncle’. After a good month, the wager to win one hundred guineas remains unclaimed as the boy is able to answer all the questions thrown at him; from birthdates, to future world conflicts and new technologies. He even offers up the secret of his success all attributed to his best friend called [[Lawphoram]] who tells him the answers. On hearing the name, Jack realises what is going on and a third shadow on the stage confirms his thoughts. Confidently Jack challenges Anthony to tell him “When he will die?a question that Jack knows cannot be answered. Beaten, payment is agreed for after the show, but Anthony’s ‘Uncle’ has squandered their money and is caught by Jack heading out of the music hall’s back door. <br /> Jack confronts Edward over buying Anthony like a slave from the workhouse and takes the boy in payment for the hundred guineas owed, sending Edward on his way. Jack reassures the frightened boy that he is going to help him, that Lawphoram is actually an alien parasite from the future (that’s how he knew all the answers), living within him and feeding on Anthonys mind, gradually eating him up till he would waste away and die. Turning a small dial on his wrist strap, Jack watches as Anthony Bradshaw collapses, colour soon returning to his pale cheeks.
[[1898|A year later]], Anthony is being billed as "the Amazing Anthony – the Wonder of 1898" in a variety act at a music hall along with his "uncle" ([[Edward Hardiman]]). In the audience is Captain [[Jack Harkness]], watching as the boy (now beginning to look unwell) answers questions from the audience fielded by his "uncle". After a good month, the wager to win one hundred guineas remains unclaimed as the boy is able to answer all the questions thrown at him, from birthdates to future world conflicts and new technologies. He even offers up the secret of his success, all attributed to his best friend called [[Lawphoram]] who tells him the answers. On hearing the name, Jack realises what is going on and a third shadow on the stage confirms his thoughts. Jack confidently challenges Anthony to tell him "When he will die?" a question that Jack knows cannot be answered. Beaten, payment is agreed for after the show, but Anthony's "uncle" has squandered their money and is caught by Jack heading out of the music hall's back door.
<br />
 
Time passes and while Jack remains the same, Anthony is an old man when they next meet. Lying in a hospital bed the two old friends chat. Jack explains to Anthony that his question all those years ago was a trick, that Jack has now excepted that he will never die, only to live and watch his friends die. Anthony tired and weak realises this is the last time the two of them will meet as Jack says his “Goodbye”. As the nurse arrives to tuck him in for the night she comments that she thought she had heard Anthony talking to someone but there was no one there. Sadly Anthony replies that he was talking to “his best friend, his best friend ever.
Jack confronts Edward over buying Anthony like a slave from the workhouse and takes the boy in payment for the hundred guineas owed, sending Edward on his way. Jack reassures the frightened boy that he is going to help him, that Lawphoram is actually an alien parasite from the future (which is how he knew all the answers) living within him and feeding on Anthony's mind, gradually eating him up until he would waste away and die. Turning a small dial on his wrist strap, Jack watches as Anthony Bradshaw collapses, colour soon returning to his pale cheeks.
 
Time passes and while Jack remains the same, Anthony is an old man when they next meet. Lying in a hospital bed the two old friends chat. Jack explains to Anthony that his question all those years ago was a trick, that Jack has now accepted that he will never die, only to live and watch his friends die. Anthony, tired and weak, realises this is the last time the two of them will meet as Jack says goodbye. As the nurse arrives to tuck him in for the night she comments that she thought she had heard Anthony talking to someone but there was no one there. Anthony sadly replies that he was talking to "his best friend, his best friend ever."


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Sutton (Best Friends)|Sutton]]
* [[Anthony Bradshaw]]
* [[Jack Harkness]]
* [[Jack Harkness]]
* Anthony
* [[Edward Hardiman]]
* [[Lawphoram]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
''to be added''
''to be added''


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* The original short prose fiction featured in the [[Doctor Who Files]] series of hardbacks from [[BBC Children's Books]] was officially sanctioned by the Doctor Who production office.
* The original short prose fiction featured in the ''[[Doctor Who Files]]'' series of hardbacks from [[BBC Children's Books]] was officially sanctioned by the ''Doctor Who'' production office.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
''to be added''
''to be added''


== Timeline ==
{{DWF}}
* '''Best Friends''' occurs after:
{{Heroes and Monsters Collection}}
* '''Best Friends''' occurs before:
 
 
 
{{prose stub}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:DWF short stories]]
[[Category:DWF short stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who short stories]]
[[Category:2007 short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1897]]
[[Category:Heroes and Monsters Collection short stories]]

Latest revision as of 20:58, 1 March 2024

RealWorld.png

Best Friends was a story featured in Doctor Who Files 10: Captain Jack. It was written by Justin Richards.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 1897, Mr Sutton, overseer of the Clarendon Workhouse, overhears a young boy, Anthony Bradshaw, on his own talking to his best friend ever – but there is nobody with him in the room.

A year later, Anthony is being billed as "the Amazing Anthony – the Wonder of 1898" in a variety act at a music hall along with his "uncle" (Edward Hardiman). In the audience is Captain Jack Harkness, watching as the boy (now beginning to look unwell) answers questions from the audience fielded by his "uncle". After a good month, the wager to win one hundred guineas remains unclaimed as the boy is able to answer all the questions thrown at him, from birthdates to future world conflicts and new technologies. He even offers up the secret of his success, all attributed to his best friend called Lawphoram who tells him the answers. On hearing the name, Jack realises what is going on and a third shadow on the stage confirms his thoughts. Jack confidently challenges Anthony to tell him "When he will die?" a question that Jack knows cannot be answered. Beaten, payment is agreed for after the show, but Anthony's "uncle" has squandered their money and is caught by Jack heading out of the music hall's back door.

Jack confronts Edward over buying Anthony like a slave from the workhouse and takes the boy in payment for the hundred guineas owed, sending Edward on his way. Jack reassures the frightened boy that he is going to help him, that Lawphoram is actually an alien parasite from the future (which is how he knew all the answers) living within him and feeding on Anthony's mind, gradually eating him up until he would waste away and die. Turning a small dial on his wrist strap, Jack watches as Anthony Bradshaw collapses, colour soon returning to his pale cheeks.

Time passes and while Jack remains the same, Anthony is an old man when they next meet. Lying in a hospital bed the two old friends chat. Jack explains to Anthony that his question all those years ago was a trick, that Jack has now accepted that he will never die, only to live and watch his friends die. Anthony, tired and weak, realises this is the last time the two of them will meet as Jack says goodbye. As the nurse arrives to tuck him in for the night she comments that she thought she had heard Anthony talking to someone but there was no one there. Anthony sadly replies that he was talking to "his best friend, his best friend ever."

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added