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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{TitleAudioStory}}
{{ImageLink|Davros audio story}}
{{Infobox CD|
{{Infobox Story SMW
name= Davros |
|image             = Davros cover.jpg  
image=Davros_cover.jpg |
|range            = Main Range
series=[[Big Finish Doctor Who audio stories|Big Finish ''Doctor Who'' audio stories]]|
|number in range  = 48
number= 48 |
|series           = ''[[Main Range]]''
doctor=[[Sixth Doctor]] |
|number           = 48
companions= |
|script            = The Audio Scripts: Volume Four
enemy= [[Davros]] |
|doctor           = Sixth Doctor
year= [[Skaro]] (flashbacks)|
|companions       =  
writer= [[Lance Parkin]] |
|enemy             = [[Davros]], [[Lorraine Baynes]], [[Arnold Baynes]]
director= [[Gary Russell]] |
|setting          = [[Planet (Davros)|An unnamed planet]]; [[Skaro]]
producer= |
|writer           = Lance Parkin
publisher= [[Big Finish Productions]] |
|director         = [[Gary Russell]]
release date= [[September]] [[2003]] |
|producer         = Gary Russell, [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
format= 2 Episodes on 2 CDs |
|music            = [[Jane Elphinstone]]
production code= [[List of production codes|6W/A]] |
|sound            = [[Jim Mortimore]]
isbn= ISBN 1-84435-030-4 |
|cover            = [[Clayton Hickman]]
prev= Omega (audio story)|Omega (audio story) |
|publisher        = Big Finish Productions
next= Master (audio story)|Master (audio story)}}
|release date      = 19 September 2003
|format           = 2 CDs<br/>Download
|production code   = [[List of production codes|6W/A]]
|isbn             = ISBN 978-1-84435-030-8 (physical)<br/>ISBN 978-1-84435-768-0 (digital)
|prev             = Omega (audio story)
|next              = Master (audio story)
|made prev        = The Dark Flame (audio story)
|made next        = Omega (audio story)
|soundcloudtrailer = https://soundcloud.com/big-finish/doctor-who-main-range-48-davros
|epcount = 2
}}{{audio stub}}
{{spotify|album=13R0j6NDcWAUZR6bKYvE5M|height=350}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the forty-eighth story in [[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]]'s [[Main Range|monthly range]]. It was written by [[Lance Parkin]] and featured [[Colin Baker]] as the [[Sixth Doctor]] and [[Terry Molloy]] as [[Davros]].
 
It marked the first appearance in an audio story of Davros, played by Terry Molloy. This story was among the ones advertised in ''[[Davros with Big Finish]]''.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
[[File:Davros_Comic_Preview.jpg|thumb|Comic preview from [[DWM 335]]. Illustration by [[Martin Geraghty]].]]
TAI stock has shot up by over fifteen percent on news that galaxy-famous scientist [[Davros]], controversial creator of the [[Dalek]]s, has been hired to work on unspecified technological projects.
TAI stock has shot up by over fifteen percent on news that galaxy-famous scientist Davros, controversial creator of the Daleks, has been hired to work on unspecified technological projects.


Davros has been given the chance to redeem himself.
Davros has been given the chance to redeem himself.
Line 29: Line 43:
Humanity stands on the verge of a new era, but it needs the help of the galaxy's greatest ever scientist. But Davros is dead... isn't he?
Humanity stands on the verge of a new era, but it needs the help of the galaxy's greatest ever scientist. But Davros is dead... isn't he?


From the bunkers and shelters of ancient Skaro to the gleaming domes of the future Earth Empire, Davros has always been a man of destiny. Now he's working for mankind's benefit. But how much do we really know about Davros?
From the bunkers and shelters of ancient [[Skaro]] to the gleaming domes of the future [[Earth Empire]], Davros has always been a man of destiny. Now he's working for mankind's benefit. But how much do we really know about Davros?
 
Has Davros really turned over a new leaf? [[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] certainly doesn't think so. But is the Doctor always right?
 
== Plot ==
=== Part one ===
"''When I press this switch, I will die. The [[poison]] in that projectile injector will kill me in a moment.''" [[Davros]] is about to die, forced to carry out his own [[execution]]. He, however, refuses to press the switch to do the deed, intending to create "[[Dalek|the supreme power in the universe]]". "''This is not the end; this is only the beginning...''"
 
Meanwhile, Davros' body is found by [[Arnold Baynes|Arnold]] and [[Lorraine Baynes]]. They steal the corpse with the chair, shooting [[Pilot (Davros)|their pilot]] in Davros' place to trick the patrols. The advanced medical equipment available to them on the ship confirm that the [[Kaled]] is dead. They shouldn't give up, though; Lorraine decides to bring him "back home", where even better equipment can be found. All hope is not lost yet.
 
Meanwhile, the [[Sixth Doctor]] arrives, having been called by a journalist named [[Willis (Davros)|Willis]]. He and [[Kimberly Todd]] explain to the Doctor that [[TransAllied, Inc.]] — TAI — are planning to shut down every [[mining]] colony, a plan which would render 12 billion people out of jobs, devastating planets for generations. Kim works for the company's [[computer]] section, and has found secret files. All the mines are profitable... so why are TAI closing them down?
 
Against all evidence, Davros is alive. He recalls past events in his life: the [[Kaled Supreme]] informs Davros of the council of Elites' decision that he must die for his crimes. None of them, though, can do it — "If Davros is to die, it must be by his own hand." The Supreme hands him a projectile poison injector.
 
A [[spaceship]] suddenly appears overhead, and the Doctor and company use this opportunity to escape into the TAI dome. Baynes — revealed to be the chief executive of TAI — and his wife exit the ship, and bring Davros with them. Davros, meanwhile, is still dreaming of his past. His [[larynx]] was damaged in an attack, and was replaced with a voice box. His skin is badly burnt; even the most powerful sedatives can't help with the pain. Davros demands to see his face, and cries in terror and despair at the sight of it.
 
Outside, the Doctor confronts Baynes about his harbouring Davros, "the most evil being [[Mutter's Spiral|this galaxy]] has created". Even though Baynes assures the Doctor that the Kaled is dead, the Doctor is not convinced. He lets it slip that he ''could'' potentially revive Davros, and Baynes takes him to inspect the corpse. When there, though, Baynes' wife Lorraine notices that Davros has [[brain]] activity. He has been in [[suspended animation]]. At the Doctor's voice, Davros awakes. The Doctor can't bring himself to flick the switch to kill him himself. He soon stabilises, laughing maniacally.
 
The Doctor watches in horror as Arnold and Lorraine Baynes introduce themselves to the newly revived Davros, and offer him a job as head of TAI's R&D department. After being shown a commercial for the company — propaganda, in the words the Doctor — Davros agrees. "We have a deal."
 
The Doctor, though, desperate, offers a counter-offer: he will offer himself to do the same work. Davros assures the Baynes' that the Doctor's intellect is very much equal to his own. But, with the Doctor threatening to return him to suspended animation, he accuses the [[Time Lord]] of being an obvious potential saboteur — he must be incarcerated. Baynes has a better idea. Both will work for him — together.


Has Davros really turned over a new leaf? The Doctor certainly doesn't think so. But is the Doctor always right?
The Doctor is woken up in the morning by a [[earpiece|device]] placed in his inner [[ear]] during his sleep. He goes back to sleep, telling it to wake him up 5 minutes before the start of his work day. After having breakfast, he arrives in the lab, and purposely ruins two hours of Davros' work. He turns the tables around, making Davros act as his assistant — even getting him to make him some [[tea]].
 
Meanwhile, [[Willis (Davros)|Willis]] is conducting an interview with Baynes. After bringing up the mines, though, Baynes destroys his tape recorder and demands that Willis stay for a few days. Willis, in no situation to bargain being trapped in the dome with no way of calling for help, is forced to oblige.
 
The Doctor and Davros have a discussion about their past. Davros considers the Doctor to be the closest thing to a friend he's ever had, and tries to convince him that he has changed his ways after 90 years of nothing to do but think and remember.
 
They break for lunch, as is government-required. Baynes shows the Doctor to the [[computer]] centre, the centre of all the dome's electronic systems. Though, as the Doctor notes, a tactical disadvantage with everything in one place, its walls are heavily fortified, and the fortress of a centre has everything in it for men to survive for weeks on end.
 
In the computer centre, Kim tells the Doctor of what she and Willis had seen earlier: a secret automated production line for a whole army of [[robot]]s. What is going on? What is TAI preparing for? They decide to meet again.
 
Lorraine sits dinner with Davros, whom she admires greatly. She wants to write the definitive biography of Davros, and intends to interview him for it. He reminisces about his past, about the [[food pill]]s offered on [[Skaro]]. While the Doctor warns Baynes about Davros, Davros does the opposite with Baynes' wife.
 
Within their first day at work, the Doctor and Davros complete a prototype of the [[alpha matrix]], something Baynes thought would take them months. He then tasks Davros with something far more complex: to end the galactic famine, and feed [[Mutter's Spiral]]. The Doctor doesn't trust him, and expresses this to Willis and Kim in their prearranged meeting.
 
Baynes expresses the same thing to his wife Lorraine: the Doctor ''may'' be right, and they should be prepared for this possibility. The Doctor and co. explore the dome, to find the secret [[robot]] factory Willis and Kim discovered earlier. He inspects one of the robots, and finds out where his work has gone. His invention has not been used as a [[starship]]'s navigation [[computer]] — it's in a robot's central processing unit.
 
When Willis contemplates destroying an approaching robot, though, it goes into defensive mode. The machine advances; it is just about to [[kill]] them.
 
=== Part two ===
''to be added''


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 42: Line 95:
* [[Shan]] - [[Katarina Olsson]]
* [[Shan]] - [[Katarina Olsson]]
* [[Ral|Scientist Ral]] - [[David Bickerstaff]]
* [[Ral|Scientist Ral]] - [[David Bickerstaff]]
* Kaled Medics - [[Louise Falkner]], [[Karl Hansen]]
* Kaled Medics - [[Louise Faulkner]], [[Karl Hansen]]
* Pilot - [[Andrew Westfield]]
* [[Pilot (Davros)|Pilot]] - [[Andrew Westfield]]


== References ==
== Crew ==
* [[Skaro]] is in the same galaxy as [[Earth]].
* Cover Art - [[Clayton Hickman]]
* Skaro has two moons named [[Falkus]] and [[Omega Mysterium]]. Davros tells Lorraine Baynes that he has never seen them, though presumably he means that he has never seen them from space. During his youth, they could be seen clearly from his stepfather [[Nasgard|Colonel Nasgard]]'s house on [[Lake of Mutations|Drammakin Lake]]. Elsewhere on Skaro, they were obscured by the high levels of radiation in the atmosphere. ([[BFD]]: ''[[Innocence (audio story)|Innocence]]'')
* Director - [[Gary Russell]]
* TransAllied Inc (TAI) is one the largest corporations in the galaxy and is run by [[Arnold Baynes]], having been founded by his ancestors in the [[38th century]]. TAI sells robots, starships, terraformers, medical equipment, explosives, foodstuffs, protective clothing, weft engines, computer brains, recreational narcotics, laser cannons and more.
* Executive Producer - [[Jacqueline Rayner]]
* The Daleks have not been active since the end of the last Dalek War a century earlier. This could refer to the invasion and subsequent occupation of Mutter's Spiral by the [[Dalek Empire]] from the [[Seriphia Galaxy]] in the [[42nd century]].
* Music - [[Jane Elphinstone]]
* Producers - [[Gary Russell]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
* Sound Design - [[Jim Mortimore]]
* Writer - [[Lance Parkin]]
* Davros created by [[Terry Nation]]
 
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Individuals ===
* Lorraine Baynes has a degree in [[Medicine|space medicine]].
* The Doctor has skimmed Lorraine's two best selling books on the Daleks: ''[[Dalek Genius]]'' and ''[[The Dark Side of Skaro]]''. In her personal future, she will teach at the [[University of Oxford]].
* The Baynes do not have any [[child]]ren.
* Willis is a member of the [[Galactic Press Association]]. He works for an independent news corporation.
* Baynes describes Willis as "an [[asteroid]] hugging halfwit."
* [[Peri Brown]] is on the other side of the galaxy, attending a [[botany]] symposium.
 
==== Davros ====
* Davros was grievously wounded by a [[Thal]] bombardment of his laboratory in the [[Kaled Dome]].
* According to Davros, he was forced to relive his entire life experience during every second of his 90-year imprisonment in [[cryogenics|cryogenic suspension]].
* Davros has no eyes or taste buds. Even before his accident, he had only eaten food pills and the occasional [[Rat|rodent]].
* Davros is discovered by the Baynes locked in a bank vault.
 
=== Humanity ===
* [[Human]]ity has colonised more than 60% of the habitable [[planet]]s in [[Mutter's Spiral]], and are within a century of colonising the rest.
* By this point, the humans have all but abolished the [[death penalty]], in the belief that even the worst criminal might change his or her way of thinking.
* [[Earth]]'s [[ecosystem]] collapsed during the [[21st century]]. Baynes dismisses this as "ancient history."
* The Doctor disagrees with [[universalisation]].
 
=== Skaro ===
* [[Skaro]] is in the same galaxy as [[Earth]], namely [[Mutter's Spiral]].
* Skaro has two moons: [[Falkus]] and [[Omega Mysterium]].
 
=== Species ===
* Towards the end of the Thousand Year War, no [[Kaled]] had died of old age in ten generations.
* The [[Muto]]s engaged in cannibalism.
* Davros refers to [[Neanderthal]]s and [[Human|homo sapiens]].
 
=== Conflicts ===
* By the time that Davros was born, no one on Skaro could remember how the [[Thousand Year War]] had started.
 
=== Galactic Law ===
* The [[Treaty of Parlagon]] prevents private individuals from owning [[nuclear weapon]]s.
 
=== Companies ===
* [[TransAllied, Inc]] (TAI) is one of the largest corporations in the galaxy. It is owned and run by [[Arnold Baynes]].
 
=== Foods and beverages ===
* The Doctor orders [[orange juice]] and [[toast]] with [[marmalade]] for breakfast and [[tea]].
* The Doctor has Davros make him [[tea]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This story marks the first appearance of [[Davros]] in an audio drama.
* This story marks the first appearance of [[Davros]] in an audio drama.
* [[Wendy Padbury]] (Lorraine Baynes) previously played the [[Second Doctor]]'s companion [[Zoe Heriot]].
* This marks the first story to feature only Davros without the Daleks.
* Lorraine Baynes' name is most likely intended as a reference to the [[1985]] science fiction comedy film ''[[wikipedia:Back to the Future|Back to the Future]]'' as [[wikipedia:Marty McFly|Marty McFly]]'s mother's maiden name is [[wikipedia:List of Back to the Future characters#Lorraine Baines McFly|Lorraine Baines]].
* This was the first time that [[Terry Molloy]] had played Davros since the television story ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'' in 1988.
* Chronologically, this is the earliest audio drama to feature the Sixth Doctor.
* Lorraine Baynes' name is most likely intended as a reference to the 1985 science fiction comedy film ''[[Back to the Future]]'' as Marty McFly's mother's maiden name is {{iw|backtothefuture|Lorraine Baines McFly|Lorraine Baines}}.
* [[David Bickerstaff]] would later reprise his role as [[Ral|Scientist Ral]] in [[BFD]]: ''[[Corruption (audio story)|Corruption]]'' and [[BFD]]: ''[[Guilt (audio story)|Guilt]]''.
* This audio drama was recorded on [[27 January (production)|27]] and [[28 January (production)|28 January]] [[2003 (production)|2003]] at [[the Moat Studios]].
* This audio drama was recorded on [[27 January|27]] and [[28 January]] [[2003]].
* An illustrated preview by [[Martin Geraghty]] appeared in [[DWM 335]].
* This is the second part in a loose tetralogy of "[[Classic Villains Trilogy|villain]]"-focused stories to celebrate ''Doctor Who''{{'}}s 40th anniversary, beginning with ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]'' and ending with ''[[Zagreus (audio story)|Zagreus]]''.
* The story was reissued in 2007 as part of ''[[The Complete Davros Collection]]'' DVD boxset.
* In [[January (releases)|January]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]], ''Davros'' was provided as a free gift to purchasers of [[DWM 547]], along with ''[[Omega (audio story)|Omega]]'' and ''[[Master (audio story)|Master]]'', as part of the so called ''[[Classic Villains Trilogy]]'' with a brand new cover.
* The music to this story was remastered in 2013 and released on [[Jim Mortimore]]'s Bandcamp account.<ref>https://jimmortimore.bandcamp.com/album/doctor-who-davros-remastered-ost</ref>
* A number of scenes for this story are reprised in ''[[Corruption (audio story)|Corruption]]'', in which [[Katarina Olsson]] and [[David Bickerstaff]] reprise their roles as [[Shan]] and [[Ral|Scientist Ral]] respectively. [[Valron|Councillor Valron]], who is mentioned in this story, appears in ''Corruption'' as played by [[Seán Carlsen]]. There is a notable difference in actors' performances across the two releases. Enough that Davros's recollections to himself here or the Supreme Dalek in ''[[I, Davros]]'' can be considered the result of an unreliable narrator.
* The pairing of Davros and Shan as creators of the Daleks echoes the real-world duo of [[Raymond Cusick]] and [[Terry Nation]]. Each responsible for the iconic design of the Dalek and their initial conception, respectively.


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* Davros describes in detail how it felt when he was imprisoned in [[suspended animation|cryogenic suspension]] for ninety years. ([[DW]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks]]'', [[DW]]: ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks]]'')
* The events surrounding the flashback sequences would later be revisited and explored in more detail in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Corruption (audio story)|Corruption]].''
* The events surrounding the flashback sequences would later be revisited and explored in more detail in [[BFD]]: ''[[Corruption (audio story)|Corruption]]'', in which [[Katarina Olsson]] reprises her role as [[Shan]]. Councillor [[Valron]], who is mentioned in this story, appears in ''Corruption'' as played by [[Sean Carlsen]].
* Lorraine Baynes mentions that Davros himself created his [[Davros's chair|life support chariot]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Guilt (audio story)|Guilt]]'')
* This is Davros' first of four known encounters with the Doctor during his sixth incarnation. The others occurred in [[Tranquil Repose]] on [[Necros]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Revelation of the Daleks]]''), in [[Waterloo]], [[Belgium]] in [[June]] [[1815]] ([[BFA]]: ''[[The Curse of Davros]]'') and on [[Lethe]] ([[BFA]]: ''[[The Juggernauts]]'').
* Lorraine Baynes refers to the fact that the Daleks repeatedly betrayed Davros. She believes that the Doctor's presence at these events was incidental to his defeat. The Doctor rebukes her by saying he succeeded "fair and square." ([[TV]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)|Resurrection of the Daleks]]'')
 
* Baynes mentions that Davros was seemingly killed by the Daleks only days after he [[Creation of the Daleks|created them]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)|Genesis of the Daleks]]'')
== Timeline ==
* Davros describes in detail how it felt when he was imprisoned in [[suspended animation|cryogenic suspension]] for ninety years. ([[TV]]: ''[[Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)|Destiny of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)|Resurrection of the Daleks]]'')
=== For the [[Sixth Doctor - Timeline|Doctor]] ===
* Arnold and Lorraine Baynes discuss the ethics of cloned bodies in relation to Davros's life support chariot. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)|Revelation of the Daleks]]'')
* ''Davros'' occurs after [[ST]]: ''[[Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing]]'' [Part I]
* The Doctor has already visited [[Stella Stora]]. This is the reason that Willis, who reported on "that business," has asked for his assistance. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)|Terror of the Vervoids]]'')
* ''Davros'' occurs before [[BFA]]: ''[[Cryptobiosis]]''
* Davros refers to the [[Fifth Doctor]] threatening to kill him on the [[Prison Station]]. The Sixth Doctor's solution to the dilemma echoes a similar approach taken on [[Varos]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)|Resurrection of the Daleks]], [[Vengeance on Varos (TV story)|Vengeance on Varos]]'')
 
* Davros previously considered the implications of emotions such as love in himself and his creations in [[PROSE]]: ''[[An Incident Concerning the Continual Bombardment of the Phobos Colony (short story)|An Incident Concerning the Continual Bombardment of the Phobos Colony]]''.
=== For Davros ===
* Davros would use the resources gained during his time at [[TransAllied, Inc|TransAllied Inc]] to assume control of [[Tranquil Repose]] and plot his revenge against the Doctor. ([[TV]]: ''[[Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)|Revelation of the Daleks]]'')
* ''Davros'' occurs after [[DW]]: ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks]]''
* This is Davros' first of, at least, five known encounters with the Doctor during his sixth incarnation. The others occurred in [[Tranquil Repose]] on [[Necros]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)|Revelation of the Daleks]]'') in the [[Dalek City]] on [[Skaro]] following his trial ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Emperor of the Daleks! (comic story)|Emperor of the Daleks]], [[Up Above the Gods (comic story)|Up Above the Gods]]''), at [[Waterloo]] in [[Belgium]] in [[June]] [[1815]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Curse of Davros (audio story)|The Curse of Davros]]'') and at the [[Outreach Corporation]] mining colony on [[Lethe (The Juggernauts)|Lethe]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Juggernauts (audio story)|The Juggernauts]]'')
* ''Davros'' occurs before [[DW]]: ''[[Revelation of the Daleks]]''


=== For Davros (Flashbacks) ===
== Cover gallery ==
* ''Davros'' occurs during [[BFD]]: ''[[Corruption (audio story)|Corruption]]''
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Davros cover.jpg|Original CD cover
Classic Villains Trilogy.jpg|''[[Classic Villains Trilogy]]'' 2020 cover ([[DWM 547]] digital promo)
Classic Villains Trilogy 2023.jpg|''Classic Villains Trilogy'' 2023 cover
Davros_Comic_Preview.jpg|Illustrated preview from [[DWM 335]] by [[Martin Geraghty]]
Dwm338_davros.jpg|Review illustration by [[Roger Langridge]] in [[DWM 338]]
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{bigfinish|48-Doctor-Who-Davros|Davros}}
{{bigfinish|releases/v/davros-214|Davros}}; note that it is out of print and is available as download only.
* {{dwrefguide|who_bf48.htm|Davros}}
{{dwrefguide|who_bf48.htm|Davros}}
* {{tetrap|6/davros.html|Davros}}
{{tetrap|6/davros.html|Davros}}
{{BFA monthly}}
{{Davros stories}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[fr:Davros (Big Finish)]]
[[fr:Davros (Big Finish)]]
{{BFA monthly}}
[[ru:Даврос (аудио история)]]
{{TitleSort}}
 
[[Category:Sixth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Doctor Who monthly audio stories]]
[[Category:2003 audio stories]]
[[Category:Davros audio stories]]
[[Category:Davros audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set on Skaro]]
[[Category:Sources set on Skaro]]
[[Category:Audio stories set in Mutter's Spiral]]
[[Category:Sixth Doctor Main Range audio stories]]
[[Category:2003 Main Range audio stories]]
[[Category:Two part audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 23:12, 17 November 2024

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audio stub
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Davros was the forty-eighth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Lance Parkin and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Terry Molloy as Davros.

It marked the first appearance in an audio story of Davros, played by Terry Molloy. This story was among the ones advertised in Davros with Big Finish.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

TAI stock has shot up by over fifteen percent on news that galaxy-famous scientist Davros, controversial creator of the Daleks, has been hired to work on unspecified technological projects.

Davros has been given the chance to redeem himself.

Humanity stands on the verge of a new era, but it needs the help of the galaxy's greatest ever scientist. But Davros is dead... isn't he?

From the bunkers and shelters of ancient Skaro to the gleaming domes of the future Earth Empire, Davros has always been a man of destiny. Now he's working for mankind's benefit. But how much do we really know about Davros?

Has Davros really turned over a new leaf? The Doctor certainly doesn't think so. But is the Doctor always right?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

"When I press this switch, I will die. The poison in that projectile injector will kill me in a moment." Davros is about to die, forced to carry out his own execution. He, however, refuses to press the switch to do the deed, intending to create "the supreme power in the universe". "This is not the end; this is only the beginning..."

Meanwhile, Davros' body is found by Arnold and Lorraine Baynes. They steal the corpse with the chair, shooting their pilot in Davros' place to trick the patrols. The advanced medical equipment available to them on the ship confirm that the Kaled is dead. They shouldn't give up, though; Lorraine decides to bring him "back home", where even better equipment can be found. All hope is not lost yet.

Meanwhile, the Sixth Doctor arrives, having been called by a journalist named Willis. He and Kimberly Todd explain to the Doctor that TransAllied, Inc. — TAI — are planning to shut down every mining colony, a plan which would render 12 billion people out of jobs, devastating planets for generations. Kim works for the company's computer section, and has found secret files. All the mines are profitable... so why are TAI closing them down?

Against all evidence, Davros is alive. He recalls past events in his life: the Kaled Supreme informs Davros of the council of Elites' decision that he must die for his crimes. None of them, though, can do it — "If Davros is to die, it must be by his own hand." The Supreme hands him a projectile poison injector.

A spaceship suddenly appears overhead, and the Doctor and company use this opportunity to escape into the TAI dome. Baynes — revealed to be the chief executive of TAI — and his wife exit the ship, and bring Davros with them. Davros, meanwhile, is still dreaming of his past. His larynx was damaged in an attack, and was replaced with a voice box. His skin is badly burnt; even the most powerful sedatives can't help with the pain. Davros demands to see his face, and cries in terror and despair at the sight of it.

Outside, the Doctor confronts Baynes about his harbouring Davros, "the most evil being this galaxy has created". Even though Baynes assures the Doctor that the Kaled is dead, the Doctor is not convinced. He lets it slip that he could potentially revive Davros, and Baynes takes him to inspect the corpse. When there, though, Baynes' wife Lorraine notices that Davros has brain activity. He has been in suspended animation. At the Doctor's voice, Davros awakes. The Doctor can't bring himself to flick the switch to kill him himself. He soon stabilises, laughing maniacally.

The Doctor watches in horror as Arnold and Lorraine Baynes introduce themselves to the newly revived Davros, and offer him a job as head of TAI's R&D department. After being shown a commercial for the company — propaganda, in the words the Doctor — Davros agrees. "We have a deal."

The Doctor, though, desperate, offers a counter-offer: he will offer himself to do the same work. Davros assures the Baynes' that the Doctor's intellect is very much equal to his own. But, with the Doctor threatening to return him to suspended animation, he accuses the Time Lord of being an obvious potential saboteur — he must be incarcerated. Baynes has a better idea. Both will work for him — together.

The Doctor is woken up in the morning by a device placed in his inner ear during his sleep. He goes back to sleep, telling it to wake him up 5 minutes before the start of his work day. After having breakfast, he arrives in the lab, and purposely ruins two hours of Davros' work. He turns the tables around, making Davros act as his assistant — even getting him to make him some tea.

Meanwhile, Willis is conducting an interview with Baynes. After bringing up the mines, though, Baynes destroys his tape recorder and demands that Willis stay for a few days. Willis, in no situation to bargain being trapped in the dome with no way of calling for help, is forced to oblige.

The Doctor and Davros have a discussion about their past. Davros considers the Doctor to be the closest thing to a friend he's ever had, and tries to convince him that he has changed his ways after 90 years of nothing to do but think and remember.

They break for lunch, as is government-required. Baynes shows the Doctor to the computer centre, the centre of all the dome's electronic systems. Though, as the Doctor notes, a tactical disadvantage with everything in one place, its walls are heavily fortified, and the fortress of a centre has everything in it for men to survive for weeks on end.

In the computer centre, Kim tells the Doctor of what she and Willis had seen earlier: a secret automated production line for a whole army of robots. What is going on? What is TAI preparing for? They decide to meet again.

Lorraine sits dinner with Davros, whom she admires greatly. She wants to write the definitive biography of Davros, and intends to interview him for it. He reminisces about his past, about the food pills offered on Skaro. While the Doctor warns Baynes about Davros, Davros does the opposite with Baynes' wife.

Within their first day at work, the Doctor and Davros complete a prototype of the alpha matrix, something Baynes thought would take them months. He then tasks Davros with something far more complex: to end the galactic famine, and feed Mutter's Spiral. The Doctor doesn't trust him, and expresses this to Willis and Kim in their prearranged meeting.

Baynes expresses the same thing to his wife Lorraine: the Doctor may be right, and they should be prepared for this possibility. The Doctor and co. explore the dome, to find the secret robot factory Willis and Kim discovered earlier. He inspects one of the robots, and finds out where his work has gone. His invention has not been used as a starship's navigation computer — it's in a robot's central processing unit.

When Willis contemplates destroying an approaching robot, though, it goes into defensive mode. The machine advances; it is just about to kill them.

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Davros[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Davros was grievously wounded by a Thal bombardment of his laboratory in the Kaled Dome.
  • According to Davros, he was forced to relive his entire life experience during every second of his 90-year imprisonment in cryogenic suspension.
  • Davros has no eyes or taste buds. Even before his accident, he had only eaten food pills and the occasional rodent.
  • Davros is discovered by the Baynes locked in a bank vault.

Humanity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Skaro[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Towards the end of the Thousand Year War, no Kaled had died of old age in ten generations.
  • The Mutos engaged in cannibalism.
  • Davros refers to Neanderthals and homo sapiens.

Conflicts[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • By the time that Davros was born, no one on Skaro could remember how the Thousand Year War had started.

Galactic Law[[edit] | [edit source]]

Companies[[edit] | [edit source]]

Foods and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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