The Fires of Vulcan (audio story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
{{Infobox Story | |image = Vulcan revised.jpg | ||
| | |range = Main Range | ||
| | |number in range = 12 | ||
|series=[[ | |series = ''[[Main Range]]'' | ||
|number= 12 | |number = 12 | ||
|script=The Audio Scripts | |script = The Audio Scripts | ||
|doctor=Seventh Doctor | |doctor = Seventh Doctor | ||
|companions= [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] | |companions = [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] | ||
|enemy= [[Eumachia]] | |featuring = [[Muriel Frost|Frost]] | ||
|setting= [[Pompeii]], [[23 August|23]]-[[24 August]] [[79 | |enemy = [[Eumachia]], [[Murranus]] | ||
|writer= | |setting = [[Pompeii]], [[1980]]; [[23 August|23]]-[[24 August]] [[79]] | ||
|director= [[Gary Russell]] | |writer = Steve Lyons | ||
|producer= [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]] and [[Gary Russell]] | |director = [[Gary Russell]] | ||
| | |producer = [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]] and [[Gary Russell]] | ||
| | |music = [[Alistair Lock]] | ||
|cover=[[Clayton Hickman]] | |sound = Alistair Lock | ||
|release date= | |cover = [[Clayton Hickman]] | ||
|format= | |publisher = Big Finish Productions | ||
|production code= [[List of production codes|7F/A]] | |release date = 18 September 2000 | ||
|isbn= ISBN 1- | |format = 2 CDs<br/>2 cassettes<br/>Download | ||
|trailer= | |production code = [[List of production codes|7F/A]] | ||
|prev= The Apocalypse Element (audio story) | |isbn = ISBN 978-1-90365-402-6 (physical); ISBN 978-1-84435-696-6 (digital) | ||
|next= The Shadow of the Scourge (audio story)}} | |trailer = | ||
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the twelfth [[Big Finish | |prev = The Apocalypse Element (audio story) | ||
|next = The Shadow of the Scourge (audio story) | |||
|made prev = The Apocalypse Element (audio story) | |||
|made next = Winter for the Adept (audio story) | |||
|epcount = 4 | |||
}}{{audio stub}} | |||
{{spotify|album=15irFLMjc2sNSq0eFmDWYS|height=350}} | |||
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the twelfth story in [[Big Finish]]'s [[Main Range|monthly range]]. It was written by [[Steve Lyons]] and featured [[Sylvester McCoy]] as the [[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Bonnie Langford]] as [[Melanie Bush]]. | |||
This was the third full story to feature the Seventh Doctor but the first audio story to feature Mel, a role which Langford last played in [[Children in Need]] presentation ''[[Dimensions in Time (TV story)|Dimensions in Time]]'' in 1993. This was also writer Lyons' first contribution to an audio story; he has also contributed to a number of novels and short stories. | |||
== Publisher's summary == | == Publisher's summary == | ||
Two thousand years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption wiped the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] city of [[Pompeii]] from the face of the Earth. It also buried [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]... | Two thousand years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption wiped the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] city of [[Pompeii]] from the face of the Earth. It also buried [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]... | ||
Arriving in | Arriving in Pompeii one day before the disaster, the [[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Melanie Bush|Mel]] find themselves separated from their ship and entangled in local politics. With time running out, they fight to escape from the shadow of [[Vesuvius|Mount Vesuvius]]. But how can they succeed when history itself is working against them? | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
'' | ==== Part one ==== | ||
1980: Professor Scalini is heard talking about Pompeii and a mysterious artefact to a UNIT woman, who takes control of the artefact. The artefact is revealed to be an English police box, implying it to be the TARDIS. In the past, Mel and the Doctor meet a slave, who belongs to Eumachia, and tells them it's the 23rd of August, the day before Vesuvius erupts. The Doctor tells the slave that they are messengers of a God, Isis, to explain the TARDIS's arrival, which he witnessed. The Doctor seems to think he's going to die. They're in Pompeii in AD 79. The Doctor tells Mel they should go back to the TARDIS to avoid trouble. | |||
They discuss graffiti and the fact that it's the festival of Augustus, as well as Vulcan's day. A young man is following them. Mel and the Doctor's clothes are anachronistic, which is drawing unwanted attention. An old man runs into them, then tells a Roman soldier that they came from Isis, as Mel told him. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Mel meet Valeria, an innkeeper, in whose inn they meet a group of gladiators playing with dice, including Murranus, and the Doctor wagers Mel against his money. Eumachia and her slave are talking, and he tells her about the TARDIS. The Doctor wins the game, giving Valeria money to buy Mel some clothes. She tells Aglae, a servant, to buy the clothes, and Mel goes with her, telling her about how brooding the Doctor is acting. | |||
Aglae invites Mel into her room so she can change, and spies the man who was following Mel before, who is Popidious Celsinus, a councillor. Meanwhile, the Doctor loses money to Murranus in another game of dice, and they accuse each other of cheating. Murranus tries to kill the Doctor. Mel sees smoke rising from Vesuvius, and Aglae believes it to be a sign from the Gods, although Mel fears it to be the too-early start of the eruption. An earth tremor makes Murranus slip, saving the Doctor, who escapes. These earth tremors have been happening a lot recently, says Aglae, and the Doctor finds them and drags Mel away. She worries that everyone will die, but the Doctor says they can't change events. | |||
Mel says she's ready to leave Pompeii. Murranus promises to kill the Doctor while the Doctor admits to Mel that he did cheat, and they find that the TARDIS is buried under a building that collapsed during the earth tremor. The Doctor says that in 1980, the TARDIS will be discovered in the ruins of Pompeii, and so they can't escape. | |||
==== Part two ==== | |||
The Doctor says he was in his fifth body in the 1980s when UNIT contacted him, saying they'd found his TARDIS in Italy, but that version of him still had his TARDIS, so he knew it was likely to be a future version's TARDIS. Now he knows this for sure. Eumachia talks to Popidious, discussing the arrival of the Doctor and Mel, and how Popidious takes credit for Isis' temple, telling him he must prove these strangers (Dr and Mel) are false messengers, lest people think Isis doesn't love him, which would cause him to lose his seat on the council. The Doctor purchases wine from Valeria, arriving back at the inn and drinking while explaining why he can't change events such as the TARDIS being buried- it would cause a paradox. Murranus has already left. Another tremor occurs as Mel and the Doctor argue, and Mel says she won't give up. | |||
Eumachia- a priestess- slaps Aglae, and Mel tries to get Aglae to leave, but she refuses. Eumachia says she'll expose Mel's deceit. Valeria tells the Doctor an animal sacrifice will be made this afternoon to Isis, and Aglae comes to Mel, telling her that she is her friend. Aglae brings her to the sacrifice at Isis' temple, hoping Isis may help her, but Mel walks away. Celsinus runs into Mel, and Aglae says she can't deny his offer to have dinner with him, and that he can help her clear away the rubble around the TARDIS as he is a councillor. Aglae leaves. Mel and the Doctor arrive at Eumarchia's house, not Celsinus', and Mel fears it is a trap. They eat, and Eumarchia suggests that the TARDIS is a temple. The Doctor and Mel leave. Murranus buys wine from Valeria, and swears again to kill the Doctor, revealing that he was sentenced to be a Gladiator due to a crime, assuming he would be killed, and if the people of Pompeii stop liking Murranus, they won't keep voting to save him. | |||
The Doctor resolves to have hope of escaping Pompeii, and tells Mel to leave Pompeii, in case he doesn't succeed. Mel realises that he doesn't have hope and that the Doctor is just trying to save her. Eumarchia arrives, accusing Mel of stealing her jewels, and has her arrested by Roman centurions. | |||
==== Part three ==== | |||
Murranus is asleep, and Valeria leaves to get some rest. Aglae walks with the Doctor, who tells her that they must help Mel. Mel is visited by Popidious, who asks to know more about her. She tells him that she isn't a messenger from Isis, but he wishes to help her anyway, and leaves. He walks towards the exit of the jail to find the Doctor standing by the sleeping jailor, who hypnotises him into giving him the keys to the jail. He uses the keys to free Mel, who runs into Aglae with a horse and wagon, and he tells them both to leave Pompeii. Finally, she acquiesces. The Doctor reveals that the TARDIS wasn't actually beneath the rubble, that it must have been moved somewhere, and he will find the TARDIS and then return to Mel. | |||
Mel hides in the wagon as Aglae lies to a Roman soldier, then hits him over the head, allowing them to leave on foot, as the gate is closed to their wagon. Valeria is woken up by the Doctor, and Murranus tells her she'll hide in her backroom until he's ready (not hungover) to kill the Doctor. If she tells the Doctor he's there, then he'll kill her. Mel and Aglae hide in a crypt while Aglae regrets her actions. It is the next day- Volcano day- and the Roman soldier finds them. Valeria and the Doctor talk about the worshipping habits of Eumachia, and the Doctor drinks. Mel and Aglae have been locked away where Mel was jailed before, and Mel demands a message to be taken to Celsinus- that she wants to see him. | |||
Meanwhile, the Doctor sleeps from Valeria's drugged wine, and Murranus is kicked out of Valeria's inn. Celsinus escorts Mel away from the prison- leaving Aglae behind- and they realise Eumarchia has the TARDIS because she wants to discredit Isis, and knows everyone believes Mel and the Doctor to be Isis' messengers. Murranus has brought the Doctor to the amphitheatre to fight him, giving him a net and trident. The Doctor refuses to fight. An earthquake occurs, and then Mel points out strange things like all the seagulls having left, causing Celsinus to believe her that something is going to happen. Murranus rushes towards the Doctor, about to kill him. | |||
==== Part four ==== | |||
Mel tells Celsinus to let Aglae out of jail to save her life from the volcano, and then for both of them to leave Pompeii while Mel visits Eumachia. Valeria intervenes in the amphitheatre, allowing the Doctor to grab Murranus' weapon, and throw a net around him. Other gladiators stop them from leaving, and Valeria is injured. Vesuvius erupts, chaos floods the streets. Mel is found by the Roman legionary from the gate earlier, and they find shelter. Valeria and the Doctor get under cover, discussing the eruption of Vesuvius. | |||
Mel leaves the shelter, and arrives at Eumachia's home, confronts her, and realises that the TARDIS is being kept in her family's tomb- the necropolis outside the city. Valeria and the Doctor almost reach the gate meeting Celsinus and Aglae, running to escape, but the Doctor turns back to go find Mel. The slave from the beginning who saw them arriving finds Mel and tells her that the TARDIS was moved from her family's tomb to another family's. Murranus riles up the warriors and tells them to stay in the city. Aglae and Celsinus realise they have lost Valeria, but reach the gate. Mel desperately tries to reach the TARDIS, finding the Doctor, and they regain hope and go to find the TARDIS. They succeed, escaping, and discuss Pompeii's rediscovery, as well as whether Aglae, Celsinus, or Valeria may have escaped. There's no way to know their fate. | |||
They had to wait for three days so the ash hardened around them, forming a police-box shaped hole, then rematerialised in the same spot, the day the TARDIS was discovered by archeologists in 1980, where they now are, escaping the paradox. | |||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
| Line 41: | Line 78: | ||
* [[Scalini|Professor Scalini]] - [[Anthony Keetch]] | * [[Scalini|Professor Scalini]] - [[Anthony Keetch]] | ||
* [[Muriel Frost|Captain Muriel Frost]] - [[Karen Henson]] | * [[Muriel Frost|Captain Muriel Frost]] - [[Karen Henson]] | ||
* [[Tibernus]] - [[Robert Curbishley]] | * [[Tibernus]] / [[Roman legionary (The Fires of Vulcan)|Roman Legionary]] - [[Robert Curbishley]] | ||
* [[Popidius Celsinus]] - [[Andy Coleman]] | * [[Popidius Celsinus]] - [[Andy Coleman]] | ||
* [[Valeria Hedone]] - [[Nicky Goldie]] | * [[Valeria Hedone]] - [[Nicky Goldie]] | ||
| Line 48: | Line 85: | ||
* [[Aglae]] - [[Gemma Bissix]] | * [[Aglae]] - [[Gemma Bissix]] | ||
* [[Priest (The Fires of Vulcan)|Priest]] - [[Toby Longworth]] | * [[Priest (The Fires of Vulcan)|Priest]] - [[Toby Longworth]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
=== The Doctor === | === The Doctor === | ||
* During his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth incarnation]], the Doctor was contacted by [[ | * During his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth incarnation]], the Doctor was contacted by [[UNIT]], who told him that they had found [[The Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] encased in rock at [[Pompeii]] during an archaeological excavation in [[1980]]. | ||
=== Individuals === | === Individuals === | ||
* Mel states that she is a [[vegetarian]]. [[Valeria Hedone]] responds that she has never heard of Vegetaria. | * Mel states that she is a [[vegetarian]]. [[Valeria Hedone]] responds that she has never heard of Vegetaria. | ||
* Mel made a replica of [[Vesuvius|Mount Vesuvius]] out of papier | * Mel made a replica of [[Vesuvius|Mount Vesuvius]] out of papier mâché while at primary school. | ||
=== The Master === | === The Master === | ||
* The Doctor uses his voice to compel a guard and later Popidius into handing over a key and going to sleep, a skill previously demonstrated by [[the Master]]. | |||
* The Doctor uses his voice to compel a guard and later Popidius into handing over a key and going to sleep | |||
=== Earth history === | === Earth history === | ||
* According to the Roman calendar, [[23 August]] is the tenth day before the | * According to the Roman calendar, [[23 August]] is the tenth day before the Kalends of [[September]]. | ||
== Gallery == | |||
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true"> | |||
The Fires of Vulcan cassette cover with cassettes.jpg|Cassette cover and cassettes | |||
The Fires of Vulcan cover.jpg|Original CD cover art | |||
Vulcan revised.jpg|Revised CD cover art | |||
The Fires of Vulcan DWM 295.jpg|Illustrated preview by [[Lee Sullivan]] published in [[DWM 295]] | |||
The Fires of Vulcan DWM preview clean.jpg|Textless preview of the DWM preview art | |||
</gallery> | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* An illustrated preview for this story appeared in [[DWM 295]] with art by [[Lee Sullivan]]. | |||
* An illustrated preview for this story appeared in | |||
* [[Muriel Frost]] becomes the first character created for the ''Doctor Who Magazine'' comic strip to be featured in an audio drama. She will later be followed by [[Frobisher]], [[Izzy Sinclair]], [[Maxwell Edison]] and others. | * [[Muriel Frost]] becomes the first character created for the ''Doctor Who Magazine'' comic strip to be featured in an audio drama. She will later be followed by [[Frobisher]], [[Izzy Sinclair]], [[Maxwell Edison]] and others. | ||
* This audio drama was recorded on [[11 March (production)|11]] and [[12 March (production)|12 March]] [[2000 (production)|2000]] at [[the Moat Studios]]. | |||
* This audio drama was recorded on [[11 March (production)|11]] and [[12 March (production)|12 March]] 2000 at [[ | * Alistair Lock's soundtrack to the story was released on CD on ''[[Music from the New Audio Adventures - Volume 2 (soundtrack)|Music from the New Audio Adventures Volume 2]]'', alongside the scores for two other Seventh Doctor stories, ''[[Last of the Titans (audio story)|Last of the Titans]]'' and ''[[The Shadow of the Scourge (audio story)|The Shadow of the Scourge]]''. | ||
* This story is set between ''[[Delta and the Bannermen (TV story)|Delta and the Bannermen]]'' and ''[[Dragonfire (TV story)|Dragonfire]]''. | |||
* This story is set parallel to ''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]'', although neither the Doctor nor Mel are known to encounter the [[Pyrovile]] or the Doctor's [[Tenth Doctor|future incarnation]] and [[Donna Noble|Donna]]. | |||
* This story was originally released on CD and cassette. It is now available to download and to stream on [[Spotify]]. | |||
* This story is a "[[pure historical]]" featuring no science fiction elements apart from the presence of the Doctor, Mel and the TARDIS. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* An older version of the Seventh Doctor would later return to Pompeii in August 79 in the company of [[Ace]] ([[PROSE]]: | * An older version of the Seventh Doctor would later return to Pompeii in August 79 in the company of [[Ace]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Algebra of Ice (novel)|The Algebra of Ice}}) as would the [[Tenth Doctor]] and [[Donna Noble]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii}}) and his future travelling companion [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]], on multiple occasions. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Doctor Dances (TV story)|The Doctor Dances}}) | ||
* The Seventh Doctor is unaware that the eruption of [[Vesuvius|Mount Vesuvius]] was triggered by his tenth incarnation in order to | * The Seventh Doctor is unaware that the eruption of [[Vesuvius|Mount Vesuvius]] was triggered by his tenth incarnation in order to stop the [[Pyrovile]]s. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii}}) | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{bigfinish|releases/v/the-fires-of-vulcan-635}} | |||
{{dwrefguide|who_bf12.htm|The Fires of Vulcan}} | |||
{{tetrap|7/fires.html|The Fires of Vulcan}} | |||
{{BFA monthly}} | {{BFA monthly}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | |||
[[Category:Stories set in 79]] | [[Category:Stories set in 79]] | ||
[[Category:UNIT audio stories]] | [[Category:UNIT audio stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in Italy]] | [[Category:Stories set in Italy]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in | [[Category:Stories set in Pompeii]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 1980]] | [[Category:Stories set in 1980]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Audio stories that use Delia Derbyshire's 2nd theme]] | ||
[[Category:Seventh Doctor Main Range audio stories]] | |||
[[Category:2000 Main Range audio stories]] | |||
[[Category:Seventh Doctor audio stories]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:11, 17 November 2024
The Fires of Vulcan was the twelfth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Steve Lyons and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush.
This was the third full story to feature the Seventh Doctor but the first audio story to feature Mel, a role which Langford last played in Children in Need presentation Dimensions in Time in 1993. This was also writer Lyons' first contribution to an audio story; he has also contributed to a number of novels and short stories.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
Two thousand years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption wiped the Roman city of Pompeii from the face of the Earth. It also buried the Doctor's TARDIS...
Arriving in Pompeii one day before the disaster, the Seventh Doctor and Mel find themselves separated from their ship and entangled in local politics. With time running out, they fight to escape from the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. But how can they succeed when history itself is working against them?
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]
1980: Professor Scalini is heard talking about Pompeii and a mysterious artefact to a UNIT woman, who takes control of the artefact. The artefact is revealed to be an English police box, implying it to be the TARDIS. In the past, Mel and the Doctor meet a slave, who belongs to Eumachia, and tells them it's the 23rd of August, the day before Vesuvius erupts. The Doctor tells the slave that they are messengers of a God, Isis, to explain the TARDIS's arrival, which he witnessed. The Doctor seems to think he's going to die. They're in Pompeii in AD 79. The Doctor tells Mel they should go back to the TARDIS to avoid trouble.
They discuss graffiti and the fact that it's the festival of Augustus, as well as Vulcan's day. A young man is following them. Mel and the Doctor's clothes are anachronistic, which is drawing unwanted attention. An old man runs into them, then tells a Roman soldier that they came from Isis, as Mel told him. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Mel meet Valeria, an innkeeper, in whose inn they meet a group of gladiators playing with dice, including Murranus, and the Doctor wagers Mel against his money. Eumachia and her slave are talking, and he tells her about the TARDIS. The Doctor wins the game, giving Valeria money to buy Mel some clothes. She tells Aglae, a servant, to buy the clothes, and Mel goes with her, telling her about how brooding the Doctor is acting.
Aglae invites Mel into her room so she can change, and spies the man who was following Mel before, who is Popidious Celsinus, a councillor. Meanwhile, the Doctor loses money to Murranus in another game of dice, and they accuse each other of cheating. Murranus tries to kill the Doctor. Mel sees smoke rising from Vesuvius, and Aglae believes it to be a sign from the Gods, although Mel fears it to be the too-early start of the eruption. An earth tremor makes Murranus slip, saving the Doctor, who escapes. These earth tremors have been happening a lot recently, says Aglae, and the Doctor finds them and drags Mel away. She worries that everyone will die, but the Doctor says they can't change events.
Mel says she's ready to leave Pompeii. Murranus promises to kill the Doctor while the Doctor admits to Mel that he did cheat, and they find that the TARDIS is buried under a building that collapsed during the earth tremor. The Doctor says that in 1980, the TARDIS will be discovered in the ruins of Pompeii, and so they can't escape.
Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor says he was in his fifth body in the 1980s when UNIT contacted him, saying they'd found his TARDIS in Italy, but that version of him still had his TARDIS, so he knew it was likely to be a future version's TARDIS. Now he knows this for sure. Eumachia talks to Popidious, discussing the arrival of the Doctor and Mel, and how Popidious takes credit for Isis' temple, telling him he must prove these strangers (Dr and Mel) are false messengers, lest people think Isis doesn't love him, which would cause him to lose his seat on the council. The Doctor purchases wine from Valeria, arriving back at the inn and drinking while explaining why he can't change events such as the TARDIS being buried- it would cause a paradox. Murranus has already left. Another tremor occurs as Mel and the Doctor argue, and Mel says she won't give up.
Eumachia- a priestess- slaps Aglae, and Mel tries to get Aglae to leave, but she refuses. Eumachia says she'll expose Mel's deceit. Valeria tells the Doctor an animal sacrifice will be made this afternoon to Isis, and Aglae comes to Mel, telling her that she is her friend. Aglae brings her to the sacrifice at Isis' temple, hoping Isis may help her, but Mel walks away. Celsinus runs into Mel, and Aglae says she can't deny his offer to have dinner with him, and that he can help her clear away the rubble around the TARDIS as he is a councillor. Aglae leaves. Mel and the Doctor arrive at Eumarchia's house, not Celsinus', and Mel fears it is a trap. They eat, and Eumarchia suggests that the TARDIS is a temple. The Doctor and Mel leave. Murranus buys wine from Valeria, and swears again to kill the Doctor, revealing that he was sentenced to be a Gladiator due to a crime, assuming he would be killed, and if the people of Pompeii stop liking Murranus, they won't keep voting to save him.
The Doctor resolves to have hope of escaping Pompeii, and tells Mel to leave Pompeii, in case he doesn't succeed. Mel realises that he doesn't have hope and that the Doctor is just trying to save her. Eumarchia arrives, accusing Mel of stealing her jewels, and has her arrested by Roman centurions.
Part three[[edit] | [edit source]]
Murranus is asleep, and Valeria leaves to get some rest. Aglae walks with the Doctor, who tells her that they must help Mel. Mel is visited by Popidious, who asks to know more about her. She tells him that she isn't a messenger from Isis, but he wishes to help her anyway, and leaves. He walks towards the exit of the jail to find the Doctor standing by the sleeping jailor, who hypnotises him into giving him the keys to the jail. He uses the keys to free Mel, who runs into Aglae with a horse and wagon, and he tells them both to leave Pompeii. Finally, she acquiesces. The Doctor reveals that the TARDIS wasn't actually beneath the rubble, that it must have been moved somewhere, and he will find the TARDIS and then return to Mel.
Mel hides in the wagon as Aglae lies to a Roman soldier, then hits him over the head, allowing them to leave on foot, as the gate is closed to their wagon. Valeria is woken up by the Doctor, and Murranus tells her she'll hide in her backroom until he's ready (not hungover) to kill the Doctor. If she tells the Doctor he's there, then he'll kill her. Mel and Aglae hide in a crypt while Aglae regrets her actions. It is the next day- Volcano day- and the Roman soldier finds them. Valeria and the Doctor talk about the worshipping habits of Eumachia, and the Doctor drinks. Mel and Aglae have been locked away where Mel was jailed before, and Mel demands a message to be taken to Celsinus- that she wants to see him.
Meanwhile, the Doctor sleeps from Valeria's drugged wine, and Murranus is kicked out of Valeria's inn. Celsinus escorts Mel away from the prison- leaving Aglae behind- and they realise Eumarchia has the TARDIS because she wants to discredit Isis, and knows everyone believes Mel and the Doctor to be Isis' messengers. Murranus has brought the Doctor to the amphitheatre to fight him, giving him a net and trident. The Doctor refuses to fight. An earthquake occurs, and then Mel points out strange things like all the seagulls having left, causing Celsinus to believe her that something is going to happen. Murranus rushes towards the Doctor, about to kill him.
Part four[[edit] | [edit source]]
Mel tells Celsinus to let Aglae out of jail to save her life from the volcano, and then for both of them to leave Pompeii while Mel visits Eumachia. Valeria intervenes in the amphitheatre, allowing the Doctor to grab Murranus' weapon, and throw a net around him. Other gladiators stop them from leaving, and Valeria is injured. Vesuvius erupts, chaos floods the streets. Mel is found by the Roman legionary from the gate earlier, and they find shelter. Valeria and the Doctor get under cover, discussing the eruption of Vesuvius.
Mel leaves the shelter, and arrives at Eumachia's home, confronts her, and realises that the TARDIS is being kept in her family's tomb- the necropolis outside the city. Valeria and the Doctor almost reach the gate meeting Celsinus and Aglae, running to escape, but the Doctor turns back to go find Mel. The slave from the beginning who saw them arriving finds Mel and tells her that the TARDIS was moved from her family's tomb to another family's. Murranus riles up the warriors and tells them to stay in the city. Aglae and Celsinus realise they have lost Valeria, but reach the gate. Mel desperately tries to reach the TARDIS, finding the Doctor, and they regain hope and go to find the TARDIS. They succeed, escaping, and discuss Pompeii's rediscovery, as well as whether Aglae, Celsinus, or Valeria may have escaped. There's no way to know their fate.
They had to wait for three days so the ash hardened around them, forming a police-box shaped hole, then rematerialised in the same spot, the day the TARDIS was discovered by archeologists in 1980, where they now are, escaping the paradox.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
- Melanie Bush - Bonnie Langford
- Professor Scalini - Anthony Keetch
- Captain Muriel Frost - Karen Henson
- Tibernus / Roman Legionary - Robert Curbishley
- Popidius Celsinus - Andy Coleman
- Valeria Hedone - Nicky Goldie
- Murranus - Steven Wickham
- Eumachia - Lisa Hollander
- Aglae - Gemma Bissix
- Priest - Toby Longworth
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]
- During his fifth incarnation, the Doctor was contacted by UNIT, who told him that they had found his TARDIS encased in rock at Pompeii during an archaeological excavation in 1980.
Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Mel states that she is a vegetarian. Valeria Hedone responds that she has never heard of Vegetaria.
- Mel made a replica of Mount Vesuvius out of papier mâché while at primary school.
The Master[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Doctor uses his voice to compel a guard and later Popidius into handing over a key and going to sleep, a skill previously demonstrated by the Master.
Earth history[[edit] | [edit source]]
Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]
Cassette cover and cassettes
Original CD cover art
Revised CD cover art
Illustrated preview by Lee Sullivan published in DWM 295
Textless preview of the DWM preview art
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- An illustrated preview for this story appeared in DWM 295 with art by Lee Sullivan.
- Muriel Frost becomes the first character created for the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip to be featured in an audio drama. She will later be followed by Frobisher, Izzy Sinclair, Maxwell Edison and others.
- This audio drama was recorded on 11 and 12 March 2000 at the Moat Studios.
- Alistair Lock's soundtrack to the story was released on CD on Music from the New Audio Adventures Volume 2, alongside the scores for two other Seventh Doctor stories, Last of the Titans and The Shadow of the Scourge.
- This story is set between Delta and the Bannermen and Dragonfire.
- This story is set parallel to The Fires of Pompeii, although neither the Doctor nor Mel are known to encounter the Pyrovile or the Doctor's future incarnation and Donna.
- This story was originally released on CD and cassette. It is now available to download and to stream on Spotify.
- This story is a "pure historical" featuring no science fiction elements apart from the presence of the Doctor, Mel and the TARDIS.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- An older version of the Seventh Doctor would later return to Pompeii in August 79 in the company of Ace, (PROSE: The Algebra of Ice [+]Loading...["The Algebra of Ice (novel)","The Algebra of Ice"]) as would the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble (TV: The Fires of Pompeii [+]Loading...["The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)","The Fires of Pompeii"]) and his future travelling companion Captain Jack Harkness, on multiple occasions. (TV: The Doctor Dances [+]Loading...["The Doctor Dances (TV story)","The Doctor Dances"])
- The Seventh Doctor is unaware that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius was triggered by his tenth incarnation in order to stop the Pyroviles. (TV: The Fires of Pompeii [+]Loading...["The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)","The Fires of Pompeii"])
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Official The Fires of Vulcan page at bigfinish.com
- The Fires of Vulcan at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- DisContinuity for The Fires of Vulcan at Tetrapyriarbus - The DisContinuity Guide
