Asylum (audio story): Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{title dab away}} | ||
| | {{real world}} | ||
|series | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|number | |image = TorchwoodAsylum.jpg | ||
| | |range = BBCTWAD | ||
| | |number in range = 2 | ||
| | |series = [[BBC Torchwood audio dramas|BBC ''Torchwood'' audio dramas]] | ||
| | |number = 2 | ||
|next story | |scripturl = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-radio-asylum-recording-script-21042009.pdf | ||
|main character = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] | |||
|featuring = [[Andy Davidson|Andy]] | |||
|enemy = | |||
|setting = [[Cardiff]], [[2009]] | |||
|writer = Anita Sullivan | |||
|director = [[Kate McAll]] | |||
|post production = | |||
|network = BBC Radio | |||
|broadcast date = 1 July 2009 | |||
|format = | |||
|production code = | |||
|isbn = ISBN 978-1-4084-2664-7 | |||
|prev = Lost Souls (audio story) | |||
|next = Golden Age (audio story) | |||
|clip = Torchwood Asylum | |||
}}{{dab page|Asylum (disambiguation)}} | |||
'''''Asylum''''' was an original [[BBC Radio]] 4 audio play aired on [[1 July (releases)|1 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]. It was the first of three audio dramas to be played on the BBC Radio 4 slot afternoon play as a prelude to the show's [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|third series]]. | |||
== Publisher summary == | |||
When [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy Davidson]] arrests a young girl for [[shoplifting]], he thinks it's going to be a routine case. That is, until he sees that she is carrying a gun. The girl is soaking wet, covered in [[mud]], and the weapon is like nothing he's ever seen before. He knows that this is a case for [[Torchwood]]... The team discovers that the girl is called [[Freda]], but can find out nothing else. Yet when she speaks, it's a strange mix of English and Icelandic, but with a [[Cardiff]] accent. While [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] and [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] check out the girl's weapon and her [[blood]] sample at [[the Hub]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] and PC Andy take Freda to a [[safe house]]. But when Jack calls with the results—and Freda goes on the run—PC Andy finds his world turning upside down. | |||
== | == Plot == | ||
[[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] gets a call from [[Andy Davidson|Andy]] inviting her, [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] and [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] to the police station where he has taken [[Freda]], a teenager who appeared out of nowhere and robbed a [[shop]] whilst in possession of a [[Universal Remote Control|futuristic device]]. Gwen takes her and Andy to a [[safe house]] and learns that Freda has very little [[memory]] of her past beyond a burning [[house]], the name [[Moira Evans]] and the address [[51 Lundy Street]]. Although Freda believes that visiting the address could help trigger her memory, Gwen refuses to let her leave until her [[blood]] has been tested. | |||
Jack and Ianto head back to [[the Hub]] with the device, which Jack tests in the [[Torchwood SUV|SUV]] and finds is a Universal Remote Control capable of disrupting transport, communications and security. He steals a [[motorcycle]] for the rest of the journey due to the traffic he unwittingly causes with the device and detects a small and almost unnoticeable amount of [[the Rift|Rift]] activity above the [[river]] at [[Maendy]], indicating that Freda deliberately travelled there through the Rift. | |||
Freda remembers that she has come from [[2069]] and Gwen decides to take her to the Hub upon being informed by Ianto that her blood test indicates that she is not [[human]], but Freda runs away to 51 Lundy Street as Gwen argues with Andy about taking her away and finally tells him that [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood]] deals with [[alien]]s. She remembers that Moira Evans was her grandmother and, when Gwen and Andy catch up with her and ask about her species, that she is half-[[Ghosty]], which led to her house being set on fire and her family dying. She takes Jack's bike when he arrives and Jack, Gwen and Andy go after her. | |||
Before Freda can jump into the river where she arrived, Andy approaches her and persuades her that [[Freda's mother|her mother]] would not want her to commit [[suicide]]. She declines Gwen's offer of [[retcon]] to help her start a new life in the [[21st century]] and, before falling asleep, says that she was saved and sent through the Rift by a man from Torchwood. Ianto deduces that future Torchwood sent her back so that he, Jack and Gwen would adopt an [[asylum (politics)|asylum]] policy for aliens and they discuss how best to give her a new life. Andy assures her that she will be fine. | |||
*[[Jack Harkness]] | == Cast == | ||
*[[Gwen Cooper]] | * [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] - [[John Barrowman]] | ||
*[[Ianto Jones]] | * [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]] - [[Eve Myles]] | ||
* | * [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] | ||
*[[Freda]] | * [[Andy Davidson|PC Andy]] - [[Tom Price]] | ||
* [[Freda]] - [[Erin Richards]] | |||
* [[Security guard (Asylum)|The Security Guard]] - [[Matthew Gravelle]] | |||
* [[Policewoman (Asylum)|The Policewoman]] - [[Sara McGaughey]] | |||
* [[Dog walker (Asylum)|The Dog Walker]] - [[Dick Bradnum]] | |||
* [[Girl (Asylum)|The Girl]] - [[Isabel Lewis]] | |||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
''to | * [[Barry Beat FM]] is a radio station. | ||
* Gwen does not take [[milk]] or [[sugar]] in her [[coffee]]. | |||
* Freda was born on [[30 May]] [[2053]]. She is Citizen UK818945/CF209B. | |||
* By the year [[2069]], Earth's food is being [[Rationing|rationed]]. | |||
* Andy has [[Andy Davidson's cousin|a cousin]] from [[Machynlleth]] who claims to have been abducted by aliens. | |||
* Freda's alien heritage comes from her grandmother, who was one alien refugee of 13 from a planet that was being destroyed by [[solar flare]]s. | |||
* Jack threatens to [[Retcon]] Andy when he annoys him during a ride in his police car. | |||
* Jack agrees to create an [[asylum (politics)|asylum]] policy in Torchwood Three. | |||
* Torchwood Three was still active in [[2069]], as Freda claimed that they had originally sent her through [[Cardiff Space-Time Rift|the Rift]]. | |||
==Notes== | == Notes == | ||
''to | * This episode is set after the television story ''[[Exit Wounds (TV story)|Exit Wounds]]'' and the audio story ''[[Lost Souls (audio story)|Lost Souls]]'' as [[Owen Harper]] and [[Toshiko Sato]] are no longer mentioned. There is nothing to indicate if it occurs before or after the television story ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]'', but Ianto's involvement shows that it occurs prior to [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|series 3]]. | ||
* [[Andy Davidson|Andy]] finally learns the true nature of ''Torchwood''. This appears to be somewhat consistent with series 3. | |||
== | === Download and CD release === | ||
* The story was released on [[CD]] on [[22 September (releases)|22 September]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]], and was also made available to download from the [[AudioGo]] website. | |||
* ''[[Lost Souls (audio story)|Lost Souls]]'', ''Asylum'', ''[[Golden Age (audio story)|Golden Age]]'' and ''[[The Dead Line]]'' were released, individually and together as a four-disc collected box set, entitled ''The Radio Adventures''. | |||
== Continuity == | |||
* Gwen mentions to Andy an [[Sky Gypsy|aircraft]] from [[1953]] once came through the Rift. ([[TV]]: ''[[Out of Time (TV story)|Out of Time]]'') | |||
* The Girl asks if Gwen has kids, and then suggests she should one day. Gwen and [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]] conceive a child shortly before the incident with the [[456 ambassador]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Five (TV story)|Children of Earth: Day Five]]'') | |||
== External links == | |||
{{dwrefguide|torchwood_r02.htm|Asylum}} | |||
{{BBCTWA}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | |||
[[fr:Asylum (Torchwood)]] | |||
[[Category:Torchwood radio dramas]] | |||
[[Category:2009 audio stories]] | |||
[[Category:Torchwood | [[Category:Stories set in 2009]] | ||
[[Category:2009 audio | [[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]] | ||
[[Category:Stories that use Murray Gold's Torchwood radio theme]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:47, 3 November 2024
- You may wish to consult
Asylum (disambiguation)for other, similarly-named pages.
Asylum was an original BBC Radio 4 audio play aired on 1 July 2009. It was the first of three audio dramas to be played on the BBC Radio 4 slot afternoon play as a prelude to the show's third series.
Publisher summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
When PC Andy Davidson arrests a young girl for shoplifting, he thinks it's going to be a routine case. That is, until he sees that she is carrying a gun. The girl is soaking wet, covered in mud, and the weapon is like nothing he's ever seen before. He knows that this is a case for Torchwood... The team discovers that the girl is called Freda, but can find out nothing else. Yet when she speaks, it's a strange mix of English and Icelandic, but with a Cardiff accent. While Jack and Ianto check out the girl's weapon and her blood sample at the Hub, Gwen and PC Andy take Freda to a safe house. But when Jack calls with the results—and Freda goes on the run—PC Andy finds his world turning upside down.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
Gwen gets a call from Andy inviting her, Jack and Ianto to the police station where he has taken Freda, a teenager who appeared out of nowhere and robbed a shop whilst in possession of a futuristic device. Gwen takes her and Andy to a safe house and learns that Freda has very little memory of her past beyond a burning house, the name Moira Evans and the address 51 Lundy Street. Although Freda believes that visiting the address could help trigger her memory, Gwen refuses to let her leave until her blood has been tested.
Jack and Ianto head back to the Hub with the device, which Jack tests in the SUV and finds is a Universal Remote Control capable of disrupting transport, communications and security. He steals a motorcycle for the rest of the journey due to the traffic he unwittingly causes with the device and detects a small and almost unnoticeable amount of Rift activity above the river at Maendy, indicating that Freda deliberately travelled there through the Rift.
Freda remembers that she has come from 2069 and Gwen decides to take her to the Hub upon being informed by Ianto that her blood test indicates that she is not human, but Freda runs away to 51 Lundy Street as Gwen argues with Andy about taking her away and finally tells him that Torchwood deals with aliens. She remembers that Moira Evans was her grandmother and, when Gwen and Andy catch up with her and ask about her species, that she is half-Ghosty, which led to her house being set on fire and her family dying. She takes Jack's bike when he arrives and Jack, Gwen and Andy go after her.
Before Freda can jump into the river where she arrived, Andy approaches her and persuades her that her mother would not want her to commit suicide. She declines Gwen's offer of retcon to help her start a new life in the 21st century and, before falling asleep, says that she was saved and sent through the Rift by a man from Torchwood. Ianto deduces that future Torchwood sent her back so that he, Jack and Gwen would adopt an asylum policy for aliens and they discuss how best to give her a new life. Andy assures her that she will be fine.
Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Jack - John Barrowman
- Gwen - Eve Myles
- Ianto - Gareth David-Lloyd
- PC Andy - Tom Price
- Freda - Erin Richards
- The Security Guard - Matthew Gravelle
- The Policewoman - Sara McGaughey
- The Dog Walker - Dick Bradnum
- The Girl - Isabel Lewis
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Barry Beat FM is a radio station.
- Gwen does not take milk or sugar in her coffee.
- Freda was born on 30 May 2053. She is Citizen UK818945/CF209B.
- By the year 2069, Earth's food is being rationed.
- Andy has a cousin from Machynlleth who claims to have been abducted by aliens.
- Freda's alien heritage comes from her grandmother, who was one alien refugee of 13 from a planet that was being destroyed by solar flares.
- Jack threatens to Retcon Andy when he annoys him during a ride in his police car.
- Jack agrees to create an asylum policy in Torchwood Three.
- Torchwood Three was still active in 2069, as Freda claimed that they had originally sent her through the Rift.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- This episode is set after the television story Exit Wounds and the audio story Lost Souls as Owen Harper and Toshiko Sato are no longer mentioned. There is nothing to indicate if it occurs before or after the television story Journey's End, but Ianto's involvement shows that it occurs prior to series 3.
- Andy finally learns the true nature of Torchwood. This appears to be somewhat consistent with series 3.
Download and CD release[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The story was released on CD on 22 September 2009, and was also made available to download from the AudioGo website.
- Lost Souls, Asylum, Golden Age and The Dead Line were released, individually and together as a four-disc collected box set, entitled The Radio Adventures.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Gwen mentions to Andy an aircraft from 1953 once came through the Rift. (TV: Out of Time)
- The Girl asks if Gwen has kids, and then suggests she should one day. Gwen and Rhys conceive a child shortly before the incident with the 456 ambassador. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Five)
External links[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Asylum at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
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