Children of Earth: Day One (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Template:Infobox Torchwood
{{title dab away}}
|image         = [[File:tw_ep01_jack_rupesh_02.jpg|250px]]
{{real world}}
|story name    = Day One
{{ImageLinkTV}}
|series         = [[Torchwood]] - [[List of Torchwood television stories|TV Stories]]
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series number = [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]]
|image                 = 16j.jpg
|number        = 27
|series               = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|enemy          = [[The 456]]<br>[[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]]
|season number         = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|writer         = [[Russell T Davies]]
|series episode number = 1
|director       = [[Euros Lyn]]
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-1-day-one-pink-revisions-10082008.pdf
|producer       = [[Peter Bennett]]
|main character        = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]]
|broadcast date = [[6th July]] [[2009]]
|featuring            = Rhys Williams
|previous story = [[Exit Wounds]]
|featuring2            = Lois Habiba
|next story    = [[Day Two (Children of Earth)|Day Two]]
|featuring3            = John Frobisher
}}
|featuring4            = Clem McDonald
'''"Children of Earth: Day One"''' is the first of a five-part serial of the [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|third series]] of ''[[Torchwood]]''.
|featuring5            = Alice Carter
|featuring6            = Bridget Spears
|featuring7            = Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson
|network              = BBC One
|setting              = [[Cardiff]], [[East Grinstead]] and [[London]], [[September]] [[2009]]
|writer               = Russell T Davies
|director             = [[Euros Lyn]]
|producer             = [[Peter Bennett]]
|broadcast date       = 6 July 2009
|prev                  = Exit Wounds (TV story)
|next                 = Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)
|trailer              = Torchwood Children of Earth Trailer 2 - BBC One
|clip                  = The children stop - Torchwood - BBC
|clip2                = The Torchwood Hub is Destroyed! Day One Torchwood Children of Earth
|format = 1x60 minute episode;<br/>Part 1 of 5
}}{{you may|Day One (TV story)|n1=Day One}}
'''''Children of Earth: Day One''''' was the first episode of [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[Russell T Davies]], directed by [[Euros Lyn]] and featured [[John Barrowman]] as [[Jack Harkness]], [[Eve Myles]] as [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Kai Owen]] as [[Rhys Williams]] and [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] as [[Ianto Jones]].
 
It marked the beginning of the end for the Torchwood Institute as it had been established over the course of two series by eliminating almost all of its technological resources. It saw the destruction of the [[Torchwood Three]] [[the Hub|headquarters]] and the theft of their [[Torchwood SUV|trademark vehicle]]. Gwen also discovered she had recently become [[pregnant]].
 
This story featured the second appearance of [[Peter Capaldi]] portraying a character within the ''Doctor Who'' universe. He previously had the role of [[Caecilius]] in the story ''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]'' and would later play [[the Doctor]] himself in his [[twelfth incarnation]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
When every child on the Earth stops and starts chanting "We Are Coming", the Torchwood team has to investigate. Could this be the start of a global crisis?
When all [[child]]ren on [[Earth]] stop and start chanting "We are coming", the [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood team]] investigates. Could this be the start of a global crisis?


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
One night in [[Scotland]], [[1965]], a group of young children in are being driven in a school bus to an undisclosed location. When the bus stops, the children exit and walk towards a light that gets brighter as they draw closer. One of the children is hesitant, and eventually flees as the light covers a large area.
One night in [[Scotland]], [[1965]], young children are driven in a school [[bus]] to an undisclosed location. When the bus stops, the children exit and walk towards a light. It grows brighter as they draw closer. One hesitates, then flees as the light covers a large area.
 
Forty-four years later, in [[Cardiff]], [[September]] [[2009]], at 8:40 am GMT, [[Gwen Cooper]] is withdrawing money from a [[cash machine]] when she notices two children standing completely still and unresponsive. In fact, all the children all over the [[United Kingdom]] freeze. After a minute, the children start moving again, acting as if nothing has happened. Gwen goes to [[the Hub]] and begins to investigate the incident.
 
At a [[St Helen's Hospital|hospital]], [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr Rupesh Patanjali]] fails to save a man's life. [[Jack Harkness]] and [[Ianto Jones]], whom Dr Patanjali believes are the man's neighbours, ask to see the body alone. Jack uses a [[laser saw]] to open the corpse and extracts an [[alien]] organ. Dr Patanjali re-enters, sees the alien organ and asks if the men are Torchwood. Jack quickly denies it. Dr Patanjali tells them the bodies of five ethnic males have vanished over the past two months. Jack tells him it's a problem for the NHS. Ianto and he drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.
 
A woman named [[Lois Habiba]] begins her first day at work for her new boss, [[Bridget Spears]], assistant to the Permanent Secretary to the [[Home Office]], [[John Frobisher]]. Frobisher is visited by [[UNIT]] [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]], who tells him children "stopped" at the exact same time all over the world, as the Torchwood team also discovers. Oduya says UNIT has gone to yellow alert, although they don't know if the phenomenon is extraterrestrial in origin.


44 years later, in [[Cardiff]], [[2009]], at 8:40 am GMT, [[Gwen Cooper]] is withdrawing money from an ATM when she notices two children standing completely still and completely unresponsive. In fact, all the children all over the [[United Kingdom]] freeze. After a minute, the children start moving again, acting as if nothing had happened. Gwen goes to [[Torchwood Three|the Hub]] and begins to investigate the incident.
Dr Patanjali wanders in the [[Roald Dahl Plass|plaza]] outside the Hub. Gwen goes to meet him, as the self-appointed "recruitment officer," since, as Jack says, the team needs a [[doctor]]. While they talk, all the children again suddenly stop at 10:30 am. They scream, then chant in unison: "We are coming." The Torchwood team later discovers that an adult patient in [[Digby York Hospital|a mental institution]] in [[East Grinstead]] — [[Clement McDonald|Timothy White]] — also stopped and spoke the same words. Every child in the world said the same words.


Meanwhile, at a hospital, Dr. [[Rupesh Patanjali]] attempts to save a man's life, but is unsuccessful. [[Jack Harkness]] and [[Ianto Jones]], whom Dr. Patanjali believes are the man's neighbours, ask if they can see the body alone.It is also the first time in the series Jack and Ianto are exclusivley reffered to as a couple, with Jack assuring Ianto they are. Jack uses a [[laser torch]] to open up the man and extracts an alien organ. Dr. Patanjali suddenly re-enters, sees the alien organ, and asks if the men are Torchwood, which Jack quickly denies. Dr. Patanjali tells them that the bodies of five ethnic males have disappeared over the past two months, but Jack tells him that it's a problem for the NHS to handle, and he and Ianto drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.
[[Dekker|Mr Dekker]], head of [[MI5]]'s [[technology]] division, who is also in charge of alien monitoring, tells Frobisher the aliens called [[the 456]] have re-established contact for the first time since 1965. Frobisher meets with the Prime Minister, [[Brian Green]], and suggests, "It might be best if certain historical events were taken off the record." Green agrees, but refuses Frobisher's request he issue a "blank page"; he doesn't want his name attached. Green puts Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if things go wrong.


Meanwhile, a woman named [[Lois Habiba]] begins her first day at work for her new boss, [[Bridget Spears]], assistant to Permanent Secretary to the Home Office, [[John Frobisher]]. Frobischer is visited by [[UNIT]] [[Colonel Oduya]], who tells him that children 'stopped' at the exact same time all over the world, as the Torchwood team also discovers. Oduya says that UNIT has been taken to yellow alert, although they don't yet know if the phenonemon is extraterrestrial in origin.
Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness. When she logs it, the computer flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget Spears and finds Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.


Dr. Patanjali appears, wandering in the plaza outside the Hub. Gwen goes out to meet him, as the self-appointed "recruitment officer," since, as Jack says, the team needs a doctor. While the two are talking, all the children again suddenly stop at 10:30 am. This time, they begin to scream, then chant in unison: "We are coming." The Torchwood team later discovers that an adult man, Timothy White, in a in West Sussex psychiatric hospital also stops and speaks the same words as the children and that every child in the world spoke the same words -- in English.
Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto agree they need to question a [[child]]. Jack visits his daughter, [[Alice Carter]], and her son [[Steven Carter|Steven]], his grandson. Alice refuses to let Jack use Steven. Ianto visits his sister, [[Rhiannon Davies]]. He tries to talk her into letting him take one of her children on an "outing", but she refuses. She also asks Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man. Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. He explains he doesn't have an inkling for men, but Jack has affected him differently, so he isn't broadcasting his sexual choices. Rhiannon promises him that she will not tell anyone about his relationship. However, it becomes evident she gossiped to her husband [[Johnny Davies|Johnny]] when he walks in and thoughtlessly calls Ianto a "gay boy" who, according to his wife, has been "taking it up the arse". Feeling humiliated, he takes the riffing with a grain of salt and puts up with Johnny to save face.


Frobisher is told by the Head of [[MI5]]'s Technology division, Mr. [[Dekker]], who is also in charge of alien monitoring, that the aliens called [[The 456]] have re-established contact for the first time since 1965, transmitting a burst of compressed information on frequency 456. Frobisher meets with the Prime Minister, Brian Green, and suggests that "it might be best if certain historical events were taken off the record." Green agrees, but refuses Frobisher's request that he issue a 'blank page,' saying that he doesn't want his name attached. Green places Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if the things go wrong.  
Suddenly, a [[car]] alarm begins wailing. Johnny looks out the window and asks whom the "black car" belongs to. Ianto confirms it as the [[Torchwood SUV]]. Ianto ignores Johnny's warning that his car is a target on their estate. He puts too much faith in the vehicle's triple deadlock, a costly mistake. Johnny alerts him a few hooligans have broken into the company car with ease. Panicked, Ianto bursts outside to find the SUV nowhere in sight. Johnny says the local thieves always do a victory lap to parade around in their stolen ride and takes the opportunity to pelt them with bricks on the pass around, rather than calling the authorities as Ianto requests. Surely enough, the Torchwood SUV blazes back into view one last time. The joyriding jokers cheer and whoop as they drive off with the car, one of them mooning the group as they pass by. David cheers the joyriders on from his bedroom window, which earns him a scolding from Rhiannon. An exasperated Ianto watches the car disappear around a corner as Johnny chases the thieves with an armload of bricks.


Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness, and when she logs it, the compter flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget Spears and discovers that Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.  
Gwen visits Timothy White. He tells her that when he was a child he was put on a bus and taken away with a group of children; they were told they were going to a new home. He watched the other children approach a bright light, which took them. He escaped; he got scared and ran away. His real name is Clem McDonald. He has an unusually heightened sense of smell. Clem tells Gwen the aliens are coming back, that he has been smelling them for months — and that she is three weeks [[Pregnancy|pregnant]]. Gwen calls Ianto, now back at the Hub, and tells him to start a search for information about MacDonald, missing children, and Scotland. Ianto's research triggers an alarm at an unidentified military monitoring station.


Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto realize that they need to question a child. Jack visits his daughter, [[Alice Carter]], and her son [[Steven Carter|Steven]], Jack's grandson. Alice refuses to let Jack use Steven. Ianto visits his sister, [[Rhiannon Davies]], and tries to talk her into letting him take one of her children on an 'outing,' but she refuses. She also questions Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man, and Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. Ianto's Torchwood car is stolen while he is visiting his sister.
At the Home Office, Frobisher orders Bridget Spears to issue a blank page, an order to kill. Four people are on the list. One is Captain Jack Harkness. The others are Colonel [[Michael Sanders]], [[Ellen Hunt]] and Captain [[Andrew Staines]]. Lois sees Bridget is distressed. She goes into Bridget's e-mail account and finds the blank page order, recognising Jack's name from his earlier phone call.


Gwen visits Timothy White who tells her that when he was a child, he was put on a bus and taken away with a group of children; they were told that they were going to a new home. He watched the other children approach a bright light, which took them. But he escaped; he had gotten scared and ran away. His real name is [[Clem MacDonald]]. He has an unusually heightened sense of smell; Clem tells Gwen that the aliens are coming back, that he has been smelling them for months -- and that she is three-weeks pregnant. Leaving the psychiatric institute, Gwen calls Ianto, now back at the Hub, and tells him to initiate a search for information about MacDonald, missing children, and Scotland. Ianto's research triggers an alarm at an unidentified military monitoring station.
Jack returns to Cardiff hospital, hoping to question a child in the children's ward. Dr Patanjali tells him that another ethnic man has died; when Jack goes with him to examine the body, Dr Patanjali shoots him. A young woman named Johnson comes in and waits until Jack revives, proving the rumours about his [[immortality]]. She kills Jack again, then orders her men to surgically implant a bomb in his body. Patanjali is a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood. Johnson kills Patanjali to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again and returns to the Hub.
[[File:JackinHubCOE.jpg|thumb|Jack looks up to Ianto before the Hub blows up.]]
Gwen uses a scanner at Torchwood. Clement's claims are true; she is pregnant. Jack arrives and places his hand on hers, inadvertently scanning himself, finding the bomb in his stomach. He tells Gwen and Ianto to get out. He kisses Ianto, watches him rise on the elevator, and tells him, "I'll come back...I always do." The Hub blows up in a massive explosion, knocking the running Gwen to the ground.


At the Home Office, Frobisher orders Bridget Spears to issue a blank page; that is, an order to kill. Four people are on the list, one of which is Captain Jack Harkness. Lois, watching Bridget and seeing that she is in some distress, goes into Bridget's e-mail account and sees the blank page order. She recognizes Jack's name from his earlier phone call.
Meanwhile, all of the children chant, "We are coming, we are coming, we are coming ... back".


Jack goes back to Cardiff hospital hoping to question a child in the Children's Ward. Dr. Patanjali tells him that another ethnic man has died; when Jack goes with him to examine the body, Dr. Patanjali shoots him. A young woman named Johnson comes in and waits to see if Jack revives, proving the rumours about his immortality. She kills Jack again, then orders her men to surgically implant a bomb in his body. Patanjali is shown to have been a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood.  Johnson cold-bloodedly kills Rupesh to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again, finding Patanjali's body on the floor next to him. He returns to the Hub.
== Cast ==
* [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
* [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr Rupesh Patanjali]] - [[Rik Makarem]]
* [[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
* [[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
* [[Bridget Spears]] - [[Susan Brown]]
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Brian Green]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
* [[Rhiannon Davies]] - [[Katy Wix]]
* [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]] - [[Charles Abomeli]]
* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Nurse (Children of Earth: Day One)|Nurse]] - [[Anna Lawson]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary (Children of Earth: Day One)|Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Water Taxi Man]] - [[Phylip Harries]]
* [[Operative (Children of Earth: Day One)|Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
* [[Holly Frobisher]] - [[Julia Joyce]]
* [[Lilly Frobisher]] - [[Madeleine Rakic-Platt]]
* [[Clem McDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Ferguson]]
* [[Taiwanese girl (Children of Earth: Day One)|Taiwanese girl]] - [[Jennifer Chew]]
* [[Tyler's mother|Mother]] - [[Crisian Emmanuel]]
* [[Sasha's mother|Mother 2]] - [[Melanie Barker]]
* [[Father (Children of Earth: Day One)|Father]] - [[Scott Bailey]]


Using a scanner in the Torchwood Hub, Gwen realises that Clement's claims are true -- she is pregnant. Jack arrives and places his hand on hers, inadvertantly scanning himself. There is a bomb in his stomach. He tells Gwen and Ianto to get out before the bomb denonates. Ianto wants to stay behind, to try to work defuse the bomb, but there is no time. Jack forces him to an exit, saying "I can survive anything!" He kisses Ianto, watches him rise on the elevator, and tells him, "I'll come back...I always do." The Hub blows up in a massive explosion, knocking the running Gwen to the ground.
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Meanwhile, all the children chant, "We are coming, we are coming, we are coming ... back".
== Worldbuilding ==
* An [[advertisement]] for [[Tommy Hilfiger]] is present.
* A photo of [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] are in Gwen's workspace.


==Cast==
=== Real world ===
*Captain [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* Gwen calls Jack and Ianto "the [[Chuckle Brothers]]".
*[[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
*[[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
*[[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
*[[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
*[[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr. Rupesh Patanjali]] - [[Rik Makarem]]
*[[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
*[[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
*[[Bridget Spears]] - [[Susan Brown]]
*[[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
*[[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
*[[Clem MacDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
*[[Brian Green|Brian Green PM]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
*[[Rhiannon Davies]] - [[Katy Wix]]
*[[Colonel Oduya]] - [[Charles Abomeli]]
*[[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
*[[Anna Frobisher ]]- [[Hilary Maclean]]
*[[David Davies ]]- [[Luke Perry]]
*[[Mica Davies ]]- [[Aimee Davies]]
*[[Holly Frobisher ]]- [[Julia Joyce]]
*[[Lily Frobisher]] - [[Madeline Rakic-Platt]]
*[[Clem MacDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Furguson]]


==Production crew==
=== Restaurants ===
''to be added''
* [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] offers to take his niece, [[Mica Davies|Mica]], to [[McDonald's]] due to missing her birthday.


== References ==
=== Unified Intelligence Taskforce ===
* Humorous nod to BBC Comedy [[wikipedia: Gavin and Stacey|Gavin and Stacey]], "What's occuring?!" [[Wikipedia:Ruth Jones|Ruth Jones]], one of the creators of Gavin and Stacey guest stared in the series 2 episode [[Adrift|''Adrift'']].
* [[Colonel]] [[Alan Mace]] is posted in [[Vancouver]].
* Jack and Ianto are jokingly called "[[wikipedia:Chuckle Brothers|The Chuckle Brothers]]" by Gwen.


== Continuity ==
=== Time ===
* The children first stop at 8:40AM [[GMT]], and then again at 10:30AM GMT. Rhys recognises both times as being when kids are more out in the public in Britian due to being dropped off at schools and on playtime, respectively.


*A photo of [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] on Gwen's Workspace.
=== Locations ===
*[[Martha Jones]] has gone on honeymoon with [[Tom Milligan]]. The context confirms that, despite the invitation extended to her at the end of [[DW]]: ''[[Journey's End]]'', she appears to still be with UNIT.
* As a result of the pause, Gwen records seventeen [[RTA]]s all involving children occurring between 8:40 and 8:41 across [[United Kingdom|the country]] from [[Glasgow]] to [[St Ives]].
*[[UNIT]] as an organization is mentioned many times, and a UNIT officer meets with Frobisher. Despite the real-life decision to remove the "United Nations" name from the UNIT acronym, it is stated in dialogue that UNIT is still under the command of the UN as it orders UNIT to yellow alert.
* Ianto receives reports from [[France]], noting fifteen RTAs to have occurred at 9:40AM French time, [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Bosnia]], and [[Tokyo]].
*[[Mace|Colonel Mace]] ([[DW]]: [[The Sontaran Stratagem|''The Sontaran Stratagem'']]''/''[[The Poison Sky|''The Poison Sky'']]) has been relocated to Vancouver by [[UNIT]].
* Oyuda notes to Frobisher that children have stopped across the world from Britain, [[Germany]], [[India]], [[Egypt]], [[Guyana]], [[Singapore]], to [[America]].
*The families of both [[Jack Harkness|Jack]] and [http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Ianto_Jones Ianto] are introduced. It is learned that Jack has a grown daughter (mother not identified) and a grandson.
*Although in a relationship with Jack, Ianto establishes he has never felt this way for another man. Nevertheless, Clem is able to identify him as a "queer" by scent.
*Jack dies three times.
*When Rhys calls Gwen about a house that he has seen up for sale, the estate agent sign outside it says Frost and Lynch which is the same estate agency from the episode [[Combat|''Combat'']] which [[Mark Lynch]] owned alongside running the Weevil fight club.
*[[John Frobisher]]'s daughter, [[Holly Frobisher|Holly]], is played by [[Julia Joyce]], who appeared as young [[Rose Tyler]] in [[DW]]: [[Father's Day (TV story)|''Father's Day'' ]].
* The "Gizmo" which Gwen uses to turn off the CCTV appears to be the same device that [[Tanizaki|Dr Tanizaki]] used to examine [[Lisa Hallett|Lisa]] in [[Cyberwoman|''Cyberwoman'']].
* Whether intentional or not, the "blank page" resembles [[psychic paper]].
* Brian Green is the fourth prime minister to appear in the revived Doctor Who universe, and is the fourth to be involved in not-very-positive activities following the unidentified PM killed by the [[Slitheen]] in [[DW]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'', [[Harriet Jones]], and [[Harold Saxton|Harold Saxon]].
* Although Torchwood is still supposed to be a "secret" organization, the fact it is becoming known by the public is referenced in several scenes, most notably when Gwen states that if you ask people about Torchwood, they usually send people towards Cardiff Bay (where the Hub is located).
* When Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, the text on screen references the events of [[DW]]: ''[[Tooth and Claw]]''. ''This is because Torchwood was founded as a result of that episode''
* Rupesh states that due to recent events (not specifically referenced but likely to include things like the [[Webstar]] attack ([[DW]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride]]'') and the relocation of Earth ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]''), half the world now knows of or believes in the existence of alien life, while the other half is in denial. Suicide rates have risen since the events occurred, which Rupesh ascribes to crises of faith. This may also be reflected by the insanity and suicide of [[Alex Hopkins]] ([[TW]]: ''[[Fragments]]'').
* Although no reference is made to this in the story, the destruction of the Hub likely also meant the death of Jack's brother, [[Gray]], last seen being kept in suspended animation in the Hub, as well as any [[Weevil]]s or other creatures in the holding cells. The fate of the Hub's resident pterodactyl is also uncertain.


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* [[Freema Agyeman]] was originally expected to appear as [[Martha Jones]] throughout the mini-series. When her casting in the TV series ''Law & Order: UK'' made her unavailable for the whole production, Davies wrote a cameo appearance for her in ''Day One'', but her schedule prevented her from appearing for the cameo. The cameo was featured in script form in ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]''. Martha appears to still be with UNIT, as Jack bemoans that a sergeant is his contact with UNIT instead of Martha. This means that Martha did not take Jack's implied job offer from [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''.
* The hospital seen in this episode is the same as seen in the BBC hospital drama ''[[Casualty]]''.
* Despite the real-life decision to remove the "United Nations" name from the UNIT acronym, dialogue establishes UNIT is still under the command of the UN, which orders UNIT to yellow alert.
* There is a humorous nod to the BBC comedy ''[[Gavin and Stacey]]'' by quoting "What's occurring?!". [[Ruth Jones]], one of the stars and creators of the show, guest starred in the [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|series 2]] episode ''[[Adrift]]''.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
*5.9 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures. 6.47 million viewers, according to official viewing figures.
* 5.9 million [[BBC One]] viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
* 6.47 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - July, 2008]</ref>
* [[AI]] of 88%
* 13th most-watched programme in [[Britain]] during the week of transmission


=== Myths ===
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''
''to be added''


=== Filming Locations ===
=== Myths ===
''to be added''
* When Gwen says Martha Jones is on her honeymoon, it meant she married her fiancée [[Thomas Milligan]] and was on her honeymoon with him. ''It is later revealed that she married Mickey Smith and was actually on her honeymoon with him.''


=== Discontinuity, Plot Holes and Errors ===
=== Broadcasts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Time
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|[[Monday]] [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC One]] & [[BBC HD]]
|First broadcast.
|-
|[[Monday]] [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:45
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|00:05
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Friday]] [[17 July (releases)|17 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Saturday]] [[18 July (releases)|18 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|01:15
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[21 July (releases)|21 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|22:00
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Sunday]] [[27 December (releases)|27 December]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:30
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|}


=== Errors ===
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}


*Wouldn't Tosh's Time Lock ([[DW]]: [[Journey's End|''Journey's End'']]) contain the explosion in the Hub? ''Probably not, because when the [[Dalek]] trapped in the time lock exploded it destroyed the lock. ([[Journey's End]]) Gwen says at the time "There goes the time lock"''
== Continuity ==
* Gwen calls out for Ianto and Jack in the Hub when the light is turned off, asking them what they are doing, referring to when she walked in on them in Jack's office during [[TV]]: {{cs|Adrift (TV story)}}.
* Jack and Ianto's toying with [[Rupesh Patanjali]] when he finds their base mirrors what the team did when Gwen stumbled upon their organisation in [[TV]]: {{cs|Everything Changes (TV story)}}, something Gwen picks up on.
* Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, such as its founding by Queen [[Victoria]] in [[1879]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Tooth and Claw (TV story)}}.
* When Frobisher mentions informing the Prime Minister, Dekker notes elected officials "just come and go", a reference to Britain's recent frequent change of prime ministers including [[Harriet Jones]] through 2006 and early 2007, as shown in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}} [[Harold Saxon]] through 2008 seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums}} and [[Aubrey Fairchild (Beautiful Chaos)|Aubrey Fairchild]] through to spring 2009, as displayed in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Beautiful Chaos (novel)|Beautiful Chaos]]''.
* PM Brian Green says that nowadays the threat "rains down from the skies, made of metal and stinking green", referring to [[Dalek|the Daleks]] and [[Planetary Relocation Incident|their recent invasion of Earth]], which happened in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}} and {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}}.
* When Rhys calls Gwen about a house that he has seen up for sale, the [[estate agency|estate agent]] sign outside it says "[[Frost and Lynch]]", the same one which [[Mark Lynch]] owned alongside running the [[Weevil]] fight club during [[TV]]: {{cs|Combat (TV story)}}.
* The [[Torchwood SUV|SUV]] has been stolen before, like during the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|Countrycide (TV story)}} and {{cs|Fragments (TV story)}}.
* Jack previously wondered what would happen if his body were totally destroyed, as contemplated in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Bay of the Dead (novel)|Bay of the Dead]]''.


*The time rift would be uncontrolled because of the destruction of the hub, however everything still seems to be unaffected. ''The Hub was more often used to monitor the rift, not specifically to control it. Also, the Hub was, most likely, only created some time in the nineteenth century; hence, there rift is most likely not volatile enough to often cause major trouble in Cardiff within only six months, despite the destruction of the Hub.''
== Home video releases ==
* ''Children of Earth: Day One'' was released on DVD along with the rest of ''Children of Earth'' on [[13 July (releases)|13 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] in the UK.
* It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)


*What happened to Jack's brother [[Gray]]? He was frozen in the Hub when it exploded. ''Most likely his body was destroyed, unless the vaults etc. were strong enough to withstand the blast.''
== Footnotes ==
*When Lois looks up the history of Torchwood on the Government Information Network using Bridget's password, it says that Torchwood was established by "HRH Queen Victoria". It should have said "[[Victoria_(Queen)|HM Queen Victoria]]". ''Queen Victoria was the first monarch to be called "Her Imperial and Royal Majesty" which was still shortened to HRH and was not changed to HM until after her reign.''
{{Reflist}}
*Do the government also go after [[Archie]] at Torchwood 2, Glasgow?'' No as he had nothing to do with the 1965 arrival of the 456. (According to the Torchwood file Lois reads, Torchwood 2 is believed to be disbanded. No mention is made of Torchwood 4, last said to have been "lost".)''
*Why doesn't Jack just run out of the hub and allow the explosion to happen in the sea or in the open. This way the hub would be safe. ''It was said by RTD in the 'Inside Look' for either this episode, or the next, that Torchwood Three was "too powerful" with the Hub, because of all the technology and resources they had, so "that was the first thing to go". Also, realistically, there simply wasn't enough time for him to get to the sea -- the magnitude of the explosion could not be predicted by them, so for Jack to detonate in the open air might have been an unacceptable risk to the public, whereas the Hub was able to contain the blast. The decision to use such a powerful explosive was an unacceptable risk by Johnson, however, as the Hub is located next door to a major public building and square. The risk of collateral damage was very high.''
*Why doesn't any of the Torchwood Team use the Singularity Scapel to remove the bomb from Jack.  ''They know Jack can't die and it would have taken time to find the scalpel and remove it, even if they did, where would they put it? It would explode anyway.''
*A running joke in the episode involves Ianto and Jack bantering about whether they're a couple or not. Hadn't this already been established during Series 2? ''Perhaps it was just a casual thing at that point and between series things became serious.''


== DVD releases ==
{{TWTV}}
*This Episode will be released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on the 13th of July.
{{UNIT stories}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[cy:Children of Earth: Day One (stori deledu)]]
[[de:T 27 - Children of Earth: Day One]]
[[fr:Children of Earth: Day One]]
[[he:ילדי כדור הארץ: היום הראשון (סיפור טלוויזיה)]]
[[ro:Children of Earth Day One]]


==See also==
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
''to be added''
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
 
==External links==
 
 
==Footnotes==
{{Torchwood series 3}}
[[Category:Torchwood episodes]]
[[Category:2009 television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1965]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1965]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:UNIT television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the City of Westminster]]

Latest revision as of 18:45, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for Day One.

Children of Earth: Day One was the first episode of Series 3 of Torchwood. It was written by Russell T Davies, directed by Euros Lyn and featured John Barrowman as Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Kai Owen as Rhys Williams and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.

It marked the beginning of the end for the Torchwood Institute as it had been established over the course of two series by eliminating almost all of its technological resources. It saw the destruction of the Torchwood Three headquarters and the theft of their trademark vehicle. Gwen also discovered she had recently become pregnant.

This story featured the second appearance of Peter Capaldi portraying a character within the Doctor Who universe. He previously had the role of Caecilius in the story The Fires of Pompeii and would later play the Doctor himself in his twelfth incarnation.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

When all children on Earth stop and start chanting "We are coming", the Torchwood team investigates. Could this be the start of a global crisis?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

One night in Scotland, 1965, young children are driven in a school bus to an undisclosed location. When the bus stops, the children exit and walk towards a light. It grows brighter as they draw closer. One hesitates, then flees as the light covers a large area.

Forty-four years later, in Cardiff, September 2009, at 8:40 am GMT, Gwen Cooper is withdrawing money from a cash machine when she notices two children standing completely still and unresponsive. In fact, all the children all over the United Kingdom freeze. After a minute, the children start moving again, acting as if nothing has happened. Gwen goes to the Hub and begins to investigate the incident.

At a hospital, Dr Rupesh Patanjali fails to save a man's life. Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones, whom Dr Patanjali believes are the man's neighbours, ask to see the body alone. Jack uses a laser saw to open the corpse and extracts an alien organ. Dr Patanjali re-enters, sees the alien organ and asks if the men are Torchwood. Jack quickly denies it. Dr Patanjali tells them the bodies of five ethnic males have vanished over the past two months. Jack tells him it's a problem for the NHS. Ianto and he drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.

A woman named Lois Habiba begins her first day at work for her new boss, Bridget Spears, assistant to the Permanent Secretary to the Home Office, John Frobisher. Frobisher is visited by UNIT Colonel Oduya, who tells him children "stopped" at the exact same time all over the world, as the Torchwood team also discovers. Oduya says UNIT has gone to yellow alert, although they don't know if the phenomenon is extraterrestrial in origin.

Dr Patanjali wanders in the plaza outside the Hub. Gwen goes to meet him, as the self-appointed "recruitment officer," since, as Jack says, the team needs a doctor. While they talk, all the children again suddenly stop at 10:30 am. They scream, then chant in unison: "We are coming." The Torchwood team later discovers that an adult patient in a mental institution in East Grinstead — Timothy White — also stopped and spoke the same words. Every child in the world said the same words.

Mr Dekker, head of MI5's technology division, who is also in charge of alien monitoring, tells Frobisher the aliens called the 456 have re-established contact for the first time since 1965. Frobisher meets with the Prime Minister, Brian Green, and suggests, "It might be best if certain historical events were taken off the record." Green agrees, but refuses Frobisher's request he issue a "blank page"; he doesn't want his name attached. Green puts Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if things go wrong.

Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness. When she logs it, the computer flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget Spears and finds Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.

Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto agree they need to question a child. Jack visits his daughter, Alice Carter, and her son Steven, his grandson. Alice refuses to let Jack use Steven. Ianto visits his sister, Rhiannon Davies. He tries to talk her into letting him take one of her children on an "outing", but she refuses. She also asks Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man. Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. He explains he doesn't have an inkling for men, but Jack has affected him differently, so he isn't broadcasting his sexual choices. Rhiannon promises him that she will not tell anyone about his relationship. However, it becomes evident she gossiped to her husband Johnny when he walks in and thoughtlessly calls Ianto a "gay boy" who, according to his wife, has been "taking it up the arse". Feeling humiliated, he takes the riffing with a grain of salt and puts up with Johnny to save face.

Suddenly, a car alarm begins wailing. Johnny looks out the window and asks whom the "black car" belongs to. Ianto confirms it as the Torchwood SUV. Ianto ignores Johnny's warning that his car is a target on their estate. He puts too much faith in the vehicle's triple deadlock, a costly mistake. Johnny alerts him a few hooligans have broken into the company car with ease. Panicked, Ianto bursts outside to find the SUV nowhere in sight. Johnny says the local thieves always do a victory lap to parade around in their stolen ride and takes the opportunity to pelt them with bricks on the pass around, rather than calling the authorities as Ianto requests. Surely enough, the Torchwood SUV blazes back into view one last time. The joyriding jokers cheer and whoop as they drive off with the car, one of them mooning the group as they pass by. David cheers the joyriders on from his bedroom window, which earns him a scolding from Rhiannon. An exasperated Ianto watches the car disappear around a corner as Johnny chases the thieves with an armload of bricks.

Gwen visits Timothy White. He tells her that when he was a child he was put on a bus and taken away with a group of children; they were told they were going to a new home. He watched the other children approach a bright light, which took them. He escaped; he got scared and ran away. His real name is Clem McDonald. He has an unusually heightened sense of smell. Clem tells Gwen the aliens are coming back, that he has been smelling them for months — and that she is three weeks pregnant. Gwen calls Ianto, now back at the Hub, and tells him to start a search for information about MacDonald, missing children, and Scotland. Ianto's research triggers an alarm at an unidentified military monitoring station.

At the Home Office, Frobisher orders Bridget Spears to issue a blank page, an order to kill. Four people are on the list. One is Captain Jack Harkness. The others are Colonel Michael Sanders, Ellen Hunt and Captain Andrew Staines. Lois sees Bridget is distressed. She goes into Bridget's e-mail account and finds the blank page order, recognising Jack's name from his earlier phone call.

Jack returns to Cardiff hospital, hoping to question a child in the children's ward. Dr Patanjali tells him that another ethnic man has died; when Jack goes with him to examine the body, Dr Patanjali shoots him. A young woman named Johnson comes in and waits until Jack revives, proving the rumours about his immortality. She kills Jack again, then orders her men to surgically implant a bomb in his body. Patanjali is a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood. Johnson kills Patanjali to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again and returns to the Hub.

Jack looks up to Ianto before the Hub blows up.

Gwen uses a scanner at Torchwood. Clement's claims are true; she is pregnant. Jack arrives and places his hand on hers, inadvertently scanning himself, finding the bomb in his stomach. He tells Gwen and Ianto to get out. He kisses Ianto, watches him rise on the elevator, and tells him, "I'll come back...I always do." The Hub blows up in a massive explosion, knocking the running Gwen to the ground.

Meanwhile, all of the children chant, "We are coming, we are coming, we are coming ... back".

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.
          

This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

Restaurants[[edit] | [edit source]]

Unified Intelligence Taskforce[[edit] | [edit source]]

Time[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The children first stop at 8:40AM GMT, and then again at 10:30AM GMT. Rhys recognises both times as being when kids are more out in the public in Britian due to being dropped off at schools and on playtime, respectively.

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Freema Agyeman was originally expected to appear as Martha Jones throughout the mini-series. When her casting in the TV series Law & Order: UK made her unavailable for the whole production, Davies wrote a cameo appearance for her in Day One, but her schedule prevented her from appearing for the cameo. The cameo was featured in script form in Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter. Martha appears to still be with UNIT, as Jack bemoans that a sergeant is his contact with UNIT instead of Martha. This means that Martha did not take Jack's implied job offer from TV: Journey's End.
  • The hospital seen in this episode is the same as seen in the BBC hospital drama Casualty.
  • Despite the real-life decision to remove the "United Nations" name from the UNIT acronym, dialogue establishes UNIT is still under the command of the UN, which orders UNIT to yellow alert.
  • There is a humorous nod to the BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey by quoting "What's occurring?!". Ruth Jones, one of the stars and creators of the show, guest starred in the series 2 episode Adrift.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • 5.9 million BBC One viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
  • 6.47 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures[1]
  • AI of 88%
  • 13th most-watched programme in Britain during the week of transmission

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • When Gwen says Martha Jones is on her honeymoon, it meant she married her fiancée Thomas Milligan and was on her honeymoon with him. It is later revealed that she married Mickey Smith and was actually on her honeymoon with him.

Broadcasts[[edit] | [edit source]]

Date Time Channel Notes
Monday 6 July 2009 21:00 BBC One & BBC HD First broadcast.
Monday 6 July 2009 23:45 BBC Three
Tuesday 7 July 2009 00:05 BBC HD
Friday 17 July 2009 21:00 BBC Three
Saturday 18 July 2009 01:15 BBC Three
Tuesday 21 July 2009 22:00 BBC HD
Sunday 27 December 2009 23:30 BBC HD

Errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Gwen calls out for Ianto and Jack in the Hub when the light is turned off, asking them what they are doing, referring to when she walked in on them in Jack's office during TV: Adrift [+]Loading...["Adrift (TV story)"].
  • Jack and Ianto's toying with Rupesh Patanjali when he finds their base mirrors what the team did when Gwen stumbled upon their organisation in TV: Everything Changes [+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"], something Gwen picks up on.
  • Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, such as its founding by Queen Victoria in 1879. (TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Loading...["Tooth and Claw (TV story)"].
  • When Frobisher mentions informing the Prime Minister, Dekker notes elected officials "just come and go", a reference to Britain's recent frequent change of prime ministers including Harriet Jones through 2006 and early 2007, as shown in TV: The Christmas Invasion [+]Loading...["The Christmas Invasion (TV story)"] Harold Saxon through 2008 seen in TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)","The Sound of Drums"] and Aubrey Fairchild through to spring 2009, as displayed in PROSE: Beautiful Chaos.
  • PM Brian Green says that nowadays the threat "rains down from the skies, made of metal and stinking green", referring to the Daleks and their recent invasion of Earth, which happened in TV: The Stolen Earth [+]Loading...["The Stolen Earth (TV story)"] and Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"].
  • When Rhys calls Gwen about a house that he has seen up for sale, the estate agent sign outside it says "Frost and Lynch", the same one which Mark Lynch owned alongside running the Weevil fight club during TV: Combat [+]Loading...["Combat (TV story)"].
  • The SUV has been stolen before, like during the events of TV: Countrycide [+]Loading...["Countrycide (TV story)"] and Fragments [+]Loading...["Fragments (TV story)"].
  • Jack previously wondered what would happen if his body were totally destroyed, as contemplated in PROSE: Bay of the Dead.

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Children of Earth: Day One was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on 13 July 2009 in the UK.
  • It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ BARB Ratings - July, 2008
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