And Then Again (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
| | |main character = [[Bernard Summerfield|Bernard]] | ||
| | |featuring = [[Seventh Doctor]], [[Bernice Summerfield|Bernice]] | ||
|setting = [[Alternate timeline (And Then Again)|Alternate timeline]] | |enemy = [[the Company (And Then Again)|The Company]], [[Robin (And Then Again)|Robin]] | ||
|writer = | |setting = [[Alternate timeline (And Then Again)|Alternate timeline]] | ||
| | |writer = Rob Shearman | ||
|prev = The All-Seeing Eye (short story) | |anthology = A Life of Surprises (anthology) | ||
|next = Cuckoo (short story) | |release date = 4 October 2002 | ||
|series2 = ''[[Treasury (audio anthology)|Treasury]]'' | |series = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' short stories | ||
|prev2 = The Evacuation of Bernice Summerfield Considered as a Short Film by Terry Gilliam (short story) | |prev = The All-Seeing Eye (short story) | ||
|next2 = Misplaced Spring (short story) | |next = Cuckoo (short story) | ||
|series2 = ''[[Treasury (audio anthology)|Treasury]]'' | |||
|prev2 = The Evacuation of Bernice Summerfield Considered as a Short Film by Terry Gilliam (short story) | |||
|next2 = Misplaced Spring (short story) | |||
}} | |||
'''''And Then Again''''' was the twelfth story in the [[Bernice Summerfield]] anthology ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''. It was written by [[Rob Shearman]]. | '''''And Then Again''''' was the twelfth story in the [[Bernice Summerfield]] anthology ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''. It was written by [[Rob Shearman]]. | ||
== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
[[Bernard Summerfield|Bernard Stanley Summerfield]] and [[Robin (And Then Again)|Robin]] are working for [[the Company (And Then Again)|the Company]]. One day [[Seventh Doctor|a man]] gives him a blue box and he wonders what it is. | [[Bernard Summerfield|Bernard Stanley Summerfield]] and [[Robin (And Then Again)|Robin]] are working for [[the Company (And Then Again)|the Company]]. One day [[Seventh Doctor|a man]] gives him a [[The Doctor's TARDIS|blue box]] and he wonders what it is. | ||
== Plot == | |||
Unhappy couple [[Bernard Summerfield|Benny]] and [[Robin (And Then Again)|Robin]] wake up on separate sides of their [[bed]] as usual and work out whose turn it is to make the [[coffee]]. Benny, who thinks of himself by that name despite everybody calling him Bernard, shaves his face and heads to work at [[the Company (And Then Again)|the Company]] where [[Seventh Doctor|the Doctor]], having taken over the lunch trolley, gives him [[the Doctor's TARDIS|a small blue box]]. Calling him by his preferred name, the Doctor tells him to open it once its door has appeared and leaves. | |||
Benny remembers about the box after getting home from work and notices that it now has a door. Robin examines it, finding it empty, and they go to bed. Robin ends up leaving Benny because of him always proposing to her at the same time on each of her birthdays and he realises that he does indeed [[love]] her only too late. Four years later, the Doctor takes over the lunch trolley again and Benny asks him for a blue box instead of a [[jam doughnut]], having lost the other one. The Doctor tells him that there are no second chances and he cries at the state of his life. | |||
The Doctor sends Benny home, where he finds the blue box again. It is hot to the touch and becomes the size of a [[wardrobe]]. Benny enters and meets [[Bernice Summerfield|Bernice]], touching her hand and becoming one with her. He realises that he was always supposed to be Bernice and remembers everything that she has done and seen. The two merge completely and the TARDIS dematerialises, taking Benny Summerfield on a new adventure. | |||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
| Line 22: | Line 32: | ||
* [[Robin (And Then Again)|Robin]] | * [[Robin (And Then Again)|Robin]] | ||
* [[Seventh Doctor]] | * [[Seventh Doctor]] | ||
* [[Bernice Summerfield]] | |||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* [[7 (number)|7]] is not [[divisor|divisible]] by [[2 (number)|2]]. | * [[7 (number)|7]] is not [[divisor|divisible]] by [[2 (number)|2]]. | ||
* Bernard Summerfield is an [[accountant]]. | * Bernard Summerfield is an [[accountant]]. | ||
* [[Phyllis (And Then Again)|Phyllis]] always gives Benny a [[jam doughnut]]. She dies or retires. | |||
* [[Phyllis (And Then Again)|Phyllis]] | * [[Rhonda]] takes over from Phyllis. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* This was one of the eight stories collected in ''[[Treasury (audio anthology)|Treasury]]''. | * This was later one of the eight stories collected in ''[[Treasury (audio anthology)|Treasury]]''. | ||
* This is a rare example of a story on Big Finish’s [[Bernice Summerfield]] range that actually features what is unambiguously the Doctor. Generally, the range didn’t feature or even directly refer to him, as an homage to the fact that original Virgin books (and [[Big Finish]] themselves for their first year) had to write around trademarks since they lost the [[Doctor Who]] license. However, in slightly keeping with this, he is never referred to by name. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
| Line 36: | Line 48: | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield | |||
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]] | |||
[[Category:A Life of Surprises short stories]] | [[Category:A Life of Surprises short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in alternate timelines]] | [[Category:Stories set in alternate timelines]] | ||
[[Category:Seventh Doctor short stories]] | [[Category:Seventh Doctor short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Treasury short stories]] | [[Category:Treasury short stories]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:06, 20 March 2024
And Then Again was the twelfth story in the Bernice Summerfield anthology A Life of Surprises. It was written by Rob Shearman.
Summary[[edit]]
Bernard Stanley Summerfield and Robin are working for the Company. One day a man gives him a blue box and he wonders what it is.
Plot[[edit]]
Unhappy couple Benny and Robin wake up on separate sides of their bed as usual and work out whose turn it is to make the coffee. Benny, who thinks of himself by that name despite everybody calling him Bernard, shaves his face and heads to work at the Company where the Doctor, having taken over the lunch trolley, gives him a small blue box. Calling him by his preferred name, the Doctor tells him to open it once its door has appeared and leaves.
Benny remembers about the box after getting home from work and notices that it now has a door. Robin examines it, finding it empty, and they go to bed. Robin ends up leaving Benny because of him always proposing to her at the same time on each of her birthdays and he realises that he does indeed love her only too late. Four years later, the Doctor takes over the lunch trolley again and Benny asks him for a blue box instead of a jam doughnut, having lost the other one. The Doctor tells him that there are no second chances and he cries at the state of his life.
The Doctor sends Benny home, where he finds the blue box again. It is hot to the touch and becomes the size of a wardrobe. Benny enters and meets Bernice, touching her hand and becoming one with her. He realises that he was always supposed to be Bernice and remembers everything that she has done and seen. The two merge completely and the TARDIS dematerialises, taking Benny Summerfield on a new adventure.
Characters[[edit]]
Worldbuilding[[edit]]
- 7 is not divisible by 2.
- Bernard Summerfield is an accountant.
- Phyllis always gives Benny a jam doughnut. She dies or retires.
- Rhonda takes over from Phyllis.
Notes[[edit]]
- This was later one of the eight stories collected in Treasury.
- This is a rare example of a story on Big Finish’s Bernice Summerfield range that actually features what is unambiguously the Doctor. Generally, the range didn’t feature or even directly refer to him, as an homage to the fact that original Virgin books (and Big Finish themselves for their first year) had to write around trademarks since they lost the Doctor Who license. However, in slightly keeping with this, he is never referred to by name.
Continuity[[edit]]
to be added
