An Overture Too Early (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{title | {{title dab away}} | ||
{{Infobox | {{real world}} | ||
{{Infobox Story SMW | |||
|range = Short Trips (series) | |||
doctor= | |series in range = Short Trips: The Muses | ||
companions=[[Sarah Jane Smith]]| | |series number in range = 4 | ||
|number in series = 5 | |||
writer= | |doctor = Third Doctor | ||
|companions = [[The Brigadier]], [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah]] | |||
|featuring = [[Adelphi]] | |||
next | |enemy = [[White Tulip]], [[Black Rose]] | ||
|}} | |setting = | ||
|writer = Simon Guerrier | |||
|anthology = Short Trips: The Muses | |||
|release date = September 2003 | |||
|series = ''[[Short Trips (series)|Short Trips]]'' | |||
|prev = Mordieu (short story) | |||
|next = Hymn of the City (short story) | |||
|series2 = ''[[Short Trips: Time Signature]]'' rerint | |||
|prev2 = Forgotten (short story) | |||
|next2 = The Ruins of Time (short story) | |||
}} | |||
'''''An Overture Too Early''''' was the fourth short story in the [[Short Trips (series)|Short Trips]] anthology ''[[Short Trips: The Muses]]''. It was written by [[Simon Guerrier]]. It featured the [[Third Doctor]], [[Sarah Jane Smith]] and [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]]. It was later reprinted as the first story in ''[[Short Trips: Time Signature]]''. | |||
==Summary== | == Summary == | ||
''to | [[William (Gone Fishing)|Isaac]] is being interviewed by a reporter, [[Sarah Jane Smith]], and her "[[Third Doctor|assistant]]". Her questions deal with his music and his attempts to gain asylum in [[Britain]]. The assistant makes a rude comment, and when Sarah scolds him, Isaac realises he is the Doctor. To the Doctor's surprise, Isaac reveals that he travelled with the Doctor twenty years ago. | ||
The Doctor leaves quickly with Sarah, trying to avoid finding out about his future. As they leave, they fail to notice two strange-looking grey men standing nearby that enter Isaac's building. | |||
The next day, the Doctor has breakfast with [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]]. The Doctor is convinced that Isaac is in fact [[English]]. He obtains the Brigadier's help in investigating Isaac by pointing out that, because Isaac worked with the Doctor, he must have been a [[UNIT]] agent by proxy. | |||
Meanwhile, Sarah follows up her interview with Isaac. He is reluctant to answer any questions, not wanting to give Sarah information about the Doctor's future. However, he does give her his sheet music, entreating her to take care of it for him. Sarah heads back to UNIT, and on arrival she learns that Isaac is dead. | |||
The Brigadier takes Sarah to the [[police]] station. They rule Isaac's death a [[suicide]]. | |||
The Doctor and Sarah talk with [[Nikolai Faro]], who sponsored Isaac's asylum request. He tells them that Isaac had been involved in a coup and was persecuted in their country. Faro was greatly impressed by Isaac's music. The Doctor asks Faro if the music is familiar, and Faro is shocked to realise that it ''is'' familiar. | |||
To Sarah's surprise, her investigation is shut down by a [[D-notice]], issued by the government or military for the sake of national security. The Brigadier is on the phone, trying to find out who issued the order. He is angrier than Sarah has ever seen him. He hands the phone to the Doctor, who starts his conversation angrily but then meekly subsides. The Brigadier informs Sarah that the issuer of the D-notice was — the Doctor. | |||
The Brigadier and Sarah lose interest in the investigation, but the Doctor is haunted by Isaac's music. While working in his lab, he is accosted by the two grey men, who overpower him and take all copies of Isaac's music. | |||
The Doctor determines that the two men entered his lab by way of a hyperspace tunnel. He creates a device to open a tunnel, while the Brigadier and Sarah watch him. Suddenly he opens a tunnel, and time seems to have stopped for the Brigadier and Sarah. The Doctor tries to enter the tunnel, but he is stopped by a [[Adelphi|Time Lord]], who tells him that he cannot learn any more of this matter for now. The tunnel vanishes, and the Brigadier and Sarah realise the Doctor wants to be left alone. He decides to keep working on the music. | |||
Weeks later, Sergeant [[John Benton|Benton]] stops by the nearly empty laboratory. Things are very different around UNIT now that the Doctor has [[Regeneration|regenerated]]. He and Sarah are no longer around, and soon there will be [[computer]]s installed. Benton decides he may [[retire]] soon and do something hands-on. As he looks around the room, he sees a smoking jacket. He takes it, not wanting it to be stolen. In the pocket he finds a scrap of paper covered in the Doctor's handwriting. | |||
== | == Characters == | ||
* [[Third Doctor]] | |||
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] | |||
* [[William (Gone Fishing)|Isaac]] | |||
* [[Nikolai Faro]] | |||
* [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|The Brigadier]] | |||
* [[John Benton|Sergeant Benton]] | |||
* [[White Tulip]] | |||
* [[Black Rose]] | |||
* [[Adelphi|Time Lord messenger]] | |||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
''to be added'' | ''to be added'' | ||
== | == Notes == | ||
* | * The stories in ''[[Short Trips: The Muses]]'' are inspired by {{w|the Muses}} of [[Greek]] [[mythology]]. This story is based on {{w|Euterpe}}, the Muse of Music. | ||
*This story | * This story leaves several unanswered questions, many of which are answered in the stories of ''[[Short Trips: Time Signature]]''. | ||
== | == Continuity == | ||
'' | * Benton is thinking of retiring. ([[TV]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'') | ||
* The Brigadier calls [[Jo Grant]] "Mrs Jones" and tells the Doctor she is sending back [[Metebelis crystal|his crystal]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Green Death (TV story)|The Green Death]]'') | |||
{{ST prose}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | |||
[[Category:Third Doctor short stories]] | |||
[[Category:Third Doctor short stories | |||
[[Category:Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart short stories]] | [[Category:Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart short stories]] | ||
[[Category:Sarah Jane Smith short stories]] | |||
[[Category:Short Trips: The Muses short stories]] | |||
[[Category:UNIT short stories]] | |||
[[Category:Short Trips: Time Signature short stories]] | |||
Latest revision as of 03:18, 13 March 2024
An Overture Too Early was the fourth short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: The Muses. It was written by Simon Guerrier. It featured the Third Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and the Brigadier. It was later reprinted as the first story in Short Trips: Time Signature.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
Isaac is being interviewed by a reporter, Sarah Jane Smith, and her "assistant". Her questions deal with his music and his attempts to gain asylum in Britain. The assistant makes a rude comment, and when Sarah scolds him, Isaac realises he is the Doctor. To the Doctor's surprise, Isaac reveals that he travelled with the Doctor twenty years ago.
The Doctor leaves quickly with Sarah, trying to avoid finding out about his future. As they leave, they fail to notice two strange-looking grey men standing nearby that enter Isaac's building.
The next day, the Doctor has breakfast with the Brigadier. The Doctor is convinced that Isaac is in fact English. He obtains the Brigadier's help in investigating Isaac by pointing out that, because Isaac worked with the Doctor, he must have been a UNIT agent by proxy.
Meanwhile, Sarah follows up her interview with Isaac. He is reluctant to answer any questions, not wanting to give Sarah information about the Doctor's future. However, he does give her his sheet music, entreating her to take care of it for him. Sarah heads back to UNIT, and on arrival she learns that Isaac is dead.
The Brigadier takes Sarah to the police station. They rule Isaac's death a suicide.
The Doctor and Sarah talk with Nikolai Faro, who sponsored Isaac's asylum request. He tells them that Isaac had been involved in a coup and was persecuted in their country. Faro was greatly impressed by Isaac's music. The Doctor asks Faro if the music is familiar, and Faro is shocked to realise that it is familiar.
To Sarah's surprise, her investigation is shut down by a D-notice, issued by the government or military for the sake of national security. The Brigadier is on the phone, trying to find out who issued the order. He is angrier than Sarah has ever seen him. He hands the phone to the Doctor, who starts his conversation angrily but then meekly subsides. The Brigadier informs Sarah that the issuer of the D-notice was — the Doctor.
The Brigadier and Sarah lose interest in the investigation, but the Doctor is haunted by Isaac's music. While working in his lab, he is accosted by the two grey men, who overpower him and take all copies of Isaac's music.
The Doctor determines that the two men entered his lab by way of a hyperspace tunnel. He creates a device to open a tunnel, while the Brigadier and Sarah watch him. Suddenly he opens a tunnel, and time seems to have stopped for the Brigadier and Sarah. The Doctor tries to enter the tunnel, but he is stopped by a Time Lord, who tells him that he cannot learn any more of this matter for now. The tunnel vanishes, and the Brigadier and Sarah realise the Doctor wants to be left alone. He decides to keep working on the music.
Weeks later, Sergeant Benton stops by the nearly empty laboratory. Things are very different around UNIT now that the Doctor has regenerated. He and Sarah are no longer around, and soon there will be computers installed. Benton decides he may retire soon and do something hands-on. As he looks around the room, he sees a smoking jacket. He takes it, not wanting it to be stolen. In the pocket he finds a scrap of paper covered in the Doctor's handwriting.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Third Doctor
- Sarah Jane Smith
- Isaac
- Nikolai Faro
- The Brigadier
- Sergeant Benton
- White Tulip
- Black Rose
- Time Lord messenger
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The stories in Short Trips: The Muses are inspired by the Muses of Greek mythology. This story is based on Euterpe, the Muse of Music.
- This story leaves several unanswered questions, many of which are answered in the stories of Short Trips: Time Signature.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Benton is thinking of retiring. (TV: Mawdryn Undead)
- The Brigadier calls Jo Grant "Mrs Jones" and tells the Doctor she is sending back his crystal. (TV: The Green Death)
