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{{Infobox Story SMW
{{Infobox Sarah Jane Adventures
|image               = Erasmus darkening.jpg
|image = [[file:ghoststories.png|250px]]
|series               = [[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|''SJA'' television stories]]
|story name = The Eternity Trap
|season number       = Series 3 (SJA)
|series         = [[The Sarah Jane Adventures]] - [[List of The Sarah Jane Adventures television stories|TV stories]]
|season serial number = 4
|number         = [[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 3]]
|story number        = 16
|story number  = 17
|novelisation        = The Haunted House (novelisation)
|featuring = <ul><li>[[Sarah Jane Smith]]</li><li>[[Clyde Langer]]</li><li>[[Rani Chandra]]</li>
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-3-episode-7-the-eternity-trap-part-one-green-revisions-12062009.pdf
|enemy = [[Erasmus Darkening]]
|scripturl2      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/sja-series-3-episode-8-the-eternity-trap-part-two-yellow-revisions-01062009.pdf
|setting = <ul><li>[[Ashen Hill Manor]], [[1665]]</li><li>[[Ashen Hill Manor]], [[2009]]</li></ul>
|main character      = [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]], [[Clyde Langer|Clyde]], [[Rani Chandra|Rani]]
|writer = [[Phil Ford]]
|featuring            = [[Celeste Rivers|Rivers]]
|director = [[Alice Troughton]]
|enemy               = [[Erasmus Darkening]]
|producer = [[Nikki Wilson]]
|setting             = [[Ashen Hill Manor]], [[1665]] and [[2009]]
|broadcast date = 5 November 2009 (part 1)<br>6 November 2009 (part 2)
|writer               = Phil Ford
|format = 2x30 minute episodes
|director             = [[Alice Troughton]]
|previous story = [[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]
|producer             = [[Nikki Wilson]]
|next story = [[Mona Lisa's Revenge]]
|broadcast date       = 5 - 6 November 2009
}}{{big toc}}
|format               = 2x30 minute episodes
'''''The Eternity Trap''''' was the fourth story in [[The Sarah Jane Adventures]] [[Series 3 (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|Series 3]]. This saw the return of [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] and was a [[Luke Smith|Luke]]-lite episode.
|prev                = The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)
|next                 = Mona Lisa's Revenge (TV story)
|network = BBC One|epcount = 2}}
'''''The Eternity Trap''''' was the fourth serial of [[Series 3 (SJA)|series 3]] of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. It was written by [[Phil Ford]] and directed by [[Alice Troughton]]. Because filming took place during his [[GCSE]] exams, [[Tommy Knight]] sat out this serial, with the reason given for Luke's absence being that he was studying at home.<ref>http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/sarahjane/2009hi.html</ref>


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
A haunted [[Ashen Hill Manor|house]], with mysterious whispers and secrets in the shadows attracts Sarah Jane's attention. When Professor Rivers and the gang investigate an old legend, a monstrous creature appears in the night as the terrifying grasp of Erasmus Darkening reaches out from centuries past. Sarah Jane and the gang discover the secrets of Erasmus Darkening, but are they too late? As ghosts from the past rise up, and the quest to find the missing children reaches a climax, it seems that nothing can stop the ancient alchemist's rise to victory.
A haunted [[Ashen Hill Manor|house]], mysterious whispers and secrets in the [[shadow]]s attract Sarah Jane's attention. When [[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] and the gang investigate an old legend, a monstrous creature appears in the night. The terrifying grasp of [[Erasmus Darkening]] reaches out from centuries past. Sarah Jane and the gang discover the secrets of Erasmus Darkening, but are they too late? [[Ghost]]s from the past rise up and the quest to find the missing [[children]] reaches a climax. It seems that nothing can stop the ancient [[alchemist]]'s rise to victory.


==Plot==
== Plot ==
=== Part 1 ===
=== Part 1 ===
[[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] tells the story of a haunted Manor. She says that a man named [[Marchwood|Lord Marchwood]] and how he employed [[Erasmus Darkening]]. Lord Marchwood thought that Erasmus could make gold out of nothing. His two children [[Elizabeth Marchwood|Elizabeth]] and [[Joseph Marchwood|Joseph]] spy on Erasmus he spots them and vanishes them for Eternity. Rivers is telling the story to Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani and her assistant Toby. Luke is at home as their stand by in case anything goes wrong. Sarah Jane splits up from the group and finds a book on the history of the manor. She turns round from the book case where she is reading from and unknown to her the books begin moving. Clyde and Rani also do this they go outside and find a shed. There is a fountain outside all of a sudden the fountain goes of and some wet foot prints appear to the shed. They hear a young girl cry. It stops as Clyde pulls a sheet of a Mirror. All of a sudden a face appeares on the mirror of a man. They ran back into the manor to find Sarah Jane. Meanwhile in the control room the camera in the playroom cuts out. Rivers goes to investigate. All of a sudden the nursery monitor starts to play. Then seconds later Rivers vanishes. They all go to investigate and they find that all the toys come alive. On the mirror in the room a message appears saying "Get Out". Clyde and Rani begin exploring and find a secret passage way, they go down and find Erasmus' lab. Meanwhile Sarah Jane goes out and finds a balcony a creature in the bushes with red eyes appears it advances towards Sarah Jane. But Lord Marchwood's ghost manifests and he fights it of. Clyde and Rani find a computer, then when they turn around they see Erasmus Darkening.
[[Celeste Rivers|Professor Rivers]] tells the story of a haunted manor. She speaks of [[Marchwood|Lord Marchwood]] and how he employed [[Erasmus Darkening]]. Marchwood thought Erasmus could make gold out of nothing. His two children, [[Elizabeth Marchwood|Elizabeth]] and [[Joseph Marchwood|Joseph]], spy on Erasmus and they vanish for eternity.
 
Rivers is telling the story to Sarah Jane, Clyde, Rani and her assistant Toby. Luke is at home as their standby lest something goes wrong. Sarah Jane separates and finds a book on the history of the manor. She turns from the book case where she is reading, and behind her, the books move. Clyde and Rani go outside and find a shed and a fountain. The fountain ceases flowing and wet footprints appear in the shed. They hear a young girl cry. It stops as Clyde pulls a sheet from a mirror. A man's face appears in the mirror. They run back to the manor to find Sarah Jane.
 
Meanwhile in the control room, the camera in the playroom cuts out. Rivers goes to investigate. Abruptly, the nursery monitor starts to play. Seconds later, Rivers vanishes.
 
The gang go to investigate and find all the toys have come alive. On the mirror in the room, a message appears: "Get out". Clyde and Rani explore and find a secret passageway leading to Erasmus' lab.
 
Meanwhile Sarah Jane goes outside. She finds a creature with red eyes in the bushes. It advances on her. Lord Marchwood's ghost manifests and he fights it off. Clyde and Rani find a computer, then turn around to see Erasmus Darkening.


=== Part 2 ===
=== Part 2 ===
Lord Marchwood arrives to rescue Clyde and Rani. Then they are aided by his children. Sarah Jane hears a recording of Professor Rivers saying "Sarah Jane help me" over and over. Then she sees her. She warns her that "he is coming for you" and then disapears. Sarah Jane reunites with Clyde and Rani and then they find Lord Marchwood. Sarah Jane believes they're not ghosts. Toby, Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani discover all the people that have disappeared except for Professor Rivers who hasn't been absorbed yet. Erasmus arrives and they all disappear. Erasmus tells them he will come for them all. Sarah Jane knows Erasmus is playing with them. Sarah Jane and Toby investigate Erasmus' secret chamber while Rani and Clyde distract Erasmus. Toby tells Sarah Jane about a creature who came into his room and watched him every night when he was younger. Rani and Clyde are chased by something into a game room. When all the games start playing themselves they run outside and get locked out. Sarah Jane and Toby find Erasmus' machine. Sarah Jane suspects that Erasmus was trying to get home to another galaxy with the machine. The machine malfunctioned and all the people that disappeared got trapped between dimensions. Clyde and Rani run into the pavilion. Sarah Jane and Toby get interrupted by Erasmus. Sarah Jane works out that the machine is giving Erasmus and all the people that disappeared eternal life. She also works out the creature that attacked her earlier came through the machine. Lord Marchwood once again rescues Clyde and Rani again by slaying the creature. Sarah Jane, Clyde, Rani and Toby reunite along with Lord Marchwood. Sarah Jane comes up with a plan to stop Erasmus. They can turn him into electricity but he has to step into a certain area. Lord Marchwood uses his sword and a wire to connect it to do it. Erasmus is destroyed and Professor Rivers is returned. Sarah Jane destroys Erasmus' machine with the sonic lipstick. Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani say goodbye to Professor Rivers and Toby. Sarah Jane still doesn't believe in ghosts. They drive away. We then see Lord Marchwood and his children at the window.
Lord Marchwood arrives with his children to rescue Clyde and Rani. Sarah Jane hears a recording of Professor Rivers saying, ''"Sarah Jane help me"'', over and over. Then she sees her. Rivers warns her, ''"He is coming for you"'', and disappears. Sarah Jane reunites with Clyde and Rani and they find Lord Marchwood. Sarah Jane believes they are not ghosts. Toby, Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani discover all the people that have disappeared, except for Professor Rivers who hasn't been absorbed yet. Erasmus arrives and they all disappear.


==Cast==
Erasmus tells them he will come for them all. Sarah Jane and Toby investigate Erasmus' secret chamber while Rani and Clyde distract Erasmus. Toby tells Sarah Jane of a creature who used to come into his room and watch him every night. Rani and Clyde are chased by something into a game room. When all the games start playing by themselves, they run outside and are locked out.
 
Sarah Jane and Toby find Erasmus' [[transdimensional accelerator]]. Sarah Jane suspects Erasmus was trying to get home to another galaxy with the machine. The machine malfunctioned and all the people that disappeared were trapped between dimensions. Clyde and Rani run into the pavilion. Sarah Jane and Toby are interrupted by Erasmus. Sarah Jane works out that the machine is giving Erasmus and all the people that disappeared eternal life. She also works out the creature that attacked her earlier came through the machine. Lord Marchwood again rescues Clyde and Rani. Sarah Jane, Clyde, Rani and Toby reunite with Lord Marchwood. Sarah Jane comes up with a plan to stop Erasmus. Erasmus is destroyed and Professor Rivers is returned. Sarah Jane destroys Erasmus' machine with her sonic lipstick. Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani say goodbye to Professor Rivers and Toby.
 
Rani declares that this must be the end of the haunted house dealings. Clyde quickly rebuffs her and says that there were never any ghosts in the first place. He asks Sarah Jane if there really are no such things as ghosts. Sarah answers, ''"That's right... No such thing as ghosts."'' Her voice slows and becomes hesitant as she peers up at the manor, seeing something peculiar from up above, before slinking into her car. As the trio drive away, Lord Marchwood and his children watch from the window.
 
== Cast ==
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]]
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]]
* [[Clyde Langer]] - [[Daniel Anthony]]
* [[Clyde Langer]] - [[Daniel Anthony]]
Line 38: Line 56:
* [[Erasmus Darkening]] - [[Donald Sumpter]]
* [[Erasmus Darkening]] - [[Donald Sumpter]]
* [[Toby Silverman]] - [[Adam Gillen]]
* [[Toby Silverman]] - [[Adam Gillen]]
* [[Marchwood|Lord Marchwood]] - [[Callum Blue]]
* [[James Marchwood|Lord Marchwood]] - [[Callum Blue]]
* [[Joseph Marchwood]] - [[Rhys Gear]]
* [[Joseph Marchwood]] - [[Rhys Gear]]
* [[Elizabeth Marchwood]] - [[Amelia Clarkson]]
* [[Elizabeth Marchwood]] - [[Amelia Clarkson]]
* [[Scriven|Mr Scriven]] - [[Tony Boncza]]
* [[Scriven|Mr Scriven]] - [[Tony Boncza]]


==Production Crew==
== Crew ==
{{wales crew
{{wales crew
|CreatedBy=Russell T Davies
|1stAD=Guy de Glanville
|1stAD=Guy de Glanville
|2ndAD=Sarah Davies
|2ndAD=Sarah Davies
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|PropsBuyer=
|PropsBuyer=
|PettyCashBuyer=
|PettyCashBuyer=
|StandbyArtDirector=Ciaran Thompson
|StandbyArtDirector=Ciaran Thompson (crew){{!}}Ciaran Thompson
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
|ASupervisingArtDirector=
|SetDesigner=Stewart Meacham
|SetDesigner=
|StoryboardArtist=
|StoryboardArtist=
|ConceptArtist=
|ConceptArtist=
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|SoundEditor=Matthew Cox
|SoundEditor=Matthew Cox
|SoundEditor2=Howard Eaves
|SoundEditor2=Howard Eaves
|SoundEffectsEditor=
|SoundFXEditor=
|ModelUnitSupervisor=
|ModelUnitSupervisor=
|ModelUnitDOP=
|ModelUnitDOP=
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|CharCreatedBy3a=
|CharCreatedBy3a=
|CharCreatedBy3b=
|CharCreatedBy3b=
|OriginalTheme=Murray Gold
|TitleMusic=Murray Gold
|CastingDirector=Andy Brierley  
|CastingDirector=Andy Brierley  
|CastingDirector2=Andy Pryor CDG
|CastingDirector2=Andy Pryor CDG
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|ProductionAccountant=Dyfed Thomas
|ProductionAccountant=Dyfed Thomas
|SoundRecordist=Ray Parker
|SoundRecordist=Ray Parker
|CostumeDesigner=
|CostumeDesigner=Stewart Meacham
|Make-upDesigner=Emma Bailey
|Make-upDesigner=Emma Bailey
|VisualEffects=Craig Higgins
|VisualEffects=Craig Higgins
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|ExecutiveProd2=Julie Gardner
|ExecutiveProd2=Julie Gardner
|ExecutiveProd3=Piers Wenger
|ExecutiveProd3=Piers Wenger
|DedicatedTo=<!--This exact credit never actually used as of April 2010; left for future use-->
|DedicatedTo=
|InMemoryOf=
|InMemoryOf=
|Note=
|Note=
<!--There are note variables from Note2 to Note20, but these are probably only necessary for the odd case of "The End of Time".  This set of variables are the only ones which aren't automatically linked; it's just a freeform note field.  All Notes mass together in a single paragraph at the end of the table created by this template.  Thus, each individual note should be a full sentence ending with a period, and should have any links enclosed in [[brackets]].
--><!--The following credits are generally more "American", and thus almost exclusively limited to the 1996 Paul McGann movie. -->
|ConstructionCoordinator=
|ConstructionCoordinator=
|Hairstylist=
|Hairstylist=
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}}
}}


==References==
== Worldbuilding ==
*[[Luke Smith]] was taught to play [[chess]] by [[Haresh Chandra]] whom he then beat six times.
=== Individuals ===
*The EMF Meter that Toby is using bears the markings of [[Magpie Electricals|Magpie Technologies]].
* Luke Smith was taught to play [[chess]] by [[Haresh Chandra]].
*Clyde says "I ain't afraid of no ghost", a phrase which was part of the ''[[Ghostbusters]]''' theme tune. The song was also quoted by [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] and [[Rose Tyler]] in [[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]''.
* Professor Sir [[Rupert Silverman]] is nominated for the [[Nobel Prize]] for [[physics]].
*Clyde compares the castle to Hogwarts from ''[[Harry Potter]]''.
* [[Johanssen Whalley]] is a painter.
 
=== Businesses ===
* The [[EMF meter]] that Toby is using bears a [[Magpie Electricals|Magpie Technologies]] brand.


==Story notes==
=== Culture ===
*This is the only Sarah Jane Adventures story prior to his departure in [[SJA]]: ''[[The Nightmare Man]]'' not to have featured [[Tommy Knight]] as [[Luke Smith]]. This was due to Tommy being busy taking his GCSE exams.
* Clyde compares the castle to [[Hogwarts]] from ''[[Harry Potter]]''. Clyde also sarcastically says, ''"It isn't [[Santa Claus|Santa]]'s workshop."'' He further mentions [[Tim Burton]], [[Sweeney Todd]], [[Transylvania]] and [[Dracula (fictional character)|Dracula]]'s castle.
*Neither [[Mr Smith]] nor [[K-9 Mark IV|K-9]] appear in this episode. Mr Smith is mentioned.
* When Clyde walks into a [[web|cobweb]], Rani chuckles and says that was "very ''[[Spider-Man]]''" of him.
*This isn't Callum Blue's first experience playing a "ghost", as he is well known for his role as Mason, a grim reaper in the American series ''Dead Like Me''.
* Rani believes the paranormal encounter with Erasmus is scarier than ''[[The Sixth Sense]]''.
* Rani and Clyde are herded into a [[billiards]] room by Darkening, with a fresh game of [[snooker]] set up on the billiards table.
* The song "Midnight, the Stars and You" is heard as Clyde and Rani notice a paranormal occurrence, as a reference to ''The Shining''.


===Ratings===
=== Books ===
''to be added''
* ''[[Thankless Child]]'' is a book written by [[Frank Swinnerton]].
* ''[[The Day Before Sunrise]]'' is written by [[Thomas Wiseman]].


===Myths===
=== Places ===
* The faceless being that Toby saw as a child was [[The Trickster]].
* When Rani and Clyde hole up in the manor's tool shed, Clyde says "It's not exactly [[the Alamo]]".
* Some people believed that Erasmus Darkening may have been a Time Lord. Sarah Jane commented on Darkening's manipulator having TARDIS-like qualities. Clyde made reference to some aliens looking human and used the Doctor as an example. He seemed obsessed with living forever as if he were a Time Lord on his last regeneration. His clothing was suggestive of Time Lord clothing. The counter argument is that the Doctor has indicated that he "would know" if there were other Time Lords still in the Universe. Erasmus was, however, trapped between dimensions, which it is hypothesised may have "hidden" him.


===Filming locations===
=== Technology ===
* The Haunted House in the episode was previously used in Series Four of Doctor Who in [[DW]]: ''[[Forest of the Dead]]''.
* Erasmus uses a [[transdimensional accelerator]].


===Production errors===
=== Theories ===
*In Part One, when the Professor is taken, her scream can be heard, but the cameras she is using have no audio, as she earlier uses her radio to talk.
* The [[Stone Tape theory]] is a speculative explanation for ghosts.
*Mobile phones are said to interfere with equipment, while walkie-talkies do not, however, all hand-held transmitters currently in common use are actually more powerful sources of EM radiation than any mobile phone conforming to current cellular network standards.
*Considering the secret passage hasn't been opened for years - possibly centuries - the presence of illuminated electric lightbulbs on the wall is puzzling (as is the need to use flashlights in the obviously well-lit corridor).


==Continuity==
== Story notes ==
* The services of neither [[Alexander Armstrong]] nor [[Tommy Knight]] were required for this story. Along with ''[[Lost in Time (TV story)|Lost in Time]]'', this is one of only two ''Sarah Jane Adventures'' stories not to feature Mr Smith.
* This is the only ''Sarah Jane Adventures'' story not to feature Sarah's house [[13 Bannerman Road]].
 
=== Ratings ===
 
* Part 1 - 1.14 million viewers, with an AI score of 86. ([[DWMSE 28]])
* Part 2 - 0.93 million viewers, with an AI score of 86. ([[DWMSE 28]])
 
=== Myths ===
* The faceless being that Toby saw as a child was [[the Trickster]].
* Some people believed that Erasmus Darkening may have been a [[Time Lord]]. Sarah commented on Darkening's manipulator having TARDIS-like qualities. Clyde made reference to some aliens looking human and used the Doctor as an example. He seemed obsessed with living forever as if he were a Time Lord on his last regeneration. His clothing was suggestive of Time Lord clothing. The counter-argument is that the Doctor has indicated that he "would know" if there were any other Time Lords still in the Universe. Erasmus was, however, trapped between dimensions, which it is hypothesised may have "hidden" him. In ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'', however, it was revealed that [[Gallifrey]] was not destroyed but moved to a parallel pocket universe so the idea that Darkening might be a Time Lord is still a possibility. The actor who portrayed Darkening, [[Donald Sumpter]], later appeared as {{Sumpter}} in the television story ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]''.
 
=== Filming locations ===
* The Haunted House in the episode was previously used in Series Four of ''Doctor Who'' in ''[[Forest of the Dead (TV story)|Forest of the Dead]]''.
 
=== Production errors ===
{{SJA discontinuity}}
{{SJA discontinuity}}
*Clyde references the events of [[SJA]]: ''[[Eye of the Gorgon]]''.
* In part one, when the Professor is taken, her scream can be heard, but the cameras she is using have no audio, as she earlier uses her radio to talk.
*Clyde mentions [[the Doctor]], whose [[Tenth Doctor|tenth body]] he previously met in [[SJA]]: ''[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]''.
 
* Professor Rivers previously appeared in [[SJA]]: ''[[The Lost Boy]]'' and [[SJA]]: ''[[Day of the Clown]]''.
== Continuity ==
* Sarah Jane's heavy scepticism about ghosts and afterlife belief tie in with some of her [[atheism|atheist]] views. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Dreamland (audio story)|Dreamland]]'')
* Clyde notes that [[the Doctor]] looked human, having recently met his [[Tenth Doctor|tenth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (TV story)}})
* When looking for secret passages, Clyde recounts to Rani about him and Luke finding a secret passage in [[St Agnes Abbey]] after being held prisoner by "those nutty [[The Abbess (Eye of the Gorgon)|Gorgon]] [[Helena (Eye of the Gorgon)|nuns]]". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Eye of the Gorgon (TV story)}})
 
== Home media releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
* It was released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).
== Footnotes ==
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
{{dwrefguide|sja_16.htm|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{briefhistory|sarahjane/2009hi.html|{{StoryTitle}}}}
* {{locguide|eternitytrap|{{StoryTitle}}}}
{{SJATV}}
{{TitleSort}}


==Timeline==
[[Category:SJA television stories]]
*The Eternity Trap occurs after: [[SJA]]: ''[[The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith]]''
[[Category:Stories set in 1665]]
*The Eternity Trap occurs before: [[SJA]]: ''[[Mona Lisa's Revenge]]''
==Footnotes==
{{SJA series 3}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eternity Trap, The}}
[[Category:SJA television stories|Eternity Trap, The]]
[[Category:2009 television stories|Eternity Trap, The]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1665|Eternity Trap, The]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Series 3 (SJA) stories]]
[[Category:Series 3 (SJA) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[de:The Eternity Trap]]

Latest revision as of 10:10, 12 March 2024

RealWorld.png

The Eternity Trap was the fourth serial of series 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures. It was written by Phil Ford and directed by Alice Troughton. Because filming took place during his GCSE exams, Tommy Knight sat out this serial, with the reason given for Luke's absence being that he was studying at home.[1]

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

A haunted house, mysterious whispers and secrets in the shadows attract Sarah Jane's attention. When Professor Rivers and the gang investigate an old legend, a monstrous creature appears in the night. The terrifying grasp of Erasmus Darkening reaches out from centuries past. Sarah Jane and the gang discover the secrets of Erasmus Darkening, but are they too late? Ghosts from the past rise up and the quest to find the missing children reaches a climax. It seems that nothing can stop the ancient alchemist's rise to victory.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part 1[[edit] | [edit source]]

Professor Rivers tells the story of a haunted manor. She speaks of Lord Marchwood and how he employed Erasmus Darkening. Marchwood thought Erasmus could make gold out of nothing. His two children, Elizabeth and Joseph, spy on Erasmus and they vanish for eternity.

Rivers is telling the story to Sarah Jane, Clyde, Rani and her assistant Toby. Luke is at home as their standby lest something goes wrong. Sarah Jane separates and finds a book on the history of the manor. She turns from the book case where she is reading, and behind her, the books move. Clyde and Rani go outside and find a shed and a fountain. The fountain ceases flowing and wet footprints appear in the shed. They hear a young girl cry. It stops as Clyde pulls a sheet from a mirror. A man's face appears in the mirror. They run back to the manor to find Sarah Jane.

Meanwhile in the control room, the camera in the playroom cuts out. Rivers goes to investigate. Abruptly, the nursery monitor starts to play. Seconds later, Rivers vanishes.

The gang go to investigate and find all the toys have come alive. On the mirror in the room, a message appears: "Get out". Clyde and Rani explore and find a secret passageway leading to Erasmus' lab.

Meanwhile Sarah Jane goes outside. She finds a creature with red eyes in the bushes. It advances on her. Lord Marchwood's ghost manifests and he fights it off. Clyde and Rani find a computer, then turn around to see Erasmus Darkening.

Part 2[[edit] | [edit source]]

Lord Marchwood arrives with his children to rescue Clyde and Rani. Sarah Jane hears a recording of Professor Rivers saying, "Sarah Jane help me", over and over. Then she sees her. Rivers warns her, "He is coming for you", and disappears. Sarah Jane reunites with Clyde and Rani and they find Lord Marchwood. Sarah Jane believes they are not ghosts. Toby, Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani discover all the people that have disappeared, except for Professor Rivers who hasn't been absorbed yet. Erasmus arrives and they all disappear.

Erasmus tells them he will come for them all. Sarah Jane and Toby investigate Erasmus' secret chamber while Rani and Clyde distract Erasmus. Toby tells Sarah Jane of a creature who used to come into his room and watch him every night. Rani and Clyde are chased by something into a game room. When all the games start playing by themselves, they run outside and are locked out.

Sarah Jane and Toby find Erasmus' transdimensional accelerator. Sarah Jane suspects Erasmus was trying to get home to another galaxy with the machine. The machine malfunctioned and all the people that disappeared were trapped between dimensions. Clyde and Rani run into the pavilion. Sarah Jane and Toby are interrupted by Erasmus. Sarah Jane works out that the machine is giving Erasmus and all the people that disappeared eternal life. She also works out the creature that attacked her earlier came through the machine. Lord Marchwood again rescues Clyde and Rani. Sarah Jane, Clyde, Rani and Toby reunite with Lord Marchwood. Sarah Jane comes up with a plan to stop Erasmus. Erasmus is destroyed and Professor Rivers is returned. Sarah Jane destroys Erasmus' machine with her sonic lipstick. Sarah Jane, Clyde and Rani say goodbye to Professor Rivers and Toby.

Rani declares that this must be the end of the haunted house dealings. Clyde quickly rebuffs her and says that there were never any ghosts in the first place. He asks Sarah Jane if there really are no such things as ghosts. Sarah answers, "That's right... No such thing as ghosts." Her voice slows and becomes hesitant as she peers up at the manor, seeing something peculiar from up above, before slinking into her car. As the trio drive away, Lord Marchwood and his children watch from the window.

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

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.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

Businesses[[edit] | [edit source]]

Culture[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Clyde compares the castle to Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Clyde also sarcastically says, "It isn't Santa's workshop." He further mentions Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd, Transylvania and Dracula's castle.
  • When Clyde walks into a cobweb, Rani chuckles and says that was "very Spider-Man" of him.
  • Rani believes the paranormal encounter with Erasmus is scarier than The Sixth Sense.
  • Rani and Clyde are herded into a billiards room by Darkening, with a fresh game of snooker set up on the billiards table.
  • The song "Midnight, the Stars and You" is heard as Clyde and Rani notice a paranormal occurrence, as a reference to The Shining.

Books[[edit] | [edit source]]

Places[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • When Rani and Clyde hole up in the manor's tool shed, Clyde says "It's not exactly the Alamo".

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Theories[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Part 1 - 1.14 million viewers, with an AI score of 86. (DWMSE 28)
  • Part 2 - 0.93 million viewers, with an AI score of 86. (DWMSE 28)

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The faceless being that Toby saw as a child was the Trickster.
  • Some people believed that Erasmus Darkening may have been a Time Lord. Sarah commented on Darkening's manipulator having TARDIS-like qualities. Clyde made reference to some aliens looking human and used the Doctor as an example. He seemed obsessed with living forever as if he were a Time Lord on his last regeneration. His clothing was suggestive of Time Lord clothing. The counter-argument is that the Doctor has indicated that he "would know" if there were any other Time Lords still in the Universe. Erasmus was, however, trapped between dimensions, which it is hypothesised may have "hidden" him. In The Day of the Doctor, however, it was revealed that Gallifrey was not destroyed but moved to a parallel pocket universe so the idea that Darkening might be a Time Lord is still a possibility. The actor who portrayed Darkening, Donald Sumpter, later appeared as Rassilon in the television story Hell Bent.

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

  • The Haunted House in the episode was previously used in Series Four of Doctor Who in Forest of the Dead.

Production 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.
  • In part one, when the Professor is taken, her scream can be heard, but the cameras she is using have no audio, as she earlier uses her radio to talk.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home media releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • It was released in the Complete Collection Series 1-5 boxset release (Region 2 release: 6th February 2012).

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ http://www.shannonsullivan.com/doctorwho/sarahjane/2009hi.html

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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SJA television stories
Series 1
Series 2
Regular episodes
Mini-episodes
Series 3
Series 4
Series 5
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by the BBC.
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