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{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{Infobox Torchwood
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image         = [[File:Tw ep01 gwen jack 01.jpg|250px]]
|image                 = 16j.jpg
|story name    = Children of Earth:<br />Day One
|series               = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|series         = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' - [[List of Torchwood television stories|TV Stories]]
|season number         = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|series number = [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]]
|series episode number = 1
|number         = 27a
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-1-day-one-pink-revisions-10082008.pdf
|featuring = <ul><li>[[Jack Harkness]]</li><li>[[Gwen Cooper]]</li><li>[[Ianto Jones]]</li><li>[[Rhys Williams]]</li></ul>
|main character        = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]]
|enemy          = <ul><li>[[The 456]]</li><li>[[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]]</li><li>[[John Frobisher]]</li></ul>
|featuring            = Rhys Williams
|setting       = <ul><li>[[Scotland]], [[1965]]</li><li>[[Cardiff]], [[2009]]</li><li>[[London]], [[2009]]</li><li>[[East Grinstead]], [[2009]]</ul>
|featuring2            = Lois Habiba
|writer         = [[Russell T Davies]]
|featuring3            = John Frobisher
|director       = [[Euros Lyn]]
|featuring4            = Clem McDonald
|producer       = [[Peter Bennett]]
|featuring5            = Alice Carter
|broadcast date = [[6 July]] [[2009]]
|featuring6            = Bridget Spears
|previous story = [[Exit Wounds]]
|featuring7            = Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson
|next story    = [[Children of Earth: Day Two]]
|network              = BBC One
}}
|setting               = [[Cardiff]], [[East Grinstead]] and [[London]], [[September]] [[2009]]
:''For the [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]] Torchwood episode [[Day One]], see separate entry.''
|writer               = Russell T Davies
'''''Children of Earth: Day One''''' was the first episode of the [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|third series]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It introduced several new recurring characters of the series and was the first story to depart from the thirteen-part format in favour of a story arc.
|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 all children on the [[Earth]] stop and start chanting "We Are Coming", the Torchwood team investigates. 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]], young children are 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 hesitates, then 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.
[[File:16j.jpg|thumb|left|The children stop...]]
Forty-four years later, in [[Cardiff]], [[September]] [[2009]], at 8:40 am GMT, [[Gwen Cooper]] is withdrawing money from an ATM 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 [[Torchwood Three|the Hub]] and begins to investigate the incident.


Meanwhile, at a [[St. Helen's Hospital|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 the first time in the series Jack and Ianto are exclusively referred 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 the bodies of five ethnic males have vanished over the past two months, but Jack tells him that it's a problem for the NHS. He and Ianto drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.
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.


Meanwhile, 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]]. Frobischer is visited by [[UNIT]] [[Augustus Oduya|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 phenomenon is extraterrestrial in origin.
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.


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 the two are talking, 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 MacDonald|Timothy White]] — also stops and speaks the same words as the children. Torchwood discover that every child in the world spoke the same words.
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.


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 that "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'; as he doesn't want his name attached. Green places Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if things go wrong.
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.


Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness, and when she logs it, the computer flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget[[File:34.jpg|thumb|[[Gwen Cooper]] trying to talk to Clem MacDonald]]Spears and discovers that Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.
[[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.


Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto realise 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 askns Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man, and Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. The [[Torchwood S.U.V]] is stolen during Ianto's visit.
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.


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. He escaped; he got scared and ran away. His real name is [[Clem MacDonald]]. 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 initiate 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 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.


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 Colinel 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.
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.
[[File:42.jpg|thumb|left|[[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] looks on a dead body of [[Jack Harkness]]]]


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 been a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood. Johnson kills Rupesh to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again and returns to the Hub.
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.


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.
[[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.
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.


Line 52: Line 68:


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* Captain [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
* [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr. Rupesh Patanjali]] - [[Rik Makarem]]
* [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr Rupesh Patanjali]] - [[Rik Makarem]]
* [[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
* [[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
* [[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
* [[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
Line 63: Line 79:
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Clem MacDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Brian Green]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
* [[Brian Green]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
* [[Rhiannon Davies]] - [[Katy Wix]]
* [[Rhiannon Davies]] - [[Katy Wix]]
Line 70: Line 86:
* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Nurse (Children of Earth)|Nurse]] - [[Anna Lawson]]
* [[Nurse (Children of Earth: Day One)|Nurse]] - [[Anna Lawson]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary (Children of Earth: Day One)|Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Water Taxi Man]] - [[Phylip Harries]]
* [[Water Taxi Man]] - [[Phylip Harries]]
* [[Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[Operative (Children of Earth: Day One)|Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
* [[Holly Frobisher]] - [[Julia Joyce]]
* [[Holly Frobisher]] - [[Julia Joyce]]
* [[Lilly Frobisher]] - [[Madeleine Rakic-Platt]]
* [[Lilly Frobisher]] - [[Madeleine Rakic-Platt]]
* [[Clem MacDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Ferguson]]
* [[Clem McDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Ferguson]]
* [[Chinese girl]] - [[Jennifer Chew]]
* [[Taiwanese girl (Children of Earth: Day One)|Taiwanese girl]] - [[Jennifer Chew]]
* [[Mother (Children of Earth: Day One)|Mother]] - [[Crisian Emmanuel]]
* [[Tyler's mother|Mother]] - [[Crisian Emmanuel]]
* [[Mother 2 (Children of Earth: Day One)|Mother 2]] - [[Melanie Barker]]
* [[Sasha's mother|Mother 2]] - [[Melanie Barker]]
* [[Father (Children of Earth: Day One)|Father]] - [[Scott Bailey]]
* [[Father (Children of Earth: Day One)|Father]] - [[Scott Bailey]]
* [[Boy (Children of Earth: Day One)|Boy]] - [[Jordan Baker]] (uncredited)


== Crew ==
== Crew ==
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|Runner=Tom Evans
|Runner=Tom Evans
|Runner2=Alison Jones
|Runner2=Alison Jones
|Runner3=Susi Sharma <!--new, needs adding-->
|Runner3=Susi Sharma
|FloorRunner=
|FloorRunner=
|FloorRunner2=
|FloorRunner2=
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|PolecamOperator=
|PolecamOperator=
|Grip=Clive Baldwin
|Grip=Clive Baldwin
|AssistantGrip=Bobby Williams
|CameraAsst=Tom Hartley
|CameraAsst=Tom Hartley
|CameraAsst2=Jon Vidgen
|CameraAsst2=Jon Vidgen
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|BoomOperator2=
|BoomOperator2=
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer=
|SoundMaintenanceEngineer=
|SoundAssistant=Bryn Thomas <!--new, needs adding-->
|SoundAssistant=Bryn Thomas
|Gaffer=Mark Hutchings
|Gaffer=Mark Hutchings
|BestBoy=Steve Slocombe
|BestBoy=Steve Slocombe
|Electrician=Ben Griffiths
|Electrician=Ben Griffiths
|Electrician2=Jonathan Cox
|Electrician2=Jonathan Cox
|Electrician3=Gareth Williams
|Electrician3=Gareth Williams (electrician)
|Electrician4=
|Electrician4=
|StuntCoOrdinator=Tom Lucy
|StuntCoOrdinator=Tom Lucy
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|ArtDeptProdManager=
|ArtDeptProdManager=
|AssociateDesigner=
|AssociateDesigner=
|ProductionBuyer=
|ProductionBuyer=Ben Morris (crew){{!}}Ben Morris
|SetDecorator=Julian Luxton
|SetDecorator=Julian Luxton
|PropsBuyer=
|PropsBuyer=Adrian Anscombe
|PettyCashBuyer=
|PettyCashBuyer=
|StandbyArtDirector=Arwel Wyn Jones
|StandbyArtDirector=Arwel Wyn Jones
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|ConceptArtist=
|ConceptArtist=
|ConceptArtist2=
|ConceptArtist2=
|StoryboardConceptArtist=Richard Shaun Williams
|ConceptArtistTrainee=Lee Bryan
|DesignAssistant=
|DesignAssistant=
|DesignAssistant2=
|DesignAssistant2=
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|DesignAssistant4=
|DesignAssistant4=
|CyfleTrainee=
|CyfleTrainee=
|GraphicDesigner=James North
|GraphicArtist=
|GraphicArtist=
|StandbyProps=Phill Shellard
|StandbyProps=Phill Shellard
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|StorePerson=
|StorePerson=
|ChiefPropsMaster=
|ChiefPropsMaster=
|PropsMaster=Stuart Wooddisse
|PropsMaster=
|PropertyMaster=
|PropertyMaster=Stuart Wooddisse
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|AssistantPropsMaster=
|DressingChargehand=
|DressingChargehand=Paul Aitken
|PropsChargehand=
|PropsChargehand=
|PropsStoreman=
|PropsStoreman=
|DressingProps=
|DressingProps=Ciaran Thompson (crew){{!}}Ciaran Thompson
|DressingProps2=
|DressingProps2=
|ForwardDresser=
|ForwardDresser=
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|SeniorPropsMaker=
|SeniorPropsMaker=
|ChiefPropsMaker=
|ChiefPropsMaker=
|PropsFabricationManager=
|FabricationManager=Penny Howarth
|PropsMaker=
|PropsMaker=Nick Robatto
|PropsMaker2=
|PropsMaker2=
|PropsMaker3=
|PropsMaker3=
|PropsDriver=
|PropsDriver=Tom Belton
|PracticalElectrician=
|PropsDailies=Austin Curtis
|PropsDailies2=Jane Davies
|PropsDailies3=Matt Wild
|PropsDailies4=Rhys Jones (props)
|PracticalElectrician=Albert James
|ArtDepartmentDriver=
|ArtDepartmentDriver=
|ConstructionManager=Matthew Hywel-Davies
|ConstructionManager=Matthew Hywel-Davies
|ConstructionWorkshopManager=
|WorkshopManager=
|WorkshopManager=
|ConstructionChargehand=
|ConstructionChargehand=Scott Fisher
|ConstructionChargehand2=
|ConstructionChargehand2=
|ScenicArtist=
|ConstructionWorkshopManager=Mark Hill
|ScenicArtist2=
|ScenicArtist=John Pinkerton
|Graphics=BBC Wales Graphic Design
|ScenicArtist2=John Whalley
|ScenicArtist3=Steve Fudge
|Carpenter=Mark Painter
|Carpenter2=Chris Daniels
|Graphics=Hywel Roberts (crew)
|Graphics2=Daniel Rawlings
|Graphics3=Alison Jenkins
|Graphics4=Louise Hillam
|Graphics5=Nicola Rivers
|TitleSequence=
|TitleSequence=
|CostumeSupervisor=Lindsay Bonaccorsi
|CostumeSupervisor=Lindsay Bonaccorsi
|CrowdSupervisor=
|CrowdSupervisor=
|WardrobeSupervisor=
|AsstCostumeDesigner=
|AsstCostumeDesigner=
|CostumeAsst=Sara Morgan
|CostumeAsst=Sara Morgan
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|CostumeTrainee=
|CostumeTrainee=
|Make-upSupervisor=Abi Brotherton
|Make-upSupervisor=Abi Brotherton
|Make-upArtist=Nel Blatt
|Make-upArtist=Nel Batt
|Make-upArtist2=Hannah Proverbs
|Make-upArtist2=Hannah Proverbs
|Make-upArtist3=
|Make-upArtist3=
|Make-upArtist4=
|Make-upArtist4=
|Make-upTrainee=Catherine Williams
|UnitDriver=
|UnitDriver=
|UnitDriver2=
|UnitDriver2=
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|AsstEditor2=
|AsstEditor2=
|VFXEditor=
|VFXEditor=
|VisualEffectsProducer=Marie Jones
|VisualEffectsSupervisor=Barney Curnow
|VFXCoOrdinator=
|VFXCoOrdinator=
|VFXCoOrdinator2=
|VFXCoOrdinator2=
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|MattePainter2=
|MattePainter2=
|MattePainter3=
|MattePainter3=
|PostProdSupervisor=Chris Blatchford
|PostProdSupervisor=Helen Vallis
|PostProdSupervisor2=Helen Vallis
|PostProdSupervisor2=Chris Blatchford
|PostProdCoOrdinator=
|PostProdCoOrdinator=
|SFXCoOrdinator=
|SFXCoOrdinator=
|SFXSupervisor=
|SpecialEffectsSupervisor=Ben Ashmore
|SFXSupervisor2=
|SpecialEffectsSupervisor2=
|SFXTechnician=
|SFXTechnician=
|SFXTechnician2=
|SFXTechnician2=
|ProstheticsDesigner=
|MillenniumFXStudioManager=Rob Mayor
|MillenniumFXCoordinator=Kate Walshe
|Administration=Martina Hawkins
|SpecialEffectsTechnicalCoOrd=Paul Kelly
|SpecialEffectsFloorSupervisor=Danny Hargreaves
|SpecialEffectsTechnician=Henry Brook
|SpecialEffectsTechnician2=Dan Bentley
|ProstheticsDesigner=Neill Gorton
|ProstheticsSupervisor=
|ProstheticsSupervisor=
|OnSetProstheticsSupervisor=
|OnSetProstheticsSupervisor=
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|SupervisingSoundEditor=
|SupervisingSoundEditor=
|SoundSupervisor=Doug Sinclair
|SoundSupervisor=Doug Sinclair
|SoundEditor=Matt Cox
|SoundEditor=Matthew Cox
|SoundEditor2=
|SoundEditor2=
|SoundEffectsEditor=Howard Eaves
|SoundEffectsEditor=Howard Eaves
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|Colourist=Jon Everett
|Colourist=Jon Everett
|SeniorVFXArtist=
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|3DArtist=
|2DSupervisor=Murray Barber
|3DArtist2=
|2DArtist=Lynall Spagnoletti
|3DArtist3=
|2DArtist2=James Moxon
|3DArtist4=
|3DSupervisor=Nicholas Hernandez
|3DArtist5=
|3DArtist=Matthew McKinney
|3DArtist6=
|3DArtist2=Grant Bonser
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|OnlineConform=
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|OnlineConform2=
|OnlineEditor=Geraint Pari Huws
|OnlineEditor=Geraint Pari Huws
|OnlineEditor2=Matt Mullins
|RightsExecutive=
|RightsExecutive=
|FinanceManager=
|FinanceManager=
|VisualFXProducer=Marie Jones
|VisualFXProducer=
|VisualFXProducer2=
|VisualFXProducer2=
|VisualFXSupervisor=Barney Curnow
|VisualFXSupervisor=
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|OnlineVFXEditor=Mark Bright
|VFXAssistant=Alex Fitzgerald
|Thanks=
|Thanks=
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|WithThanksTo=BBC National Orchestra of Wales
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|CharCreatedBy3a=
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|OriginalTheme=Murray Gold
|TitleMusic=Murray Gold
|CastingDirector=Andy Pryor CDG
|CastingDirector=Andy Pryor CDG
|ProductionExec=Julie Scott
|ProductionExec=Julie Scott
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|Prosthetics=Millennium FX
|Prosthetics=Millennium FX
|Music=Ben Foster
|Music=Ben Foster
|Editor=William Oswald
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|ProductionDesigner=Edward Thomas
|ProductionDesigner=Edward Thomas
|DOP=Rory Taylor
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|InMemoryOf=
|InMemoryOf=
|Note=This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.
|Note=This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.
|Note2=This episode was not broadcast with thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In its place is a [[Sound editor]] credit for [[Matt Cox]].
|Note2=
}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== [[:Category:Real world|Real world]] ===
* An [[advertisement]] for [[Tommy Hilfiger]] is present.
* Humourous nod to BBC Comedy [[wikipedia: Gavin and Stacey|Gavin and Stacey]], "What's occurring?!" [[Wikipedia:Ruth Jones|Ruth Jones]], one of the creators of Gavin and Stacey, guest starred in the [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|series 2]] episode ''[[Adrift]].''
* A photo of [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] are in Gwen's workspace.
* Gwen calls Jack and Ianto "The [[Chuckle Brothers]]".
* The setting of the hospital is the same as BBC hospital show ''Casualty''.
* One of the people on Frobisher's hit list is a Colonel Michael Sanders. This may be a reference to the founder of fast food restaurant, KFC.


=== [[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]] ===
=== Real world ===
* Frost Lynch, the company owned by Mark Lynch in [[Combat]], is the realty agency promoting the house Rhys is visiting.
* Gwen calls Jack and Ianto "the [[Chuckle Brothers]]".
* A photo of [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] is on Gwen's workspace.
*  [[Jack Harkness|Jack's]] and [[Ianto Jones|Ianto Jones's]] families are introduced. Jack has a grown daughter and a grandson.
* Although in a relationship with Jack, Ianto establishes he has never felt this way for another man.
* Jack dies (and revives) three times.
* Brian Green is the fourth Prime Minister to appear on screen in the revived ''Doctor Who'' universe, following the unidentified PM killed by the [[Slitheen]] in [[DW]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'', [[Harriet Jones]], and [[Harold Saxon]]. (Tony Blair was also mentioned as having been Prime Minister in [[DW]]: [[Rise of the Cybermen]], and [[Aubrey Fairchild (Prime Minister)|Aubrey Fairchild]] is a character in the book [[NSA]]: ''[[Beautiful Chaos]]''.)


=== [[:Category:United Nations Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]] ===
=== Restaurants ===
* [[UNIT]] 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, dialogue establishes UNIT is still under the command of the UN as it orders UNIT to yellow alert.
* [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] offers to take his niece, [[Mica Davies|Mica]], to [[McDonald's]] due to missing her birthday.


=== [[:Category:Companions of the Doctor|Companions]] ===
=== Unified Intelligence Taskforce ===
* [[Frobisher]] is also the name of a 1980s-era companion of the [[Sixth Doctor]] in the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strips.
* [[Colonel]] [[Alan Mace]] is posted in [[Vancouver]].


=== [[:Category:Music|Music]] ===
=== Time ===
* When Jack mentions [[Martha Jones]], the musical motif "Martha's Theme" from ''Doctor Who'' is heard.'' ''
* 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 ===
* 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]].
* 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]].
* Oyuda notes to Frobisher that children have stopped across the world from Britain, [[Germany]], [[India]], [[Egypt]], [[Guyana]], [[Singapore]], to [[America]].


== 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''. Her schedule prevented her from appearing for a cameo, too. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', which includes the script for the aborted cameo.)
* [[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
 
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''


=== Myths ===
=== 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.''


=== Filming locations ===
=== Broadcasts ===
''to be added''
{| 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]]
|
|}


=== Production errors ===
=== Errors ===
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
''To be added''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Martha Jones]] has gone on honeymoon (September 2009), She married [[Mickey Smith]], confirmed in December 2009. ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* 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)}}.
* 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 in ''[[Journey's End]]''. By the time of ''The End of Time'', Martha will have left UNIT and be working freelance together with Mickey.
* 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.
* [[Alan Mace|Colonel Mace]] has been relocated to [[Vancouver]] by [[UNIT]].
* 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 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 estate agency from the episode ''[[Combat]]'', which [[Mark Lynch]] owned alongside running the [[Weevil]] fight club.
* 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]]''.
* 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]] in ''[[Cyberwoman]]''.
* 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)}}.
* The "blank page" resembles [[psychic paper]].
* 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)}}.
* Torchwood is still supposed to be a "secret" organisation, but public awareness of it is referenced in several scenes, most notably when Gwen says if you ask people about Torchwood, they usually send people towards Cardiff Bay (where the Hub is located),; at one point Gwen exchanges humorous words about her job with a man outside the main entrance. This isn't the first time Torchwood's "secrecy" is called into question; see, for example, [[TW]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', and [[BBCR]]: ''[[Lost Souls]]''.
* The [[Torchwood SUV|SUV]] has been stolen before, like during the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|Countrycide (TV story)}} and {{cs|Fragments (TV story)}}.
* When Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, the text on screen references the events of [[DW]]: ''[[Tooth and Claw (TV story)|Tooth and Claw]]''.
* 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]]''.
* 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, which Rupesh ascribes to crises of faith. This may also be reflected by the insanity and suicide of [[Alex Hopkins]], who learns about upcoming events in 1999 ([[TW]]: ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]'').
* The destruction of the Hub in a massive explosion leaves open the question of the fate of artefacts and creatures within the facility, including any imprisoned [[Weevil]]s and Jack's brother, [[Gray]], last seen in stasis. It is shown in [[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]] and [[End of the Road]] that at least a few items were recovered by individuals for personal use.
* When John Frobisher mentions informing the Prime Minister, Mr Dekker notes elected officials "just come and go," a reference to Britain's recent frequent change of prime ministers including [[Harriet Jones]] through 2006/2007, [[Harold Saxon]] through 2007/2008, and [[Aubrey Fairchild (Prime Minister)|Aubrey Fairchild]] through to Spring 2009.
* Brian Green refers to how it all comes "raining down from the skies, made of metal, and stinking green," referencing in particular the [[Dalek]]s in their 2009 Invasion of Earth ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End]]''), and also possibly the [[Slitheen]] invasion ([[DW]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'' / ''[[World War Three]]''). He also mentions running a country whose threats are all now from above, referring to the well known invasions of Earth in the 21st century.
 
== [[Jack Harkness - Timeline|Timeline]] ==
* This story occurs after: [[BBCR]]: ''[[The Dead Line]]''
* This story occurs before: [[TW]]: ''[[Children of Earth: Day Two]]''


== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
* This episode was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on [[13 July]] [[2009]] in the UK.
* ''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.)


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
{{Torchwood series 3}}
{{Reflist}}
 
{{TWTV}}
{{UNIT stories}}
{{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]]


[[fr:Day One (Children of Earth)]]
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:2009 television stories]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) 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 London]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1965]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[Category:UNIT television stories]]
[[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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