The Prisoner's Dilemma (audio story)

The Prisoner's Dilemma
Doctor:	[[doctor::Seventh Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Ace
Main enemy:	Robot Constables
Main setting:	Erratoon
Key crew
Publisher:	[[publisher::Big Finish]]
Writer:	Simon Guerrier
Director:	Lisa Bowerman
Music:	David Darlington
Sound:	David Darlington
Read by:	Sophie Aldred
Release details
Release number:	3.8
Release date:	30th January 2009
Format:	1 CD
Production code:	BFPDWCC15
ISBN:	978-1-84435-357-6

Publisher's Summary

Two prisoners meet in a prison cell. Zara is searching for the segments of the Key to Time; she was only born yesterday but already she’s killed hundreds of people. Ace is more ambitious: she was going to kill everyone on the planet.

What have they got against the people of Erratoon? They go peaceably about their simple assignments, beneath their artificial sky. They share their meals and leisure time and they never ask questions. Are they even real?

Ace and Zara will only survive if they can trust each other. Or perhaps if they sell each other out... If not their awful punishment is to become just like everyone else.

Cast

• Ace - Sophie Aldred
• Zara - Laura Doddington

References

• Zara mentions the Tracers, the Key to Time, the White Guardian and the Black Guardian.
• Ace mentions meeting a man made out of licourise, being quite an expert on making explosions, Lurana, the Eye of Orion and having Christmas Dinner at Cheldon Bonniface.

Notes

• Unlike other Big Finish audios, this story is set during the New Adventures era. Bernice Summerfield is mentioned, but not named.

Continuity

• Zinc uses a Time Ring.
• Ace's narration probably takes place after Death Comes to Time as she says Bernice Summerfield is gone now, but before Ground Zero, as, according to the Doctor Who Reference Guide, Ground Zero, which Ace apparantly dies in, takes place after Death Comes to Time. Ace's narration is probably a conversation to an alien the Doctor and Ace meet during their travels between Death Comes to Time and Ground Zero. During this time the unmade Season 27 probably takes place. After Ace leaves and goes to Gallifrey, the Doctor and Ace later reunite and Ground Zero takes place soon after.

Timeline

• The Prisoner's Dilemma occurs after BFA: The Dark Flame
• The Prisoner's Dilemma occurs before NA: Blood Harvest
• Ace's narration in The Prisoner's Dilemma occurs after WC: Death Comes to Time
• Ace's narration in The Prisoner's Dilemma occurs before DWM: Ground Zero

External Links

• Big Finish The Prisoner's Dilemma page
• The Doctor Who Reference Guide's detailed synopsis of The Prisoner's Dilemma