The Mother Road (short story)

The Mother Road
Doctor:	First Doctor
Companion(s):	Susan, Barbara, Ian
Main setting:	USA, 2006
Key crew
Writer:	Gareth Wigmore
Release details
Part of:	Short Trips: Farewells
Short Trips short stories
Next →	Father Figure

The Mother Road was the first short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: Farewells. It was written by Gareth Wigmore. It featured the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Susan.

Summary

The Doctor and his friends are stuck in Chicago in 2006. The Doctor has lost the TARDIS in a bet with a businessman named Buchanan, and the four must journey to California to retrieve it. They take a road trip across America. On the way, they stop to enjoy themselves in several American cities.

In Texas, Barbara and Ian wonder if the Doctor is up to something. They also discuss getting home eventually and how much they enjoy travelling with the Doctor.

When they reach California, the Doctor participates in an online auction, finally winning his TARDIS back. It turns out that it must be picked up in Chicago, and Ian wonders how long the Doctor has known that the TARDIS was in Chicago all along. The Doctor admits he thought they could all do with a vacation, then he proceeds to get plane reservations for the trip back to Chicago.

Characters

• First Doctor
• Susan Foreman
• Barbara Wright
• Ian Chesterton
• Buchanan

References

• The Doctor and his friends visit Chicago, St Louis, Kansas, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Texas, Santa Fe, Arizona and Santa Monica.
• The Doctor and his friends drive a purple Oldsmobile 88 across America.
• The Doctor and his friends take Route 66 across America.

Notes

to be added

Continuity

• Ian notes that this is the second time the Doctor has lost the TARDIS in a bet. (TV: Marco Polo)