Mary Celeste: Difference between revisions

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The '''''Mary''''' or '''''Marie Celeste''''' was a ship commanded by [[Benjamin Briggs]]. She was famous for the mystery surrounding why she had been abandoned at sea in [[1872]]. The [[First Doctor]], [[Ian Chesterton]], [[Barbara Wright]] and [[Vicki Pallister]] materialised on the ship. [[Dalek]]s had already arrived in their [[Dalek time machine]]s. The crew of the ''Celeste'' mistook the Daleks for "the [[Barbary Terror]]", and jumped overboard. Of the Doctor and his [[companion]]s, only Ian seemed to notice the name of the ship they had landed on. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'')
The '''''Mary Celeste''''' or '''''Marie Celeste''''' was a ship commanded by Captain [[Benjamin Briggs]]. She was famous for her mysterious abandonment at sea in [[1872]]. According to several accounts, [[the Doctor]] was involved in the crew's disappearance.


The [[Second Doctor]] related the above account to [[Zoe Heriot|Zoe]] and [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]], stating that the Daleks had exterminated everyone who had not jumped overboard. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Rosemariners (audio story)|The Rosemariners]]'')
By one account, [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] accidentally [[materialise]]d on the ship while the [[First Doctor]] was trying to evade a [[Dalek time machine]]. [[Barbara Wright]] left the TARDIS to explore the ship but was captured by first mate [[Albert C. Richardson]]. She was then rescued by [[Vicki Pallister]], and they returned to the TARDIS with [[Ian Chesterton]], who alone noticed the name of the ship. Richardson witnessed the TARDIS' dematerialisation and reported it to Captain Briggs.


Her abandonment apparently was not a [[fixed point in time]], as there were several different accounts of the event. The first three incarnations of [[the Doctor]] were all involved in different sets of experiences surrounding the crew's disappearance, though only the Second Doctor knew that he was on the ill-fated vessel.
Shortly afterwards, [[Dalek]]s arrived on the ship in their time machine ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'') or, by another account, through a [[Time-Conveyer]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Timechase (short story)|Timechase]]'') With the [[Bosun (The Chase)|boatswain]] identifying the Daleks as the [[Barbary Terror]], the crew – including the captain, his family, [[Willoughby]], and the [[cabin steward (The Chase)|cabin steward]] – jumped overboard. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]'') As the [[Second Doctor]] would later say when telling the story to [[Zoe Heriot]] and [[Jamie McCrimmon]], everyone left on deck was exterminated. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Rosemariners (audio story)|The Rosemariners]]'') By another account, the Daleks were followed by [[Peter (Timechase)|Peter]] and [[David (Timechase)|David]], who pushed one Dalek overboard before leaving, unaware that the ship was the ''Marie Celeste''. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Timechase (short story)|Timechase]]'')
 
In a different account, the Second Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe found that the crew of the ''Mary Celeste'' had been abducted by [[Arcturan]]s. The Doctor freed the crew, but they were subsequently killed by a [[sea serpent]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Mystery of the Marie Celeste (short story)|The Mystery of the Marie Celeste]]'')


Another account had it that the Daleks on the ship had actually arrived via a [[human]]-made [[Time-Conveyor]] and they were being pursued by two [[human]] brothers named [[Peter (Timechase)|Peter]] and [[David (Timechase)|David]]. These [[time travel]]lers also left without realising the name of the ship. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Timechase (short story)|Timechase]]'')
[[File:Marie Celest.jpg|thumb|left|The Third Doctor on board the ''Marie Celeste''. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A Stitch in Time (TVA comic story)|A Stitch in Time]]'')]]
[[File:Marie Celest.jpg|thumb|left|The Third Doctor on board the ''Marie Celeste''. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A Stitch in Time (TVA comic story)|A Stitch in Time]]'')]]
 
By another account, the [[Third Doctor]] became involved with the ''Mary Celeste'' when, after landing [[the TARDIS]] on the [[New York City|New York]] docks, the crew mistook it for cargo and loaded it onboard. To regain access to his ship, the Doctor paid for passage on the ''Mary Celeste''. After he showed Professor [[Theodore Cassells]] the TARDIS interior, Cassells fled to the deck and told Captain Briggs what he had seen. However, Briggs misunderstood and thought the TARDIS was a [[time bomb]]. He, Cassells, and the crew left the ''Mary Celeste'' in a lifeboat, which was swamped by a large wave that drowned everyone on it. The Doctor left, unaware of the name of the ship he was on. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A Stitch in Time (TVA comic story)|A Stitch in Time]]'')
Yet a third said that the Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon and Zoe Heriot found that the crew of the ''Mary Celeste'' had been abducted by [[Arcturan]]s. The Doctor freed the crew, but they were all killed by a [[sea serpent]]. Their experience of the ship was different from those of other time travellers on board the vessel, in that they actually knew they were on the ''Celeste''. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Mystery of the Marie Celeste (short story)|The Mystery of the Marie Celeste]]'')
 
A fourth history put the [[Third Doctor]] into the mix. When he landed [[the TARDIS]] on the [[New York City|New York]] docks, the crew of the ''Mary Celeste'' mistook it for cargo and had it loaded on board. To regain access to his ship, the Doctor paid for passage on the ''Mary Celeste''. When he showed Professor [[Theodore Cassells]] the TARDIS interior, he fled from the hold to the deck. When he tried to tell Captain Briggs what he had seen, the Captain Briggs misunderstood and thought the TARDIS was a [[time bomb]]. He, Cassells and the crew left the ''Mary Celeste'' in a lifeboat, which was swamped by a large wave that drowned everyone on it. The Doctor left, unaware of the name of the ship he was on. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[A Stitch in Time (TVA comic story)|A Stitch in Time]]'')


In a story [[Nardole]] related to a group of [[Pict]]s, an [[Enzomodon ambassador]], in an attempt to communicate, [[digestion|digested]] the whole crew of the ''Mary Celeste'' before ultimately choking on a [[lifeboat]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eaters of Light (TV story)|The Eaters of Light]]'')
In a story [[Nardole]] related to a group of [[Pict]]s, an [[Enzomodon ambassador]], in an attempt to communicate, [[digestion|digested]] the whole crew of the ''Mary Celeste'' before ultimately choking on a [[lifeboat]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Eaters of Light (TV story)|The Eaters of Light]]'')

Revision as of 15:07, 16 May 2019

Mary Celeste

The Mary Celeste or Marie Celeste was a ship commanded by Captain Benjamin Briggs. She was famous for her mysterious abandonment at sea in 1872. According to several accounts, the Doctor was involved in the crew's disappearance.

By one account, the Doctor's TARDIS accidentally materialised on the ship while the First Doctor was trying to evade a Dalek time machine. Barbara Wright left the TARDIS to explore the ship but was captured by first mate Albert C. Richardson. She was then rescued by Vicki Pallister, and they returned to the TARDIS with Ian Chesterton, who alone noticed the name of the ship. Richardson witnessed the TARDIS' dematerialisation and reported it to Captain Briggs.

Shortly afterwards, Daleks arrived on the ship in their time machine (TV: The Chase) or, by another account, through a Time-Conveyer. (PROSE: Timechase) With the boatswain identifying the Daleks as the Barbary Terror, the crew – including the captain, his family, Willoughby, and the cabin steward – jumped overboard. (TV: The Chase) As the Second Doctor would later say when telling the story to Zoe Heriot and Jamie McCrimmon, everyone left on deck was exterminated. (AUDIO: The Rosemariners) By another account, the Daleks were followed by Peter and David, who pushed one Dalek overboard before leaving, unaware that the ship was the Marie Celeste. (PROSE: Timechase)

In a different account, the Second Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe found that the crew of the Mary Celeste had been abducted by Arcturans. The Doctor freed the crew, but they were subsequently killed by a sea serpent. (PROSE: The Mystery of the Marie Celeste)

The Third Doctor on board the Marie Celeste. (COMIC: A Stitch in Time)

By another account, the Third Doctor became involved with the Mary Celeste when, after landing the TARDIS on the New York docks, the crew mistook it for cargo and loaded it onboard. To regain access to his ship, the Doctor paid for passage on the Mary Celeste. After he showed Professor Theodore Cassells the TARDIS interior, Cassells fled to the deck and told Captain Briggs what he had seen. However, Briggs misunderstood and thought the TARDIS was a time bomb. He, Cassells, and the crew left the Mary Celeste in a lifeboat, which was swamped by a large wave that drowned everyone on it. The Doctor left, unaware of the name of the ship he was on. (COMIC: A Stitch in Time)

In a story Nardole related to a group of Picts, an Enzomodon ambassador, in an attempt to communicate, digested the whole crew of the Mary Celeste before ultimately choking on a lifeboat. (TV: The Eaters of Light)

The annals of the Silversmiths' Coterie claimed that they were descended from the survivors of the Mary Celeste. (PROSE: The Book of the War)

References made to the ship

The First Doctor, upon finding a deserted spacecraft on Vortis, wondered if the ship was like the Mary Celeste. (PROSE: The Lair of Zarbi Supremo)

The Third Doctor, travelling with Jo Grant, compared the mystery of the S.S. Bernice to that of the Mary Celeste. (TV: Carnival of Monsters)

Tegan Jovanka told Nyssa that Mawdryn's ship was more Mary Celeste than Queen Mary, due to its apparently empty state. (TV: Mawdryn Undead)

Sarah Jane Smith, speaking to Maria Jackson, Luke Smith and Clyde Langer, compared an empty research facility to the Mary Celeste. (TV: The Last Sontaran)

The ship is indirectly referenced by another doomed ship also commanded by a Captain Briggs and lost to arch nemeses of the Doctor. (TV: Earthshock)

The Sixth Doctor mentioned the disappearance of the Mary Celeste to Peri Brown when they visited 1872. (AUDIO: The First Sontarans)

In 2009, a future version of Peri Brown claimed that the Mary Celeste disappearance was caused by Piscons wanting to take over human forms. This was later revealed as simply something she made up. (AUDIO: Peri and the Piscon Paradox)

Sarah Jane Smith asked Harry Sullivan if he also thought the apparently abandoned galleon in space was an "interplanetary Mary Celeste". (PROSE: Avast There!)

Graham Stevens claimed that his grandfather was rescued from the Marie Celeste by a mermaid. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark)

Fitz Kreiner and Sasha found a building that was completely empty. Fitz likened it to the Celeste. (PROSE: History 101)

Martha Jones compared the deserted spaceship Castor to the Mary Celeste. (PROSE: Wooden Heart)

Amy Pond compared an apparently deserted science research centre to the Mary Celeste. The Eleventh Doctor said that he did not want to go through that trouble again. (PROSE: Heart of Stone)

Rory Williams once asked the Doctor if he had anything to do with the mystery of the missing crew of the Mary Celeste to which the Doctor replied, "Not directly. Long story". (PROSE: The Good, the Bad and the Alien)

In 2221, Jo visited an exhibit about the Mary Celeste in Prague. (PROSE: Spoilsport)

Offered a trip in the TARDIS, CJ, a follower of mysteries, suggested visiting the Mary Celeste. This was rejected by the Twelfth Doctor as "boring", already knowing that "that was the Daleks." (PROSE: The Persistence of Memory) In his vault underneath St Luke's University, the Doctor had a sign which had Mary Celeste written on it. (TV: The Pilot)

Behind the scenes

  • In reality, the disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste remains a mystery.
The nameplate of the abandoned ship, identifying it as the Mary Celeste. (TV: The Chase)
  • On the DVD release of The Chase, the production notes commentary indicates that although some feel the nameplate seen in the episode is misspelled, the spelling used is actually correct. Though Mary is technically correct, Marie was popularised when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the first fictional account of the ship and misspelled the name. This account became ubiquitous when some 19th century newspapers mistook Conan Doyle's fiction for fact. Through the years, many fictional accounts have traced their way back to Conan Doyle's original account. The net result has been widespread confusion — as expressed in DCOM: The Chase — over whether Mary or Marie is the correct spelling.
  • Although The Chase is played mostly for laughs, the scene in which the Daleks force the passengers to jump overboard takes on a sombre note as a baby is shown among those falling into the sea, becoming the first baby to presumably die during the course of a televised Doctor Who story.
  • The Marie Celeste is mentioned by the Seventh Doctor in the script for the ultimately unproduced film The Dark Dimension.
  • One possible "game over" for the video game Don't Blink has the player being sent back in time by a Weeping Angel to the year 1872 to die on the Mary Celeste.