The Clockwise Man (novel): Difference between revisions
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Chapter Sixteen: | Chapter Sixteen: | ||
' | The Doctor and his companions encounter a mechanical cat, which breaks apart, revealing its intricate clockwork design. The Doctor tries to repair it while Freddie, a young boy, expresses surprise upon learning it's a toy. The group, including characters Repple and Melissa, seek entry to a stairwell but find the door securely locked. | ||
Searching for another entrance, the Doctor spots a narrow window high up in the clock tower. They decide to climb, with Freddie being small enough to fit through the window. Despite concerns about safety and a metal mesh covering the window, Freddie bravely proceeds through with assistance from the Doctor and Repple. | |||
Once inside, Freddie's efforts to unlock the door for the others fail. Meanwhile, the Doctor continues his work on the mechanical cat, aiming to use its laser eyes to cut through the lock. Freddie then hears and approaches the voices of Rose and Wyse, the antagonist, inside the tower. Wyse has captured Rose and is using the clock tower for a mysterious and potentially dangerous plan. | |||
The Doctor successfully opens the door with the repaired cat, but Wyse takes Rose and Freddie hostage, threatening to activate his plan. A standoff ensues, with the Doctor, Repple, and Melissa trying to negotiate with Wyse, who remains defiant. The chapter concludes with Freddie revealing that his blood doesn't clot easily, making his situation more precarious. | |||
Chapter Seventeen | |||
Wyse engages in a shootout with Melissa and Repple on the stair landing. Melissa is injured, and Repple is shot but unhurt due to his mechanical nature. Wyse flees, pursued by Melissa and a Mechanical. The Doctor confronts Wyse in a clock face gallery, leading to a tense standoff. | |||
Wyse traps the Doctor in a precarious position outside the clock, but the Doctor is saved by Repple. Together, they aim to stop Wyse and his mechanism. Meanwhile, Rose desperately tries to save Freddie, who is severely injured and bleeding heavily due to hemophilia. She needs the Doctor's sonic screwdriver to cauterize Freddie's wound. | |||
The Doctor battles Wyse in the belfry, where Wyse has rigged a mechanism to trigger a catastrophic event at the stroke of Big Ben. Melissa, having removed her mask, revealing her face, attempts to disconnect the mechanism. The Doctor entrusts her with the task and fights Wyse. | |||
Rose, having obtained the sonic screwdriver from Melissa, rushes to save Freddie, but Wyse throws the screwdriver into the heart of the clock's mechanism. In a desperate move, Rose throws herself into the mechanism to retrieve it, putting herself in grave danger. | |||
Chapter Eighteen: | |||
The Mechanical, having exhausted its ammunition, fails to stop Wyse, who then races back up the stairs. The Doctor urges the Mechanical to help save Rose and jam the cogwheel. Repple steps in heroically, sacrificing his arm to stop the machinery and save Rose, revealing his mechanical nature in the process. | |||
Rose, freed from the machinery with the sonic screwdriver, finds Freddie missing. The Doctor and Melissa, in the belfry, confront Wyse, who now holds Freddie at gunpoint. Wyse threatens to kill Freddie and reveals that the mechanism below has started up again. Repple, with the help of the Mechanical, tries to halt the mechanism, but the Mechanical sacrifices itself to stop it, causing a massive breakdown. | |||
In the belfry, Wyse, enraged by the failure of his plan, turns the gun on the Doctor. Rose intervenes, leading to a chaotic struggle where Freddie bravely pushes Wyse towards the edge of the tower. Wyse regains control, threatening Rose and Freddie, but the Doctor, seeing an opportunity, uses the mechanical cat to attack Wyse. The cat latches onto Wyse, causing him to lose his balance and fall off the tower to his death, with the cat declaring victory as they plummet. | |||
Chapter Nineteen: | |||
Melissa, despite her apparent lack of emotion, shows a hint of regret over the loss of her Mechanical crew. The Doctor reveals he had a backup plan involving Melissa's ship to stop Wyse, which was ultimately unnecessary. | |||
Melissa departs Earth, her mission complete, leaving behind mixed feelings. The group watches her ship depart from the Thames, disappearing into the night sky. The Doctor, Rose, and Repple then visit Sir George to inform him about Freddie's bravery and his condition. Sir George expresses his gratitude and hope for Freddie's recovery. The scene is emotional, particularly for Rose, as they discuss Freddie's heroism and the impact of the events on his family. | |||
Repple, now with a mechanical arm provided by the Doctor, reflects on his identity and his future. Despite his mechanical nature, he seems content to stay on Earth, the only home he knows. Rose and the Doctor depart in the TARDIS, leaving Repple behind. Repple stands alone, accompanied only by the ticking that reminds him of his true nature, and a black cat with emerald eyes. Repple walks onwards, starting a new chapter of his life on Earth. | |||
* [[Ninth Doctor]] | * [[Ninth Doctor]] | ||
* [[Rose Tyler]] | * [[Rose Tyler]] | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 5 January 2024
The Clockwise Man was the first novel in the BBC New Series Adventures series. It was written by Justin Richards and featured the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler.
Publisher's summary
In 1920s London, the Doctor and Rose find themselves caught up in the hunt for a mysterious murderer. But not everything is what it seems. Secrets lie behind locked doors and inhuman killers roam the streets.
Who is the Painted Lady and why is she so interested in the Doctor? How can a cat return from the dead? Can anyone be trusted to tell — or even to know — the truth?
With the faceless killers closing in, the Doctor and Rose must solve the mystery of the Clockwise Man before London itself is destroyed...
Plot
Prologue:
In the shadow of the Crystal Palace, footman Peter Dickson reminisces about his mother's superstitions regarding black cats. He encounters a mysterious black cat with a white patch under its chin, dismissing old tales as he readies himself for the guests at The Great Exhibition.
Inside the TARDIS, Rose Tyler and the Ninth Doctor prepare for their journey to the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. Rose questions the authenticity of her 1920s attire, while the Doctor remains engrossed in TARDIS controls.
The Doctor and Rose materialize in a seemingly ordinary scrapyard in London. Simultaneously, Peter is drawn towards an eerie, mechanical sound emanating from Gibson's Yard, unaware of the lurking danger.
As Peter stands on the brink of an encounter with an enigmatic mechanical menace, the Doctor and Rose intervene, revealing themselves and saving Peter from potential harm. They find themselves at the center of an unfolding mystery.
Chapter One:
Rose sustains minor injuries during the encounter. They discover that Dickson, a servant at Sir George Harding's residence, was attacked after hearing unusual noises and questioned about an upcoming event and its guests.
Upon returning Dickson to the Harding household, Rose and the Doctor meet Sir George and his wife Anna Harding, along with various guests including Colonel Oblonsky, Lord Chitterington, and Anna's relatives, Count Alexander and Countess Nadia Koznyshev. Freddie, Anna's son, secretly guides Rose through hidden passageways to overhear a conversation in the library. They learn of a mysterious "noble cause" and a boy's plight, discussed by Sir George, Repple, and Major Aske.
Rose, after rejoining the guests and making brief introductions, senses a tense atmosphere, feeling that the presence of her and the Doctor is inhibiting the guests. Deciding to leave, they find the gates locked again. Upon unlocking them, they face a shocking realization: the TARDIS has vanished, presumably stolen by the same entity responsible for attacking Dickson.
Chapter Two:
Rose The Ninth Doctor spend considerable time searching the misty, damp streets of London for the missing TARDIS, without success. They speculate about the connection between the TARDIS' disappearance and the attack on Peter Dickson. Eventually, they decide to return to Sir George Harding's house, suspecting a link to the unfolding events.
Upon their return, they meet a new guest, Melissa Heart, known as the Painted Lady, who arrives in a flamboyant manner, wearing a butterfly mask. Dinner at Sir George's house is in progress, with some guests already departed. The Doctor and Rose join the remaining guests, including Melissa, Colonel Oblonsky, Repple, and Major Aske.
The Doctor probes into the reason for their gathering, leading to a revelation about a conspiracy involving Russian expatriates. They discuss restoring a monarchy, with a focus on Freddie, who is revealed to be the rightful Tsar of Russia. The group's plan is to reinstate Freddie to the Russian throne, a cause supported by Repple, who hopes to reclaim his own lost throne in Dastaria.
The evening progresses with discussions about the group's aspirations and the challenges they face. Rose questions Melissa about her reasons for joining the group, to which Melissa replies about the excitement and her social connections in London. Melissa then departs, and the conversation continues in the drawing room, where the group acknowledges the long and challenging journey ahead in their endeavor.
As the night winds down, a mysterious ticking noise captures the Doctor's attention, a sound Dickson recognizes from his attack. The Doctor investigates, but finds nothing immediately.
Chapter Three:
The Doctor and Rose Tyler, accompanied by Edward Repple and Major Aske, arrive at the Imperial Club, a gathering place for dispossessed European nobility. The Doctor is particularly concerned about his missing jacket, which contains his sonic screwdriver. At the club, they meet Lord Wyse, who informally manages the place. Wyse invites them to join him, and they notice a cat with distinctive fur markings.
They discuss the club's role and history, especially its connection to the aftermath of World War I. Lord Wyse then helps them arrange accommodations at the club. They are advised to be quiet as their rooms are located beneath the quarters of Mr. Pooter, the club's benefactor.
A significant revelation emerges when Major Aske confesses that he is not an actual major but a doctor specializing in psychology. He explains that Edward Repple, who claims to be the exiled ruler of Dastaria, is living a delusion. Repple began to believe he was the Elector of Dastaria, a fictional role, after an incident at a pageant, and Aske has been supporting this belief to avoid disrupting his mental state.
Later, Repple visits the Doctor and Rose in private, claiming to be a prisoner under Aske's watch. He expresses a desire to escape and return to his country, although he admits Dastaria does not exist. The encounter leaves the Doctor and Rose questioning the true nature of Repple's situation, especially when they notice the cat's fur pattern resembles a flag mentioned by Repple. The evening concludes and Rose and the Doctor decide to rest before tackling the mystery further.
Chapter Four:
On an icy morning in London, the Ninth Doctor gazes out of his window at the iconic skyline, contemplating the city's historical landmarks. He's particularly fixated on the absence of the Millennium Wheel and the enduring presence of Big Ben and Tower Bridge.
Meanwhile, Rose Tyler is woken up by a maid named Beth, who enters to make up the room. Despite being startled, Rose engages Beth in a conversation, learning about her life and the current state of London. Beth reveals rumors of attacks on service staff in the area, which deeply concerns Rose, especially considering the recent events they've witnessed.
The Doctor, who hasn't slept, joins Rose for breakfast in the club's paneled room, where he's playing chess with Lord Wyse. They discuss the recent attacks in London, and Wyse shares that several staff members in service have been targeted. The conversation leads to speculation about the motives behind these attacks.
During breakfast, Melissa Heart, the enigmatic lady they met the previous night, arrives with the Doctor's missing jacket. She hints at knowing more than she reveals, and there's a tense exchange between her, the Doctor, and Rose. The Doctor retrieves his sonic screwdriver from the jacket, confirming that everything is intact.
After Melissa departs, Rose and the Doctor discuss the odd circumstances surrounding the jacket's return and Melissa's involvement. They ponder over the possibility that Melissa might not have obtained the jacket from Sir George or his wife as she claimed.
The chapter ends with Melissa Heart in a car with a blank-faced companion, discussing the need for absolute certainty in their mysterious mission. She mentions a maid named Beth, who might have valuable information. The chapter closes with the sound of the companion's mechanical ticking, reminiscent of a clock.
Chapter Five:
In the brisk morning air, Lord Wyse enjoys a walk through London but is shaken when he discovers the body of Beth, the maid, in an alley behind the Imperial Club. The scene is distressing, with Beth's throat brutally crushed. Wyse immediately calls for help and insists that the Ninth Doctor be informed about the incident.
The Doctor and Rose Tyler, still at the club, are informed about the tragedy. The Doctor, despite not being a medical doctor, confirms the severity of Beth's injuries and the similarity to the attack on Peter Dickson the previous night. Wyse, visibly disturbed by the incident, emphasizes the urgency of stopping the perpetrator. Rose suggests involving the police, but Wyse doubts their effectiveness.
The Doctor, Rose, and Wyse discuss the situation, with the Doctor asserting the need to be proactive and proposing a visit to the British Empire Exhibition as a distraction for Rose. Despite Rose's initial reluctance, she agrees to go. They also consider inviting Freddie, the young boy they met at Sir George's house.
Upon visiting Sir George's residence, they interact with Dickson, who appears unaffected by the previous night's events. Freddie, intrigued by the visit, descends the stairs unaided, revealing his mobility challenges. He joins the Doctor and Rose, and they discuss his lineage as the potential Tsar of Russia, a fact Freddie seems only vaguely aware of.
Anna, Freddie's mother, enters and, after a brief discussion, agrees to let Freddie accompany the Doctor and Rose in the car to the Exhibition, though she insists on his immediate return afterward. Rose reflects on the situation, likening Freddie to a sheltered child from her time.
The journey to the Exhibition is an eye-opener for Rose, who observes the stark differences in the London of 1924. Freddie enjoys the car ride but becomes quiet as the novelty wears off. The Doctor and Rose discuss the impact of World War I and the Spanish flu on the population and the tragic history of the Romanov family.
At the Exhibition, they explore various pavilions representing the British Empire's colonies and dominions. Rose is both bored and fascinated by the displays, which range from cultural exhibits to sideshows. The Doctor and Rose share a moment reflecting on historical tragedies and their lasting memories.
Rose and the Doctor visit a children's amusement park, followed by the newly built Empire Stadium, known in Rose's time as Wembley Stadium. The Doctor hints at the need to address the mystery of the TARDIS's disappearance.
Chapter Six:
In the evening, Ronald Cheshunt and Matty Black, two intruders, prepare to break into the Imperial Club. They discuss their mission, which involves searching for information about the Doctor and Rose Tyler. They are tasked with finding their rooms, checking their belongings, and gathering information about their registration as guests or members, among other details. Their mysterious employer emphasizes the need for secrecy.
As they enter the club, they hear voices and discover two men playing a game in one of the rooms. A black cat with a white patch on its front is also present. Startled, the cat attacks them, leading to a commotion. They manage to escape the room but are pursued by the men from the club.
Outside, in an attempt to get rid of the cat, one of the intruders throws it into the river Thames. Rose Tyler, a member of the club, witnesses this cruel act and is deeply affected. Back at the club, she joins the Doctor and other members who were disturbed by the commotion. They are surprised to find a similar black cat in the room, now sitting calmly on the sofa.
Chapter Seven:
The Doctor finds joy in the cold weather, playfully splashing puddles and even slipping on ice. They had spent the night with Wyse, a fellow club member, discussing their mysterious situation. Wyse, who had served in the trenches during the war, shares his experiences with the Doctor.
As they chat, the Doctor and Wyse bond over their shared history as soldiers and their unique outlook on life. Wyse observes the Doctor's enthusiasm for life amidst the ennui and mentions his own experiences as a captain during the war.
The Doctor and Rose decide to investigate Melissa Heart, who they suspect has some connection to their predicament. They head to Sir George's house, where they believe the Doctor's lost coat might provide some clues. Dickson, the head steward, greets them and informs Sir George of their visit.
Freddie, Sir George's son, is excited to see the Doctor and asks him about their recent visit to the British Empire Exhibition. Freddie eagerly listens as the Doctor describes their experiences. Afterward, the Doctor asks Freddie about the coat and learns that the mysterious "Painted Lady" had it during the dinner party.
Freddie describes how he had watched the Painted Lady's actions from the landing, including her interest in a silver rod, which turns out to be the Doctor's sonic screwdriver. The Doctor reassures Freddie and asks him to keep an eye out for anything unusual.
Meanwhile, Rose investigates the club and tries to find out more about Mr. Pooter, a mysterious figure in the club who may be connected to their predicament. She learns about a trustees' meeting and suspects that the intruders might have targeted Mr. Pooter's room.
To gather more information, Rose decides to check the fire escape and inadvertently witnesses the trustees' meeting through a window. She sees Mr. Pooter with a white-faced cat on his lap and hears snippets of their conversation.
Back at the club, the Doctor returns, and Rose informs him about her observations. They decide to confront Melissa Heart about the missing coat and the strange events surrounding them. They pay her a visit, and Melissa cryptically alludes to her intentions, leaving them on edge. Melissa mentions the Doctor's uniqueness and hints at her purpose, leading to a tense standoff. Suddenly, a suit of armor within the room comes to life and threatens them, leaving the Doctor and Rose in a perilous situation.
The ticking of gears within the armor fills the room, and the Doctor and Rose must find a way to escape its menacing advance.
Chapter Eight:
The Doctor and Rose are confronted by Melissa Heart, who has unleashed her clockwork automatons on them. The Doctor and Rose try to evade the knights in armor while learning that Melissa is after someone other than the Doctor, though she mistakenly believes he is the target. They narrowly escape by jumping out of a window with the help of a boy named Freddie.
Back at the Imperial Club, the Doctor and Rose make plans to warn the other guests and prepare for Melissa's imminent attack. Rose is tasked with finding Mr. Pooter, a reclusive character hiding in the club, while the Doctor talks to Wyse. Meanwhile, Rose encounters a strange cat with glowing red eyes that shoots deadly beams of energy at her.
Chapter Nine:
The Doctor recounts the situation to the remaining staff and guests at the Imperial Club, explaining the threat of clockwork assassins sent by the Painted Lady. Most of the guests and staff members choose not to get involved in the impending danger, including Wyse, who has a prior engagement playing chess on Wednesdays.
Meanwhile, Rose is attacked by the clockwork cat in Mr. Pooter's rooms but manages to defeat it by breaking it apart to reveal its clockwork interior.
As night falls, Wyse leaves the club and is unknowingly followed by the clockwork knights, who are wearing suits of medieval armor and display mechanical movements and ticking sounds.
The Doctor, Rose, and a few others remain at the club, preparing for the impending confrontation with the clockwork assassins.
Chapter Ten:
The Doctor and Rose, along with Repple and Aske, discover a hidden control room in the Imperial Club. The room is filled with advanced technology, including a control console and clockwork cats used for surveillance. The Doctor tries to disable the console but finds that Melissa Heart has removed the battery from his sonic screwdriver, rendering it useless.
As they explore the room, the clockwork knights find their location and approach. The Doctor tries to disconnect the power source to the control console, but Melissa Heart arrives with Freddie, whom she has taken captive. The knights hold Freddie hostage, and Melissa demands that the Doctor drop a live cable he is using as a makeshift weapon.
Chapter Eleven:
Aske and Repple engage in a heated argument about Repple's true identity, with Repple claiming to be Shade Vassily and Aske dismissing his claim as a delusion. Melissa Heart continues to assert that the Doctor is the target she's been searching for, while the Doctor denies being Shade Vassily.
The situation takes a deadly turn when Aske reveals another weapon similar to Melissa's and points it at her. In response, one of the clockwork knights swiftly throws a blade, mortally wounding Aske. Repple finally steps forward, claiming to be Shade Vassily, and Aske succumbs to his injuries.
Melissa Heart removes her mask, revealing her disfigured face, explaining that her transformation went terribly wrong despite advanced technology. Rose, the Doctor, and their companions are left stunned by the revelation.
Chapter Twelve:
Crowther, Rose, and Freddie attempt to escape the pursuing metal knight by running through the corridors of the Imperial Club. They are joined by two elderly men, Ranskil and Coleridge, who help them barricade the knight behind a plank of wood. Meanwhile, back in the Bastile Room, Melissa Heart uses a concealed weapon to fatally injure Wensleydale, who was trying to protect the Doctor. As Crowther and the others escape through a window and down a fire escape, Melissa Heart, her remaining Mechanical, and Repple discuss their plans. Melissa intends to take the Doctor and Repple back to her ship for a trial, labeling them both as responsible for various crimes.
Chapter Thirteen:
The Doctor and Repple find themselves confined in a glass-walled chamber that connects Melissa Heart's house to her concealed spaceship on the riverbed of the Thames. The Doctor suspects that Repple is not who he claims to be, and he finally reveals Repple's true nature as a Mechanical. Repple struggles with his identity crisis, and the Doctor tries to convince him to help deal with the threat of the real Shade Vassily.
As they contemplate their situation, the Doctor realizes that Repple's mechanical nature may have a hidden weakness. He encourages Repple to use his head – quite literally – to break through the glass wall. Repple follows the Doctor's instructions, smashing the glass and allowing the water from the Thames to flood into the chamber.
With the chamber filling rapidly, the Doctor and Repple are carried away by the surging water, heading back toward Melissa Heart's house. However, as they are battered by the water and lose consciousness.
Chapter Fourteen:
Rose returns to Sir George's home with Freddie and is concerned about his safety. She learns that Freddie's mother, Anna, hasn't seen him, leading to worry and frustration for Sir George. Rose, however, is determined to find Wyse and leaves the house to search for him. She hopes to locate Ben, a friend of Wyse's, who might have information about his whereabouts. She sets off towards the Victoria Embankment, leaving Freddie and the others behind.
As Rose walks along the Embankment, she becomes aware of someone possibly following her but dismisses the idea as mere paranoia. Soon, she notices a limping cat with a damaged mechanism, likely caused by the AI system's destruction. The cat seems to be purposefully heading somewhere, and Rose decides to follow it, hoping it might lead her to Wyse.
Meanwhile, Freddie is covertly following Rose and observes her actions from the shadows. He remains cautious about revealing himself, believing that Rose will eventually return him home, and he can then help her and the Doctor in their mission.
Back at Sir George's house, Anna is distraught over Freddie's absence, and Sir George comforts her while wondering about his son's actions.
The Doctor and Repple, having survived the flood and escaped from Melissa's house, engage in a discussion about the true identity of Shade Vassily. The Doctor suspects that the real Vassily is hiding and may be Mr. Pooter, despite the deceptive appearance of an unassuming figure. They realize that if Vassily manages to energize the Thames with hydrogen, it could lead to a catastrophic firestorm due to ozone fallout, threatening all of London.
Chapter Fifteen:
Rose follows a limping cat, which leads her to a wooden door with a sign that reads "The Clock Tower." The cat hisses at Rose, but she picks it up and notices that it's cold and hard, far from the characteristics of a real cat. Suddenly, the door to the clock tower opens, revealing a figure in the doorway who takes the cat from Rose. It's Wyse, who cradles the cat and comments on its condition.
Wyse invites Rose to follow him into the clock tower, and she complies. As they ascend the tower, Wyse explains the mechanics and purpose of the machinery inside, which is part of his grand plan. He reveals that he is, in fact, Mr. Pooter, the owner of the Imperial Club, and that he's using the clock tower to activate a spaceship to escape from Earth. Wyse offers Rose a chance to come with him, but she declines.
Rose eventually realizes that she has been locked inside the clock tower with Wyse, and she tries to open the door, but it's locked. Wyse explains that he's using the clock's power to energize the water molecules in the River Thames, which will lead to a catastrophic firestorm, burning London to the ground. He casually mentions that this will be an unfortunate side effect of his escape plan.
Meanwhile, the Doctor, Repple, and Melissa are searching for Rose and Wyse. They encounter Freddie, who informs them that Rose is trapped in Big Ben's clock tower with a man. Freddie is distressed and worried about Rose's safety, and he leads the Doctor and the others to the clock tower.
Chapter Sixteen:
The Doctor and his companions encounter a mechanical cat, which breaks apart, revealing its intricate clockwork design. The Doctor tries to repair it while Freddie, a young boy, expresses surprise upon learning it's a toy. The group, including characters Repple and Melissa, seek entry to a stairwell but find the door securely locked.
Searching for another entrance, the Doctor spots a narrow window high up in the clock tower. They decide to climb, with Freddie being small enough to fit through the window. Despite concerns about safety and a metal mesh covering the window, Freddie bravely proceeds through with assistance from the Doctor and Repple.
Once inside, Freddie's efforts to unlock the door for the others fail. Meanwhile, the Doctor continues his work on the mechanical cat, aiming to use its laser eyes to cut through the lock. Freddie then hears and approaches the voices of Rose and Wyse, the antagonist, inside the tower. Wyse has captured Rose and is using the clock tower for a mysterious and potentially dangerous plan.
The Doctor successfully opens the door with the repaired cat, but Wyse takes Rose and Freddie hostage, threatening to activate his plan. A standoff ensues, with the Doctor, Repple, and Melissa trying to negotiate with Wyse, who remains defiant. The chapter concludes with Freddie revealing that his blood doesn't clot easily, making his situation more precarious.
Chapter Seventeen
Wyse engages in a shootout with Melissa and Repple on the stair landing. Melissa is injured, and Repple is shot but unhurt due to his mechanical nature. Wyse flees, pursued by Melissa and a Mechanical. The Doctor confronts Wyse in a clock face gallery, leading to a tense standoff.
Wyse traps the Doctor in a precarious position outside the clock, but the Doctor is saved by Repple. Together, they aim to stop Wyse and his mechanism. Meanwhile, Rose desperately tries to save Freddie, who is severely injured and bleeding heavily due to hemophilia. She needs the Doctor's sonic screwdriver to cauterize Freddie's wound.
The Doctor battles Wyse in the belfry, where Wyse has rigged a mechanism to trigger a catastrophic event at the stroke of Big Ben. Melissa, having removed her mask, revealing her face, attempts to disconnect the mechanism. The Doctor entrusts her with the task and fights Wyse.
Rose, having obtained the sonic screwdriver from Melissa, rushes to save Freddie, but Wyse throws the screwdriver into the heart of the clock's mechanism. In a desperate move, Rose throws herself into the mechanism to retrieve it, putting herself in grave danger.
Chapter Eighteen:
The Mechanical, having exhausted its ammunition, fails to stop Wyse, who then races back up the stairs. The Doctor urges the Mechanical to help save Rose and jam the cogwheel. Repple steps in heroically, sacrificing his arm to stop the machinery and save Rose, revealing his mechanical nature in the process.
Rose, freed from the machinery with the sonic screwdriver, finds Freddie missing. The Doctor and Melissa, in the belfry, confront Wyse, who now holds Freddie at gunpoint. Wyse threatens to kill Freddie and reveals that the mechanism below has started up again. Repple, with the help of the Mechanical, tries to halt the mechanism, but the Mechanical sacrifices itself to stop it, causing a massive breakdown.
In the belfry, Wyse, enraged by the failure of his plan, turns the gun on the Doctor. Rose intervenes, leading to a chaotic struggle where Freddie bravely pushes Wyse towards the edge of the tower. Wyse regains control, threatening Rose and Freddie, but the Doctor, seeing an opportunity, uses the mechanical cat to attack Wyse. The cat latches onto Wyse, causing him to lose his balance and fall off the tower to his death, with the cat declaring victory as they plummet.
Chapter Nineteen:
Melissa, despite her apparent lack of emotion, shows a hint of regret over the loss of her Mechanical crew. The Doctor reveals he had a backup plan involving Melissa's ship to stop Wyse, which was ultimately unnecessary.
Melissa departs Earth, her mission complete, leaving behind mixed feelings. The group watches her ship depart from the Thames, disappearing into the night sky. The Doctor, Rose, and Repple then visit Sir George to inform him about Freddie's bravery and his condition. Sir George expresses his gratitude and hope for Freddie's recovery. The scene is emotional, particularly for Rose, as they discuss Freddie's heroism and the impact of the events on his family.
Repple, now with a mechanical arm provided by the Doctor, reflects on his identity and his future. Despite his mechanical nature, he seems content to stay on Earth, the only home he knows. Rose and the Doctor depart in the TARDIS, leaving Repple behind. Repple stands alone, accompanied only by the ticking that reminds him of his true nature, and a black cat with emerald eyes. Repple walks onwards, starting a new chapter of his life on Earth.
- Ninth Doctor
- Rose Tyler
- Shade Vassily
- Sir George Harding
- Peter Dickson
- Lady Anna
- Freddie
- Edward Repple
- Aske
- Melissa Heart
- Crowther
- Colonel Oblonsky
- Beth
- Matty Black
- Ronald Cheshunt
- Count Alexander Koznyshev
- Countess Nadia Koznyshev
- Lord Chitterington
- Wensleydale
- Ranskill
- Coleridge
- Dilys
Worldbuilding
- The Doctor and Rose are accused of turning up "like a Bad Wolf".
- Wagner and Tchaikovsky are mentioned.
- Shakespearean characters Hamlet, Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are mentioned.
- The Doctor guesses that the grapes in Sir George Harding's 1921 claret came from a small vineyard just outside Briançon.
Food and Beverages
- The Doctor appreciatively drinks 1921 claret at Sir George's house and later drinks brandy with Wyse.
- Rose has bacon and eggs for breakfast at the Imperial Club.
Technology
- Wyse's ship runs on ion cells that require hydrogen extraction. Hence a large hydrogen supply is needed. One possible way is to ionize water.
Notes
- As the first novel in the BBC New Series Adventures line, this book ushered in a new publication format for BBC Books. It released exclusively this and all future New Series Adventures featuring the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, as well as BBC Torchwood novels in hardcover format. The Quick Reads novellas were paperback releases and some limited-edition promotional paperback issues of Ninth and Tenth Doctor books would occur outside the UK. The Clockwise Man is the first Doctor Who novel to be released in hardcover since Target Books discontinued hardcover editions of its novelisations in the 1980s. It is the first original Doctor Who novel ever issued in the format.
- Later reprints of this book removed the image of Billie Piper from the cover.
- This story was also released as an ebook available from the Amazon Kindle store.
Continuity
- Clockwork men also appear with the Tenth Doctor in TV: The Girl in the Fireplace, the Eighth Doctor in PROSE: Anachrophobia and AUDIO: Time Works, the Second Doctor in TV: The Mind Robber, and the Twelfth Doctor in TV: Deep Breath.
- There is a mention of Rose "dressing up" while the Doctor only has a "new shirt". (TV: The Unquiet Dead)
- Rose has a conversation with one of the servants in the Imperial Club, who makes her think of Gwyneth in TV: The Unquiet Dead.
- In the club, the Doctor looks at a painting of the French Revolution and says, "That's not right." In the first episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan Foreman, reads a book about the French Revolution and says the same words.
- The Doctor mentions to Rose at the end of the Season 2 episode TV: Tooth and Claw that Queen Victoria's descendants suffered from a condition called Haemophilia. This was also mentioned when the Doctor and Rose visit the British Empire Exhibition.
- The Doctor mentions his second regeneration and his exile to Earth. (TV: The War Games, Spearhead from Space)
- Both the Doctor and Rose note the absence of the London Eye in 1924 and recall their adventure in the area. (TV: Rose)
Additional cover images
Alternate cover without Rose
Editions published outside Britain
- Published in Finland by WSOY in 2006 as a hardback edition.
- Published in Denmark by DR in 2006 as a hardback edition.
- Published in the Netherlands by Memphis Belle in 2006 as a hardback edition.
Finnish edition
Danish edition
Dutch edition
Audiobook
- This novel was released as an audiobook in November 2007 by the RNIB and read by Glen McCready.
- This novel was released again as an audiobook in June 2012 by BBC Audio and read by Nicholas Briggs. The audiobook was exclusive to the AudioGo website before the company went into administration.
Audiobook cover
External links
- Official The Clockwise Man page at Penguin Books
- The Clockwise Man at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Discontinuity Guide to: The Clockwise Man at The Whoniverse
- The Cloister Library: The Clockwise Man
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