Children of Earth: Day Three (TV story)

Children of Earth: Day Three
Script release:	online here
Main character(s):	Jack, Gwen, Ianto, Rhys
Featuring:	Lois, Frobisher, Bridget, Clem, Johnson, Alice, Andy, Trinity, Newsreader
Main enemy:	The 456 ambassador
Main setting:	London and Cardiff, 2009
Key crew
Writers:	Russell T Davies, James Moran
Director:	Euros Lyn
Producer:	Peter Bennett
Release details
Premiere broadcast:	8 July 2009
Premiere network:	BBC One
Format:	1x60 minute episode; Part 3 of 5
Official trailer
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Torchwood
← Previous	Children of Earth: Day Two
Next →	Children of Earth: Day Four

Children of Earth: Day Three was the third episode of Series 3 of Torchwood. It was written by Russell T Davies and James Moran, 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 notably introduced the 456 after the buildup in the previous two episodes. Torchwood Three also established a new temporary base of operations and pilfered a new car to replace their stolen SUV.

Synopsis

The eyes of the world turn to Britain. The 456 announce: "We are here," as the new Torchwood adventure continues. A pillar of fire descends upon London and Torchwood must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. Will Clem's memories destroy everything?

Plot

The team, including Rhys, have set up a base in an old factory once used by Torchwood One for storage. As a former police officer, Gwen knows all the tricks of the criminal trade, including stealing mobile phones, debit cards and laptops from people off the street. Jack makes off with a car. Soon the base is stocked with creature comforts; coffee, electricity, access to the Torchwood server, toiletries, and new clothes for the group, including replacement World War II era apparel for Jack, thanks to an Army Surplus special. When he researches the other people targeted for assassination, Jack is shocked. He seems to recognise them and he runs off.

In Cardiff, Jack's daughter Alice is still trying to contact him; she goes outside and borrows a girl's mobile to phone the Cardiff police, but the government's scanners pick up Jack's name and try to find the connection between them. Agent Johnson gets word of this. Her team take Alice and her son away to "help" them. Suddenly, Steven points southeastwards to London as all the children on Earth are pointing towards London.

A pillar of fire descends from the sky and enters Thames House. Fiery energy fills the gas containment system. John Frobisher and Mr Dekker meet with the aliens, who instruct the humans to call them "456". During the discussion, Frobisher extracts a promise from the 456 that it will not mention its previous visit to Earth in 1965.

Gwen surprises Lois Habiba at a cafe and asks her to wear some special contact lenses to allow Torchwood to see what is going on. Lois protests but takes the contacts. Gwen phones PC Andy to bail Clem McDonald out from police custody and brings him to the base.

Jack sneaks into Frobisher's house and steals his wife's mobile. He phones Frobisher, having made the connection between the children and the events of 1965. He threatens Frobisher with "blow[ing] this thing sky high". Frobisher tells Jack they have taken his daughter and grandson into custody and will kill them if he does. Jack threatens to do the same, but Frobisher knows he would never do such a thing.

That night, Frobisher, Bridget Spears and Lois Habiba enter the gas chamber room, which is being transmitted to a conference room where UNIT, an American general and Brian Green are watching. Frobisher demands the 456 cease using human children to communicate; in return the 456 demand a gift: 10% of the children on Earth.

Back at the warehouse base, Clem tells Gwen he can smell the man who brought the children to the aliens. When Jack walks in, Clem recognises him as the man who gave the twelve children up to the aliens in 1965. When Gwen protests that Jack is a "good guy" who fights aliens, Jack informs them that in this instance, he had done what was asked. He gave the 456 the children... "as a gift."

Cast

• Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
• Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
• Ianto Jones - Gareth David-Lloyd
• Rhys Williams - Kai Owen
• Lois Habiba - Cush Jumbo
• Alice Carter - Lucy Cohu
• Steven Carter - Bear McCausland
• Bridget Spears - Susan Brown
• John Frobisher - Peter Capaldi
• Johnson - Liz May Brice
• Clem McDonald - Paul Copley
• Brian Green PM - Nicholas Farrell
• General Pierce - Colin McFarlane
• Mr Dekker - Ian Gelder
• PC Andy Davidson - Tom Price
• Newsreader - Louise Minchin
• French Newsreader - Anthony Debaeck
• Trinity Wells - Lachele Carl
• Colonel Oduya - Charles Abomeli
• Rhiannon Davies - Katy Wix
• Johnny Davies - Rhodri Lewis
• Anna Frobisher - Hilary Maclean
• Parliamentary Secretary - Rachel Ferjani
• Press Officer - Christopher James
• Operative - Ben Loyd-Holmes
• David Davies - Luke Perry
• Mica Davies - Aimee Davies
• Holly Frobisher - Julia Joyce
• Lilly Frobisher - Madeleine Rakic-Platt
• Sandwich Shop Man - Patrice Etienne
• The 456 - Simon Poland
• Young Clem - Gregory Ferguson

Crew

Executive Producers   Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner

Written by Russell T Davies & James Moran	Produced by Peter Bennett	Directed by Euros Lyn	Director of Photography Rory Taylor	Production Designer Edward Thomas	Visual Effects The Mill
Make-up Designer Marie Doris	Casting Director Andy Pryor CDG	Music Ben Foster	Costume Designer Ray Holman	Edited by John Gillanders	Special Effects Any Effects
Title music by Murray Gold  •  With thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

General production staff Production Executive - Julie Scott Associate Producer - Catrin Lewis Defis Assistant Producer - Brian Minchin Location Manager - Nicky James Assistant Location Manager - Gareth Skelding Unit Manager - Rhys Griffiths Production Co-ordinator - Clare Rutteman Production Secretary - Claire Thomas Drivers - Sean Evans, Wynford Finney Production Accountant - Ceri Tothill A/Production Accountant - Carole Wakefield Script department Camera and lighting department 1st Assistant Director - Steffan Morris 2nd Assistant Director - James DeHaviland 3rd Assistant Director - David Chalstrey Runners - Alison Jones, Nicola Brown, Tom Evans Continuity - Non Eleri Hughes Camera Operators - James Leigh, Alwyn Hughes Focus Pullers - Steve Rees, Jamie Southcott Grip - Clive Baldwin Assistant Grip - Bobby Williams Camera Assistants - Tom Hartley, Jon Vidgen Boom Operator - Jeff Welch Gaffer - Mark Hutchings Best Boy - Steve Slocombe Electricians - Ben Griffiths, Jonathan Cox, Gareth Williams	Art department Supervising Art Director - Stephen Nicholas Production Buyer - Ben Morris Set Decorator - Julian Luxton Props Buyer - Adrian Anscombe Storyboard / Concept Artist - Richard Shaun Williams Concept Artist Trainee - Lee Bryan Graphic Designer - James North Standby Props - Phill Shellard, Jackson Pope Standby Carpenter - Will Pope Standby Art Director - Arwel Wyn Jones Standby Rigger - Keith Freeman Property Master - Stuart Wooddisse Dressing Chargehand - Paul Aitken Dressing Props - Ciaran Thompson Props Driver - Tom Belton Props Dailies - Austin Curtis, Jane Davies, Matt Wild, Rhys Jones Fabrication Manager - Penny Howarth Props Maker - Nick Robatto Construction Manager - Matthew Hywel-Davies Construction Workshop Manager - Mark Hill Construction Chargehand - Scott Fisher Practical Electrician - Albert James Scenic Artists - John Pinkerton, John Whalley, Steve Fudge Graphics - Hywel Roberts, Daniel Rawlings, Alison Jenkins, Louise Hillam, Nicola Rivers Carpenters - Mark Painter, Chris Daniels Costume department Costume Supervisor - Lindsay Bonaccorsi Costume Assistants - Sara Morgan, Gemma Evans	Make-up and prosthetics Make-up Supervisor - Abi Brotherton Make-up Artists - Nel Batt, Hannah Proverbs Make-up Trainee - Catherine Williams Prosthetics - Millennium FX Prosthetics Designer - Neill Gorton Millennium FX Studio Manager - Rob Mayor Millennium FX Coordinator - Kate Walshe Administration - Martina Hawkins Millennium FX Technicians - Martin Rezard, Ivan Manzella, Gustav Hoegen, Henrik Svensson, Kate Smith, Robin Schoonraad, Jimmy Bernadinis, Jill Reeves, Paula Eden, Valentina Visintin, Aris Kolokontes, Vikki Holt, Fiona Walsh, Lauren Wellman, Alexandra Wathey, Ben Brown, Charlie Bluett, Claire Green, Jon Grundon, Lenny Sant Movement Stunt Co-ordinator - Tom Lucy Casting Casting Associate - Andy Brierley General post-production staff Post-production Supervisors - Helen Vallis, Chris Blatchford Assistant Editor - Carmen Sanchez Roberts On-line Editors - Geraint Pari Huws, Matt Mullins Special and visual effects Visual Effects Producer - Marie Jones Visual Effects Supervisor - Barney Curnow On-line Visual Effects Editor - Mark Bright VFX Assistant - Alex Fitzgerald Special Effects Technical Co-Ord - Paul Kelly Special Effects Supervisor - Ben Ashmore Special Effects Floor Supervisor - Danny Hargreaves Special Effects Technicians - Henry Brook, Dan Bentley 3D Supervisor - Nicholas Hernandez 3D Artists - Nick Webber, Mark Wallman, Emily Pearce 2D Supervisor - Murray Barber 2D Artists - Tim Barter, James Etherington Colourist - Jon Everett Sound Sound Recordist - Julian Howarth Dubbing Mixer - Tim Ricketts Sound Supervisor - Doug Sinclair Sound Effects Editor - Howard Eaves Sound Assistant - Bryn Thomas

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

• Clement McDonald is held at a police station on Albany Street in Camden.
• Clem describes Ianto as "queer", which he considers to be highly offensive.
• Jack's lover, Lucia Moretti, is said to have died in October 2006.
• Fishponds, Huxley, Market Harborough, Middlesbrough, Streatham, Watford, Waverley, Caersws and Greenham are located in Britain.
• Alice's maiden name is Sangster.
• Andy fears that the children are heralding the arrival of Godzilla.
• Prior to Agent Johnson's raid on Alice's home, Steven watched the TV series Trapped!.

Story notes

• The footage of the lift going up is the same used in Rose and New Earth.
• Trinity Wells and the French newsreader both make their first appearances in Torchwood and become the only two characters to have also appeared in both Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Ratings

• 5.9 million BBC One viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
• 6.4 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures
• AI of 90%
• 14th most-watched programme in Britain during the week of transmission

Filming locations

to be added

Broadcasts

Date	Time	Channel	Notes
Wednesday 8 July 2009	21:00	BBC One & BBC HD	First broadcast.
Thursday 9 July 2009	00:00	BBC HD
Thursday 9 July 2009	00:15	BBC Three
Friday 31 July 2009	21:00	BBC Three
Saturday 1 August 2009	01:45	BBC Three
Tuesday 4 August 2009	22:00	BBC HD
Monday 29 December 2009	23:30	BBC HD

Production errors

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.

• During the first scene in the warehouse, when Jack "lets slip" he knew about the pregnancy, Gwen mutters, "You promised, John," instead of, "You promised, Jack". This was corrected in home media and streaming releases to "Christ, Jack."
• When Lois Habiba wears the contact lens, she puts them both in the same eye (her left eye).
• The green goo sprayed on the front of the tank disappears and reappears in different shapes several times between shots.
• When Gwen is demonstrating the lenses to Lois, several times she looks in different directions and moves her head, but the display on the laptop doesn't move. Also, when Gwen blinks, the display is unaffected (although the computer program may be able to compensate the blinking).
• When Torchwood accesses the (production mock-up) BBC News website, the word Minister is misspelled as "Minster".
• Torchwood, like many BBC-produced shows in the 21st century including Doctor Who, is shot digitally at 50fps, and a film effect is introduced in post to remove every other frame, creating the illusion of more cinematic 25fps footage. However here are two moments in this episode where the film effect has not been applied to the footage. The first occurs during the high-wide shot of Frobisher addressing the 456, and is subtle enough to miss. The second occurs during the shot of the TV screen showing the news feed in the scene immediately afterwards, as well as close-up shots of the news feed later in the episode (particularly, after Frobisher receives the call about becoming the point-of-contact for the 456, and Jack leaves his daughter's house).
  • Of note, this error is noticeable because the BBC required production houses to provide material in 720p50 for broadcast purposes at the time Children of Earth was produced. The end credits of almost all BBC-produced or commissioned series are seen to scroll at 50fps. This is what allows this error to become apparent - if the material had been output at 25fps, it would go unnoticed.

Continuity

• Lois wears contact lenses with the same abilities as the ones Martha wore while infiltrating [[the Pharm] in the events of TV: Reset ^[+]Loading...["Reset (TV story)"].
• Ianto asks Jack whether he felt being blown up, recalling his second dearth in TV: Children of Earth: Day One ^[+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)"].
• Jack tells Ianto that the Tenth Doctor called him "a fixed point in time and space", a diagnosis he gave in TV: Utopia ^[+]Loading...["Utopia (TV story)"].
• Ianto shows his continued fondness for Jack's coat, something he does several times, like during TV: End of Days ^[+]Loading...["End of Days (TV story)"] and Fragments ^[+]Loading...["Fragments (TV story)"].
• Gwen has taken Torchwood equipment home with her home for "fun", much like how other members of Torchwood Three have, as seen TV: Everything Changes ^[+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"].

Home video releases

• Children of Earth: Day Three was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on 13 July 2009.
• It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)