Time in Office (audio story)
Time in Office was the two hundred and thirtieth story in Big Finish's monthly range.
Publisher's summary
The Doctor's adventures in time and space are over. The Time Lords have recalled him to Gallifrey – but what he faces on his home planet is worse than any trial. Following the disappearance of President Borusa, the High Council condemned him to the highest office - and he can't evade his responsibilities a nanosecond longer...
So all hail the Lord High President! All hail President Doctor!
Rassilon save him. This time, there's really no escape.
Plot
Period of Adjustment
Recalled to Gallifrey to serve the position of Lord President, the Doctor is forced to take the job when he learns that Borusa had manipulated the High Council so that none of the current members have the strength of will to do anything with the role. Tegan is nearly sentenced to have her memory of her time with the Doctor erased, but Leela is able to help find a compromise where Tegan is appointed official Earth Ambassador.
Past Indiscretions
When the Doctor is called upon to attend a ceremonial meeting with a race who were once worshipped as gods, the event is complicated when it is revealed that the Doctor and Leela killed the brother of the appointed ambassador in 18th-century Japan, forcing Tegan to attempt a dangerous temporal paradox to save her friends.
History Repeating
While the Doctor deals with student protestors as he gives a speech at the Academy, another Time Lord attempts to follow the Doctor's example by stealing a TARDIS and travelling with Tegan, but he proves to be incompetent at his attempts to travel.
Architect of Destruction
When the new Citadel is opened, the Doctor is forced to face the question of whether he will remain on Gallifrey to lead a new Time Lord policy of intervention or resume his old travels.
Cast
- The Doctor - Peter Davison
- Tegan - Janet Fielding
- Leela - Louise Jameson
- Castellan Lowri - Sheri-An Davis
- Chancellor Vorena - Julie Teal
- Arcantis - Michael Hobbs
- Crex - Tim Scragg
- Scandrius - Tim Sutton
- Kasnegar - Jenny Lee
References
The Doctor
- The Doctor recalls that John Singer Sargent did a "very good job" with a portrait of him two regenerations ago.
- The Doctor wears the Thimble of Rassilon.
Gallifrey
- The Doctor nicknames a Battle TARDIS a "WARDIS".
- The Doctor is rescued by a TARDIS Type XX, which is referred to as an "emergency model".
- Aliens can escape having their memories forcibly erased by either marrying a Time Lord or assuming a position in the High Council. Tegan escapes a mind-wipe by assuming the role of Earth Ambassador.
- Asked the number of times a Time Lord can regenerate, Tegan believes she is being asked a trick question.
- Tegan is under the belief that the second heart of a Time Lord is only developed upon the first regeneration.
- The Harp of Rassilon no longer stands in the High Council Chamber. It has been replaced with a water feature.
Notes
- This story marks the first appearances of either Leela or Gallifrey in the monthly range since Zagreus in 2003.
- This story is set during a gap that occurs at the end of TV: Frontios, during which the Doctor and Tegan have tricked Gravis into the TARDIS. They have left him on Kolkokron and are now heading back to collect Turlough from Frontios. Other stories set during this gap are the short stories Perfect Day, Keeping It Real, and the audio story Excelis Dawns.
- Much like AUDIO: 1001 Nights in 2012, rather than being a four part story, this release actually four one part stories that have one interconnecting theme.
- The image of Gallifrey on the cover is taken from the television story The End of Time.
Continuity
- The Doctor and Tegan are on their way back to Frontios after leaving Gravis on Kolkokron, explaining why Turlough is not present. (TV: Frontios)
- Leela is still on Gallifrey and is still married to Andred (TV: The Invasion of Time, PROSE: Lungbarrow, AUDIO: Weapon of Choice et al), although he and K9 are currently occupied clearing up the Death Zone.
- When the Time Lords are preparing to erase Tegan's memory of the Doctor, they note that there is a complication due to the time Tegan spent away from the Doctor before rejoining him and Nyssa that she is 'technically' allowed to keep. (TV: Time-Flight, Arc of Infinity)
- Tegan is under the belief that the second heart of a Time Lord is only developed upon the first regeneration, much to Leela's surprise. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask)
- The destroyed Citadel TARDIS enters a time loop while it attempts to fix itself. (TV: The Big Bang)
- The Citadel is being redesigned. Tegan claims that it clashes with the red sky. (TV: The Sound of Drums, Hell Bent et al)
- Among the numerous articles to be worn by the President during inauguration is the Sash of Rassilon. (TV: The Deadly Assassin)
- During his inauguration speech, the Doctor states that his Prydonian privileges were revoked. (TV: Death in Heaven)
- The incident in the Death Zone, orchestrated by former president Lord Borusa, has been hushed up, making Gallifreyans see him more favourably. (TV: The Five Doctors)
- Flavia has retired from her position for reasons unknown. (TV: The Five Doctors, PROSE: The Eight Doctors)
- The Fourth Doctor's time as president was nullified. (TV: The Invasion of Time)
- The Doctor and Leela thwarted an attempt to summon Azal, last of the Dæmons, in 18th century Japan. (TV: The Dæmons)
- The Fifth Doctor mocks Lord Borusa's address to the Master during the Death Zone incident. (TV: The Five Doctors)
- Tegan is taught how to use the fast return switch inside the "WARDIS". (TV: The Edge of Destruction et al)
- Battle TARDISes are much bigger on the outside in comparison to the Doctor's TARDIS. (TV: Hell Bent)
- Tegan mockingly says that the Citadel TARDIS resembles a "giant robot". (TV: Robot)
- Leela does not trust robots, but the Doctor makes her admit that she has a soft spot for K9. (AUDIO: Weapon of Choice et al)
- According to Castellan Lowri, the Battle TARDISes had been left dormant since their encounter with the Dominators. (TV: The Dominators)
- The Doctor's fleeing from office was explained by the Council as him having to attend to other important matters. (TV: The Five Doctors)
- The Doctor reminds Tegan of the use of Block Transfer Computation on Logopolis. (TV: Logopolis)
- Seeing the Doctor fit on the Belt of Omega, Tegan jokes that Omega must have tried to steal his body because he was jealous. (TV: Arc of Infinity)
- Facing a Time Lord depiction of himself as President, the Doctor is worried it might fall on him, noting that "being crushed by an enormous statue of yourself would be a very silly way to die." (TV: Revelation of the Daleks)
- Entering the new courtroom, the Doctor suggests that his last trial may have been a more pleasant experience had it been in here. Vorena tells the Doctor that he gave a good speech. (TV: The War Games)
External links
- Official Time in Office page at bigfinish.com
