Rhubarb (audio story)
Rhubarb was the first story in The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield audio anthology The Eternity Club 2, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Tim Foley and featured Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield.
Publisher's summary
A small argument between a Sontaran and a Draconian escalates into an interstellar war. Who is manipulating events and can Bernice Summerfield avert disaster?
Plot
Secretary Pym tells Benny how Starll and Professor Altazar were playing war games with Draconian miniatures when Altazar started repeatedly and inexplicably saying the word "rhubarb". As babbling is seen is an insult to Sontarans, Starll was greatly offended and Pym tasks Benny with resolving the situation to ensure that there is no animosity in the Eternity Club. She looks for the pair in the walled garden, where she promises Derek that she will fetch his spray as soon as she has completed her task, and finds Altazar in his rooms, celebrating the fact that he has successfully convinced the ex-Commissioner of Dralos to petition for the Draconians to declare war on Sontar. Although he does not realise it, he replaces several of his words with "rhubarb" and threatens war against Earth when Benny tries to point it out.
Whilst talking to Geren about the mysterious beekeeper in the walled garden, Benny catches Starll on his way to Altazar with bubble bath to help him relax ahead of the imminent war between Sontar and Draconia and finds that he has started saying "rhubarb" as well. Geren gossips about this to Grizella and soon she and 312 are also saying "rhubarb".
to be completed
Cast
- Bernice Summerfield - Lisa Bowerman
- Secretary Pym - Nickolas Grace
- Starll - Dan Starkey
- Grizella - Naana Agyei-Ampadu
- Professor Altazar - Shai Matheson
- The Suspension of Geren - Victoria Gee
- Derek - Derek Elroy
Worldbuilding
- Starll and Altazar play with Draconian miniatures in the billiards room.
- Balzani Lizards are not carnivorous.
- Sontaran dice have the maximum score on every side, so Starll and Altazar play with Draconian dice.
- Altazar listens to Draconian song cylinders, which Benny claims he has promised to show to her.
- Altazar wears a kimono.
- Altazar speaks with the Ex-Commissioner of Dralos.
- Altazar has a copy of Down Among the Dead Men and has annotated it. Some of the notes are angry.
- Altazar throws darts at a picture of Benny.
- Altazar claims that Draconians do not get sick.
- Starll takes lavender-scented bubble bath for Altazar.
- Geren goes to speak with Grizella after Starll starts saying "rhubarb".
- The Contessa has been drinking soap.
Notes
- Rhubarb was recorded at the Soundhouse on 4 October 2023.
Continuity
to be added
External links
- Official Rhubarb page at bigfinish.com
Footnotes
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