The Destructive Quality of Life (audio story)
The Destructive Quality of Life was the fourth and final story of the audio anthology Charlotte Pollard: Series Two. It was written by Nicholas Briggs and featured India Fisher as Charlotte Pollard, James Joyce as Robert Buchan and Dan Starkey as Bertram.
Publisher's summary
Marooned on an alien world, a 'concentration camp' in Slough, messaging through space and time.
Plot
Charley, Robert and Bertram find themselves tied upside down in sticky tapes not unlike a spider web at a high altitude above an alien world. Bertram's body is changing and he explains that he accessed the Prolixity to transport them to safety, but does not know where they have arrived beyond that it is most likely somewhere that they are meant to be. His face changes and he grows appendages, making him look like some sort of giant insect. Shortly after, aliens looking like Bertram's new form arrive and Charley passes out.
Charley is woken up by the sound of her own voice calling at her. She and Robert have been cocooned and argue about their situation, Charley believing that Bertram will be able to save them and Robert being more pessimistic. A giant insect, which Charley hopes is Bertram, approaches them and tears into Robert's cocoon. Another arrives and does the same to Charley's as she screams. The insects carry them through the webs, heading downwards.
Woking informs the Prime Minister that he failed in his mission, Sergeant Hunter and his men being wiped out and the Identical Men only giving up after Charley, Robert and Bertram disappeared. The two hear a strange noise, followed by Bertram appearing and telling them that he has returned.
Charley and Robert are brought before thousands of insects and Charley believes that she can spot Bertram. A sound rings out which Charley tells Robert not to liken to a dinner gong. However, he does not know what one is.
Bertram explains to Woking and the Prime Minister how he has managed to use the Prolixity and tells them that Charley and Robert are dead, something that he seems entirely unconcerned about. He asks if society has changed much since he left and is told that the death toll has risen to one million.
to be completed
Cast
- Charlotte Pollard - India Fisher
- Robert Buchan - James Joyce
- Rogue Viyran - Dan Starkey
- Naomi Davies - Deirdre Mullins
- Woking - Kieran Hodgson
- Rab - Ashley Kumar
- Prime Minister - Pippa Haywood
- The Identical Men - Colin McFarlane
- Gelrasian / Guard / Proto-Viyran - Glen McCready
References
- Charley says that the room that she and Robert were taken to by the Gelrasians is bigger than the Albert Hall.
- Robert does not known what a dinner gong is.
Notes
to be added
Continuity
to be added
External links
- Official The Destructive Quality of Life page at bigfinish.com
| ||||||||
