Time in Office (audio story)
Time in Office was the two hundred and thirtieth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Eddie Robson and featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Louise Jameson as Leela and Janet Fielding as Tegan.
This was Jameson's first appearance as Leela in the Main Range since the audio story Zagreus, 14 years prior.
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 Fifth 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
- Sugru / Fegax / Guard Captain - George Watkins
Worldbuilding
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 Sash of Rassilon, the Thimble of Rassilon and the Belt of Omega.
Gallifrey
- The Doctor is rescued by a TARDIS Type XX, which is referred to as an "emergency model".
- Asked the number of times a Time Lord can regenerate, Tegan believes she is being asked a trick question.
- Tegan is under the impression 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.
Gallery
Original CD cover art
Illustrated review by Jamie Lenman in DWM 518
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Notes
- This story is set during a gap that occurs at the end of Frontios, during which the Doctor and Tegan have tricked the 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 the audio story 1001 Nights in 2012, rather than being a four part story, this release contains 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.
- This story was recorded on 19 and 20 January 2017 at the Moat Studios.
- This story was reviewed in DWM 518 alongside The Silurian Candidate and The Night Witches, and received an illustration from Jamie Lenman.
Continuity
- The Doctor and Tegan are on their way back to Frontios after leaving the 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, and in particular to dispose of the creatures deposited there by the Time Scoop. (TV: The Five Doctors)
- 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 who believes the opposite. Neither is sure who's correct. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask; City at World's End)
- The destroyed Capitol 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, The Invasion of Time)
- 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 ostensibly for bungling the succession between Presidents. (TV: The Five Doctors, PROSE: The Eight Doctors)
- The Fourth Doctor's time as President was nullified. (TV: The Invasion of Time)
- The Doctor encountered a Battle TARDIS piloted by Tubal Cain while dealing with an elemental being that had infected his own TARDIS's systems. (COMIC: The Stockbridge Horror)
- The Doctor and Leela thwarted an attempt to summon Azal, last of the Dæmons, in 18th century Japan. (TV: The Dæmons)
- The 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 Capitol 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)
- A major Shobogan labor dispute occurs during Lord President The Doctor's tenure. (TV: The Deadly Assassin)
- Reviewing the new Capitol building, Leela and the Doctor describe how the old Capitol building was damaged when the Dominators attempted to invade Gallifrey and flood the Capitol with Quarks. (TV: The Dominators)
- Facing a fluid statue 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)
- Along with the fluid statue of Lord President The Doctor in all his regenerations to date, the grand entrance (and main Transmat terminal for visitors) boasts similar statues of Rassilon, Omega, Apeiron, Pandak, Pandak IV, Eutenoyar, and Pandak XI. Chancellor Vorena mentions that they could update The Doctor's statue to include his subsequent incarnations, but is ignored. (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell)
- Tegan observes a disorienting visual effect and compares it to a dolly zoom; The Doctor claims to have given Alfred Hitchcock the idea. (PROSE: Mordieu)
- 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
