The Perils of Nellie Bly (audio story)
The Perils of Nellie Bly was the second story in the audio anthology The Lost Resort and Other Stories. It was written by Sarah Ward and featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka, George Watkins as Marc.
Publisher's summary
When the TARDIS crew arrive on the RMS Oceanic, they meet notorious journalist Nellie Bly on the final leg of her voyage to travel the world in less than eighty days. But with a saboteur on board, the Doctor and his friends must race to help Nellie reach her destination – and save her future.
Plot
Part one
The Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan and Marc arrive on RMS Oceanic in a storm and meet Nellie Bly, who is attempting to travel around the world in less than eighty days. Seeing that Nyssa is seasick, Nellie gives her and Tegan her room key so that she can relax; on their way, they overhear Marion Jones bribe the Second Mate into ensuring that the ship does not arrive in San Francisco in time for Nellie to complete her mission.
Nellie tells a fascinated Marc about her travels and why she is impatient to get to San Francisco, worried that Lizzie Bisland might beat her. The Doctor fetches alkaloid anti-motion tablets for Nyssa from the TARDIS whilst Nellie introduces Tegan and Marc to her monkey, Horace. Tegan gives Nyssa the pills and they discuss whether they should tell Nellie what they overheard, not being sure of what is supposed to happen.
The Second Mate has the anchor dropped on the pretence of keeping the boat quiet for a time to placate the passengers.
The passengers suggest that they throw Horace overboard, believing that having a monkey on board is bad luck and is what caused the storm. Nellie convinces them not to, but they instead decide that the Doctor and Marc must be to blame. They flee to first-class and find Nyssa and Tegan, who watch Marion betting against Nellie completing her mission and tell the Doctor of the bribery they overheard. Nellie storms in, unhappy at the anchor having been dropped, and enlists Nyssa and Marc to raise the anchor whilst the Doctor speaks with the Second Mate.
Nellie invites Tegan back to her room to discuss their respective adventures.
to be completed
Part two
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Peter Davison
- Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
- Tegan Jovanka - Janet Fielding
- Marc - George Watkins
- Nellie Bly - Sydney Feder
- Second Mate - Ryan Forde Iosco
- Marion Jones - Carlyss Peer
- Growler - Daniel O'Meara
References
- The sea reminds Marc of his home.
- Seasickness is caused by the inner ear sending different signals.
- Nellie writes for the New York World.
- Phileas Fogg is a fictional character created by Jules Verne.
- Nellie left New Jersey on 14 November, 1889.
- There is no sea on Traken.
- Tegan once had a passenger on the way to Brisbane who insisted on cutting his toenails.
- Nellie met Jules Verne in France. She has also been to England, Italy, Ceylon, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.
- Lizzie Bisland is heading to New Jersey on another ship.
- Admiral Lord Nelson suffered from seasickness for which the Doctor gave him alkaloid anti-motion tablets of his own making. He died in the Battle of Trafalgar.
- Nellie bought Horace, a monkey, in Singapore.
- Marc once saw a wealthy family who owned a monkey whom they dressed up in a straw hat and tunic.
- The bill of health which Nellie needed was left in Yokohama. The captain eventually found it in the doctor's desk, although the doctor swore that he never put it in there.
- A rumour of a smallpox case on the ship could have meant that they would have been quarantined.
- A clergyman claims to be on a mission for the Archbishop of York.
Notes
- This story was originally intended to be part of Perils and Nightmares, the 269th release of the Monthly Adventures range, alongside Nightmare of the Daleks.
Continuity
- Nyssa and Tegan notes that the Doctor is unable to pilot the TARDIS with any degree of accuracy, and that short hops are difficult. (TV: Full Circle, State of Decay, Logopolis, The Bells of Saint John)
- The Doctor lands the TARDIS on its side. (TV: The Ice Warriors, Castrovalva, Time-Flight, The Eleventh Hour)
External links
- Official The Perils of Nellie Bly page at bigfinish.com
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