The Curious Incident of the Doctor in the Night-Time (audio story)
The Curious Incident of the Doctor in the Night-Time was the fourth and final story in the audio anthology, Breaking Bubbles and Other Stories, which comprised the one hundred and eighty-eighth release in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Nev Fountain and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.
Publisher's summary
Michael is a young boy who likes to solve mysteries, such as the mystery of the extra gnome, the mystery of the absent father, and the mystery of the strange man in yellow trousers at the bottom of the garden.
Plot
Michael goes with his father, Geoff, to Houseproud where he unknowingly gets his father fired by lighting a candle and setting off the fire alarm whilst trying to help a customer. Geoff remarks that he is "from another planet" and argues with Michael's mother, Olivia, during which Michael goes into the garden and counts the garden gnomes, finding that there is 130 rather than 129. Michael notices that his father resembles a gnome in his fishing clothes and decides to solve the mystery of the extra gnome, but he is taken to stay with his Auntie Peggy after the police visit to give Olivia unfortunate news.
After a few days, Michael returns home and learns that his father drowned whilst fishing, which does not make sense to him. He sees the Doctor and Peri in the garden through his bedroom window at night and, assuming that they are investigating the extra gnome, he goes to Houseproud where the gnomes have been returned and purchases the gnome he does not recognise. He deduces that the gnome must be his father and attempts to interview it, but he is interrupted by the arrival of the Doctor and Peri, who claim to be social workers when Olivia comes to the front door. Olivia tells them that Geoff likely lost his job because Michael told somebody about the gnomes that he had been stealing from work, but the Doctor informs her that the secret was revealed by Llangragen of the Genoi, who resembles a gnome and sent out a message the TARDIS picked up.
Michael resumes his interview with the extra gnome he bought earlier, beliving it to be his father. It speaks back to him and it does claim to be his father but the gnome treats him horribly and he locks it in his toy chest. Just then he hears a sound outside, and recognizing the Doctor, sets up a trap and locks him in the shed. The Doctor explains that the gnome Michael has is dangerous and that he needs to see it, but Michael thinks the Doctor is the leader of the gnomes and has turned hi father into one. After they talk, Michael goes off under the pretence of getting the gnome as the Doctor asked him but leaves the Doctor locked in the shed.
The Doctor is found by Olivia who lets him out but threatens to report him to the police, however, he manages to explain in time what is going on. She chides the Doctor for his lack of emotional understanding, and they realise Michael is going to help the gnome (named Llangragen) by taking it back to the location of its buried ship to awaken its comrades (other Genoi) and invade.
Michael takes Llangragen to his ship in the store his father worked at and doesn't understand what's going on. However, Llangragen berates Michael for his stupidity, upsetting him. Luckily the Doctor, Peri and Olivia arrive amid the ensuing chaos and with the Doctor's encouragement, Michael lights some candles and triggers the fire alarm, releasing water and destroying the machine and the Genoi. Llangragen's plan foiled, the four of them return to Michael's home.
The Doctor, at Olivia's request, speaks with Michael in the backyard under the stars and explains to him that his father is still alive in the "past". He then tells him to close his eyes and imagine his father. Michael does, and smiles to himself, describing out loud the image of his father, while the Doctor quietly slips away, leaving Michael to enjoy his memories of his father.
Cast
- The Doctor - Colin Baker
- Peri Brown - Nicola Bryant
- Geoff / Llangragen - Paul Panting
- Michael - Johnny Gibbon
- Olivia - Anjella Mackintosh
- Customer - Nicholas Briggs
Worldbuilding
- Michael's best friend Niall eats what he describes as "guinea pig food" at school.
- Geoff works at Houseproud.
- Bob Johnson works with Geoff.
- Peggy is Michael's aunt.
- The Doctor tells Michael that he met the original Vandals.
- The Genoi were placed on Earth by the Galactic Coalition as the planet's high ozone content acted as a natural paralysing agent on them. Their leader Llangragen managed to escape and has travelled to Earth with the intention of reviving his fellow Genoi and conquering the planet.
Story notes
- The story name alludes to the title of Whitbread Award-winning The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which is itself a quote from Arthur Conan Doyle. The novel is narrated in the first person through the protagonist in a similar manner to the audio story, while Michael Jennings himself shares some similar quirks and mannerisms with the protagonist of the novel.
- The protagonist of the book is on the autism spectrum. Olivia Jennings also expresses her suspicion that the Sixth Doctor may be autistic.
Continuity
to be added
