The Doomsday Contract (audio story)
- You may be looking for the story as it exists within the DWU.
The Doomsday Contract was the second and final story in the sixth series of The Lost Stories, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was adapted by Nev Fountain, from the original script by John Lloyd, and featured Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Lalla Ward as Romana II and John Leeson as K9 Mark II.
Publisher's summary
Earth - a small, insignificant planet. Entirely devoid of intelligent life.
At least that's according to the legal documents. the Doctor, Romana and K9 find themselves at the centre of a most unusual trial.
An intergalactic corporation wants to bulldoze the planet for a development project. Only a previous court's preservation document is standing in their way. The Doctor has been summoned as an expert witness. If he can prove Earth contains intelligent life, the whole world will be saved.
But with a fortune at stake, it was never going to be that simple.
Plot
Part one
Two unknown people observe the The Doctor, Romana and K9 on a holiday on the planet of Cimmerian II. They beam coordinates into the Doctor's brain, pointing to the Altribunal of Coelare Coelum, the highest court of civil justice in the galaxy. Romana wants to ignore it, but the Doctor tells her the tale of Arborealis Delta, a planet that was destroyed due to all the trees cut down to make parking tickets for a negligent man. They decide it would be wise not to upset the bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, Skorpios, head of the Cosmegalon Corporation, learns from his android Kovaks of the Doctor's involvement with the case. Kovaks suggests eliminating him, but Skorpios believes there are better ways to dissuade him. to be continued
Part two
to be added
Part three
to be added
Part four
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Tom Baker
- Romana - Lalla Ward
- K9 Mark II - John Leeson
- Kovaks - Spencer Banks
- Judge Perigord Trent - Julian Wadham
- Foreman for the Lost Jury - Nicholas Briggs
- Clerk - Jane Slavin
- Villager - Christopher Naylor
- Skorpios / Lieson Tilpractice-Frong / Geoff - Richard Laing
- Smilax - Paul Panting
- Tragacanth / Cham'Yal / Children of Pyxis - Jeany Spark
Worldbuilding
- The Doctor, Romana and K9 vacation on Cimmerian II. They had previously been to Torquay, where they saw Punch and Judy, which Romana believed to be a ritual sacrifice.
- Romana asks if the Doctor can use the Randomiser to evade the court summons.
- Romana mentions that the Doctor has run away from Daleks, Time Lords and the Black Guardian.
- The Doctor likes to have hummus for breakfast with Epicurus.
- Earth is designated by the code CZ456378DCDC/42K. It is also referred to as "Sol III".
- Smilax compares Skorpios to an Altroxian sand viper.
- The Doctor asks to be sworn into the court on The Worshipful and Ancient Law of Gallifrey, but since the court does not have a copy he uses The House at Pooh Corner from his pockets instead.
- Skorpios has a picture of him shaking hands with President Zarb, and a picture of him dancing with the Terrible Zodin.
- Arborealis Delta was a planet that was ruined due to all its trees being cut down to print parking tickets.
- Jural 9 is a planet housing 13 billion jurors used by Coelare Coelum.
- Smilax mentions the Smiling Trees of Benfadril V.
- The Plenum Trust advertisement claims they have helped planets such as Bandrax Minor, Kevin's World, Articaria and Sol III, and have saved species such as the Tufted Aggedor and the Sabertoothed Jabberwock.
- To bribe the security robot, Smilax points out the Benevolent Fund for Terminally Rusty Security Robots was donated one million cubits by the Organisation for the Welfare of Bantroxian Sea Turtles, his shell company.
- The Doctor and Romana take Judge Trent to Hampstead Heath. The local they meet says everyone from Kilburn would say they're fromHampstead. He plays the Sex Pistols for Judge Trent on his Walkman.
Notes
- This story was recorded on 27 January, 3 February, 30 April and 1 May 2020 at Audio Sorcery and Gig Studios, as well as recorded remotely.
- A promotional video for the audio titled Tom Baker stars in John Lloyd's lost Doctor Who adventure, The Doomsday Contract was uploaded on YouTube on 17 March 2021 by Big Finish Productions. Due to its promotional nature, it is not considered a valid source by this wiki.
Continuity
- The Doctor's TARDIS is arrested to be put on trial. The Seventh Doctor would later defend the TARDIS when it was put on trial on Thrantas. (AUDIO: The Trial of a Time Machine)
- The Doctor says his TARDIS "has a mind of her own" and is sentient. (TV: The Doctor's Wife, COMIC: The Forgotten et al)
- The Doctor uses his yo-yo to help his concentration, much to Romana's annoyance. (TV: Robot et al)
- The Doctor refers to himself as "a citizen of the universe" again. (TV: The Daleks' Master Plan)
- Romana uses her sonic screwdriver. (TV: The Horns of Nimon et al)
- Having travelled through time, the Doctor and Romana are time sensitive. (TV: Warriors' Gate)
- The Doctor can't remember his exact age, but believes it to be around 751 or 752. (TV: The Ribos Operation)
- During his gambit, the Doctor ponders if he has the right to condemn a destructive species to death to save countless others. He notes that his actions could cause whole generations to never hear the word "human". (TV: Genesis of the Daleks)
- After the trial, the Doctor and Romana want to go on a vacation uninterrupted. (TV: The Leisure Hive)
External links
- Official The Doomsday Contract page at bigfinish.com
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