The Romans (TV story)

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
RealWorld.png

The Romans was the fourth story in season two of Doctor Who. It was the first story to have its main plot portrayed as a comedic one. This serial used the same production team as The Rescue and so both were shot in one block of filming.

This story saw the first use of stock footage for a cliffhanger; in this case, a lion. Part three, Conspiracy, was broadcast on the same day as Winston Churchill's funeral, explaining the dip in viewing figures.

David Whitaker was, by this time, seeing stories with historical figures as a liability. Despite this, The Romans was intended as the third of three historical tales, following the Spanish Armada and the American Civil War. It appears to have been Verity Lambert who convinced him to script this story as a comedy.

This was also the first time a major actor requested to be on Doctor Who. Here Derek Francis was given the role of Nero.

Synopsis

The four time travellers are enjoying a rare holiday, staying at a villa not far from Rome in the year A.D. 64. The Doctor soon becomes restless and sets off to visit the city, taking Vicki with him. In their absence, Ian and Barbara are kidnapped by slave traders.

Having been mistaken for the famous lyre player Maximus Pettulian and asked to perform at the Emperor Nero's court, the Doctor has to devise ever more elaborate schemes to avoid revealing that in fact he cannot actually play the instrument.

Ian meanwhile becomes a galley slave, while Barbara is sold to Nero's slave buyer Tavius at an auction in Rome. Ian and a fellow slave named Delos escape from the galley when it is wrecked in a storm and make their way to Rome to try to find and rescue Barbara.

There they are recaptured and forced to fight as gladiators in the arena. Events reach their climax when, by accidentally setting light to the Emperor's plans for the rebuilding of Rome, the Doctor gives him the idea of having the city razed to the ground. Nero plays the lyre while Rome burns, and the Doctor and Vicki as well as a reunited Ian and Barbara make their separate ways back to the villa.

Plot

The Slave Traders (1)

The four travellers materialise on the edge of a cliff. Before the Doctor has time to take off again, the TARDIS falls from the cliff, crashing to the ground.

A month later the four friends are in Rome living in the lap of luxury. The Doctor, Ian and Barbara are content, but Vicki is begining to tire of the life of a Roman and seeks adventure. As she talks to Barbara about the adventures she was promised a man lurks threateningly in the bushes . The two women find themselves in a market where they are seen by two suspicious looking Romans, Didius and Sevcheria. The men speak of some sort of crime they intend to do in the village. As the two women talk they are overhead talking about London by an old market stall owner. The two Romans bribe the woman for information about Barbara and Vicki. She states that they spoke off London and have been in the area for the last month house sitting for Flavius Giscard, who is away campaigning in Gaul. The two men set off with this information. As they leave, so does an old lyre player named Maximus Pettullian. He does not get very far before he is attacked on the road out of the village and killed by the sinister man who observed Vicki and Barbara earlier in the day.

Back at the house of Giscard the other travellers ask the Doctor if they should go back and check the TARDIS, but the Doctor says that the craft will be perfectly safe without it being constantly checked upon. The Doctor asks if they are getting restless and anxious to leave. Barbara and Ian state they are perfectly happy but Vicki yearns for adventure. Spontaneously the Doctor states that he plans to leave for Rome as soon as he can and that Vicki can come with him. When Barbara asks to come the Doctor reacts crossly, stating that he doesn't need a nurse maid. As soon as the two are packed they leave Ian and Barbara alone in the villa. Didus and Sevcheria plot a siege on the villa later that night. As Ian and Barbara, relax they are set upon by the two men. The two friends put up a gallant fight but Barbara accidently catches Ian on the head with a jug which was meant for Sevcheria and knocks him unconscious. Ian and Barbara are carried away by the two men.

On the road out of the village, the Doctor and Vicki come across the body of Maximus Pettullian. They are suprised by a centurion who has his sword drawn. He notices the Doctor is holding the old man's harp and asks if it belongs to him. When the Doctor answers non-commitedly, the centurion states that he has been sent out to look for the lyre player by his master, Nero. Unable to resist the temptation the Doctor passes himself off as Pettullian in order to meet Nero. The centurion leads him and Vicki away.

Outside the villa, Ian and Barbara are tied up to a slave cart as they discuss how to escape. Barbara's primary concern is the Doctor and Vicki not knowing where they have been taken and leaving on the TARDIS. Didius and Secheria do business with a slave owner who wants to buy Barbara, but they refuse, saying that the woman will get a higher price in Rome. The man says he does not plan to go to Rome but will take three men - including Ian. As Ian is led away a distraught Barbara is even more fearful now she is away from him.

In the camp of the centurion, the assassin is summoned to the centurion who berates him, saying that his orders were not carried out and that Pettullian lives. He says that he wil give the assassin one last chance and directs him to where the Doctor is asleep. The assassin approaches the door with his dagger drawn.

All Roads Lead to Rome (2)

The assassin attacks the Doctor who manages to fight him off before Vicki comes in and pushes him out of an open window. After the Doctor boasts of his ablilities in fisticuffs Vicki informs him that the Centurion who brough them thus far on their journey to Rome has disappeared. The Doctor rightly assumes that he is the reason for the death of the real Pettullian and the recent attack. The Doctor assures Vicki that they are to stay there one further night and then go on to Rome to meet Nero themselves. Vicki is unsure if this is a good idea but the Doctor peruades her.

Meanwhile Barbara has already been thrown in jail in Rome, awaiting an auction wherein she will be sold to the highest bidder. She is put in the same cell as a woman with a bad cough and who is clearly ill. Barbara comforts her and speaks of Ian who will come and save them.

Ian himself is on a slave ship and has been for the last 5 days, manning the oars. He speaks to a friend he has made in the journey by the name of Delos. They have struck up a plan and now that they are near land they try to put it into action. Delos plays dead and Ian calls one of the slave drivers. However their plan is seen to be fake and they are forced to work twice as hard for the indiscretion.

Back in the prison Barbara is approached by a well dressed man named Tavius who wants to buy Barbara. He states that he will look after her. When Barbara asks if this means she will get her freedom he says that she will still be a slave but a slave that is treated humanely. She turns this down. When the guard comes round Tavius offers to buy her directly. The guard informs him that she is to be sold at auction and no amount of money will convince him otherwise. The guard gives Barbara a fine dress to wear for the auction. When she asks what will happen to the other woman the guard says that she is to be given to the circus as she is useless for auction in the state that she is in. Barbara looks concerned.

Ian's ship seems to have hit a storm, and as the slave driver forces the men to row harder in order to get to land, the ship starts to take on water. As it does Ian and Delos break free and overpower the slave driver, but the ship sinks. Ian wakes on the beach alongside Delos. Delos states they are not far from the centre of Rome and Ian intends to go and look for Barbara. Delos offers to come with him and they set off together.

By this time the Doctor and Vicki have arrived in Rome and are looking around. Vicki observes some kind of auction and asks the Doctor what they are auctioning. The Doctor sees that it is a slave auction and moves Vicki on so as not to explain to her what it is. As they turn and leave Barbara walks onto the podium. She is the first to be auctioned. After a few negligible offers, the highest reaching 2500 sesterces, Tavius arrives and bids 10, 000 sesterces, successfully buying Barbara. He explains to Barbara that he is a representative of Nero and, after seeing that she was kind and beautiful when she was looking after the ill woman in prison, bought her to serve under Nero. Barbara expresses her thanks but says she intends to run away. Tavius warns her against such an action as an escaped slave is always sentenced to death. Barbara says she has to take that chance. Their conversation is interupted when a messenger sends for Tavius saying that Pettullian has arrived. Tavius hurries away and meets the Doctor thinking him to be Pettullian. Looking suspicious Tavius explains to the Doctor that the problem they have has been sorted out and that 'he' has been put in the apodyterium. The Doctor goes along with this, not knowing to what Flavius alludes. Their conversation is interrupted by the entrance of Nero. Nero is introduced to the Doctor who instantly asks the 'musician' to play for him. The Doctor says he would much rather hear Nero play first. Flattered, Nero does so and the Doctor copies him. Nero is flattered by this and says he will meet the Doctor later for a further conversation. The Doctor and Vicki explore and find their way to the apodyterium to discover what it was that Flavius meant. After some exploration they find the dead body of the Centurion that accosted them originally.

Meanwhile Ian and Delos arrive in Rome. However it isn't long before they are re-arrested and sent to the same prison where Barbara was held. They are informed that they are lucky as usually escaped prisoners are sent to death but instead they are to be trained as gladiators and fight for their survival. Delos and Ian wonder who they are to fight and as they look out the window they see many lions feasting on flesh.

Conspiracy (3)

It becomes apparent to the Doctor that Tavius had the Centurion murdered and that he too is expected to fulfil some sort of action. He goes along with Tavius' demands as if he knows all about the plans but remains clueless.

Nero decides the Doctor must fulfil an obligation too, and organises a banquet in his honour at which he must play the lyre. He also takes a shine to Barbara and starts to pursue her romantically – and literally – much to the anger of Empress Poppaea. She warns Barbara off Nero, stating that she has been the Empress for many years and does not intend to see a competitor take the role. However when she sees Nero manhandling Barbara later she decides more drastic action is to be taken.

Meanwhile Vicki has brefriended the court poisoner Lacusta who informs Vicki that she is in constant use as there is always intrigue going on in court. She also alludes to the fact that she feels her greatest calling will be one day to poison Nero himself.

The Doctor has taken Nero to a sauna to try to extract some information from him about the conspiracy that the Doctor appears to have embroiled himself in. Nero knows nothing of this, however he does inform the Doctor that he is ordered to play at the banquet tonight - much to the Doctor's dismay.

Vicki's conversation has been interupted by Poppaea. As Vicki hides under the desk she learns that Poppaea is jealous of a slave girl and wants her poisoned. As Poppaea takes Lacusta out to show her the slave girl Vicki climbs out from under the desk and switches the cups so that it will be Nero who receives the poison.

In the banqueting hall Nero is flirting with Barbara and gives her a gold bracelet, hoping for a kiss in return. They are interrupted by a servant presenting two goblets of wine for the pair. In another part of the hall Vicki has informed a shocked Doctor that she has poisoned Nero as he and Poppaea are an evil couple and should be stopped. He informs her that rewriting history is strictly against the rules of time travel and swiftly stops Nero from drinking the wine. Nero is most thankful to the Doctor for saving his life.

Poppaea is furious with the mix up which sees Barbara stay alive and, thinking it a mistake of Lacusta's, sends her to the jail.

Later that evening at the banquet Tavius explains that "all is in place for tomorrow" to the Doctor, to which he responds cryptically. The Doctor is soon called upon by Nero to play the lyre. The Doctor explains to the gathered masses that the style of music that he plays is so fine and so delicate that only the most sensitive and cultured ears can appreciate it truly. He then proceeds to mime the process of playing the lyre whilst the conceited masses pretend to be able to hear it. When the Doctor finishes his performance is met with wild applause. When he sits down he explains to Vicki that it is similar to 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' a story idea which he claims to have given to Hans Christian Andersen. The reception given to the Doctor has made Nero insanely envious of him and he intends to give him his comeuppance. He rushes off to his room to change but encounters Barbara and takes her with him. He explains that they are going to the Arena as he has a plan - but also wants to see a fight to make him feel better.

At the jail Ian and Delos have been informed that they are to fight each other to the death at the next fight. Delos regrettably informs Ian that he will kill him if he has to as some slaves are freed from captivity if they impress Nero in battle.

Outside in the arena Nero and Barbara are in place for the fight and Nero explains to the jail keeper that he wants Maximus Pettulian to play at the Arena However half way during the show the lions will be let loose on him due to the fact that Pettulian is the only man in Rome to prove a larger spectacle than Nero. This conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the combatants. Barbara is shocked to see Ian as one of the gladiators. The two men fight. Ian disarms Delos but refuses to kill him. They fight again and Delos disarms Ian and raises his sword to cut off Ian's head.

Inferno (4)

Delos has a change of heart and turns on Nero, attacking him instead of slaying Ian. Nero's guards fight with Delos and Ian who manage to escape with Ian telling Barbara that he will come back for her. Nero overhears this and plans to use Barbara as bait to catch the two renegade gladiators.

Meanwhile back at the palace Poppaea orders Flavius to dismiss Barbara, stating that she is a nuisance. When Tavius says that Nero is fond of her,. Poppaea slaps him. As he leaves the room he comes across Barbara who says that her friend Ian is coming to pick her up. Tavius states that he was under orders to let her go anyway so all will be well. As they talk Barbara notices that guards are being placed around the palace in order to wait for Ian. Tavius says that he will find a way of smuggling Ian in safely. Barbara also mentions to Tavius that a musician by the name of Maximus Pettulian is to be assassinated by Nero at the Arena tomorrow and asks whether he could stop this from happening too. He agrees to do so

In another section of the palace the Doctor and Vicki have stumbled across the plans that Nero has made for a new Rome. Tavius comes to them warning them of Nero's plans. He also states that the assassination of Nero will have to be pushed forward to tonight. The Doctor is bewildered by this and Tavius alludes to the fact that Petullian was coming to Rome in order to murder Nero. A bewildered Doctor states that he and Vicki must leave that night in order to avoid both his and Nero's assassinations. They are interrupted when Nero enters, stating that The Doctor must play at the arena the following night. The Doctor agrees, however he is holding his spectacles at such an angle as to set fire to the plans of new Rome on the table. Nero is initially furious but then realises that by burning down Rome he would be able to build his planned version. He congratulates the Doctor for giving him this idea. He decides to set this plan in action that night. He summons a group of men to the palace. As they file their way in, Ian and Delos, who have been hiding in the bushes, join them in order to sneak past the guards. The men are informed that they will be paid handsomely to run through the town and burn Rome to the ground. As they are receiving this information, Tavius gets Ian and reunites him with Barbara. As the men run from the palace to wreak havoc Ian and Barbara slip out with them to return to the villa.

The Doctor and Vicki have also escaped and are heading across the fields when they see Rome burning. Vicki makes the Doctor realise that he has had an effect on history and inspired Nero to burn down Rome. This concept genuinely shocks the Doctor as he realises that his time-travelling has had an effect on Earth's history.

Ian and Barbara arrive back at the villa first and change back into some more comfortable clothes. They soon fall asleep only to be awoken by the Doctor, who assumes they have been lazing around since his departure. He refuses to let the couple get a word in edge ways before heading off to the TARDIS.

Once there Vicki fills Ian and Barbara in on their adventures, with neither of the party aware of how closely linked their two adventures were. Vicki asks Ian and Barbara where they are going next. They answer that the Doctor doesn't necessarily have full control of his ship so their destinations are all but random. Vicki doesn't believe them and goes with Barbara to get changed. Ian approaches a puzzled Doctor who informs him that something appears to be dragging them down to an anonymous planet.

Cast

Crew

References

Story notes

  • This was the first story played for comedy as well as drama.
  • All episodes exist in 16mm telerecordings.
  • Negative film prints of all episodes exist and were recovered by the BBC in 1978.
  • Telesnaps of this story are held by private collectors.
  • The characters of Tigellinus and Sevcheria were both expanded during re-writes of the script.
  • The Rescue leads directly into this story.
  • This is the second story in a row in which the Doctor is given a surprisingly physical fight sequence. In fact, his brawl with Ascaris recalls similar fights involving the Third Doctor, including the Doctor judo-flipping his opponent.

Influences

Ratings

  • The Slave Traders - 13 million viewers
  • All Roads Lead to Rome - 11.5 million viewers
  • Conspiracy - 10 million viewers
  • Inferno - 12 million viewers

Myths

  • It was Dennis Spooner's idea to make a comic episode of Doctor Who (It was actually Verity Lambert who wished to try a new angle for the series)

Filming locations

Production errors

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • Ian and Barbara sit around a plastic lined fountain. The budget was small at that time, and remember "high definition" was 405 lines back then.
  • Nero pays his fire starters in metal washers.
  • When Barbara turns around to hug Ian after they are reunited in "Inferno," a long zipper is clearly visible down the back of her dress.
  • The camera on the boat is hit by falling wood during the storm scene, this causes a wide white line to cross the screen.
  • During episode 3 a boom mike drops into the shot during the scene in which Nero and his wife pick out jewellery (this is also visible in the DVD featurette What Has The Romans Done for Us?).
  • During the scene in which Nero chases Barbara around, one of the studio lights is captured by the camera, causing a noticeable lens flare.
  • The historical Nero outlawed the practice of killing defeated gladiators in 59 C.E. He would not have ordered Ian decapitated in 64 C.E. when this story takes place.

Continuity

Timeline

Home video and audio releases

DVD releases

This story was released on DVD alongside The Rescue in February 2009 (UK) and July 2009 (North America). For the release, the episodes have been reprocessed via computer to restore the original videotaped look of the production.

Contents:

  • What has "The Romans" ever done for us? - production featurette which also examines how Nero has been portrayed in film and TV over the years.
  • Roma Parva - a look at the original model used to design the set.
  • Dennis Spooner: Wanna Write a Television Series? - Profile of the writer of The Romans and other serials.
  • Girls! Girls! Girls!: The 1960s - Retrospective on Doctor Who's female companions from 1963-69.
  • Blue Peter segment on a Roman banquet.
  • Photo Gallery
  • Radio Times listings (PDF format).
  • Production notes
  • Audio Commentary by actors William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Nick Evans (Didius) and Barry Jackson (Ascaris), director Christopher Barry, moderated by Toby Hadoke.
See The Rescue for additional DVD extras on this set.

Rear Credits:

Notes:

  • Editing for DVD release completed by Doctor Who Restoration Team.
  • There is an error on the back cover of The Romans DVD: David Whitaker is credited to have written this story, rather than Dennis Spooner.
  • Region 2 Cover

    Region 2 Cover

  • The Rescue/The Romans Region 2 boxset

    The Rescue/The Romans Region 2 boxset

  • The Rescue & The Romans.jpg

Video releases

Released as Doctor Who: The Rescue/The Romans

UK Release: September 1994 / US Release: March 1996
PAL - BBC Video BBCV5378 (2 tapes)
NTSC - Warner Video E1313 (2 tapes)
NTSC - CBS/FOX Video 8338 (2 tapes)

Novelisation and its audiobook

Romans novel.jpg
Main article: The Romans (novelisation)

See also

to be added

External links

Footnotes

v • e
Doctor Who television stories
 
Seasons 1-4: William Hartnell
Season 1: 1963-1964
Season 2: 1964-1965
Season 3: 1965-1966
Season 4: 1966
 
Seasons 4-6: Patrick Troughton
Season 4: 1966-1967
Season 5: 1967-1968
Season 6: 1968-1969
 
Seasons 7-11: Jon Pertwee
Season 7: 1970
Season 8: 1971
Season 9: 1972
Season 10: 1972-1973
Season 11: 1973-1974
 
Seasons 12-18: Tom Baker
Season 12: 1974-1975
Season 13: 1975-1976
Season 14: 1976-1977
Season 15: 1977-1978
Season 16: 1978-1979
Season 17: 1979-1980
Season 18: 1980-1981
 
Seasons 19-21: Peter Davison
Season 19: 1982
Season 20: 1983
Children in Need 1983
Season 21: 1984
 
Seasons 21-23: Colin Baker
Season 21: 1984
Season 22: 1985
Season 23: 1986
 
Seasons 24-26: Sylvester McCoy
Season 24: 1987
Season 25: 1988-1989
Season 26: 1989
 
TV Movie & 2013 specials: Paul McGann
TV Movie: 1996
Specials: 2013
Minisodes
 
Series 1: Christopher Eccleston
Series 1: 2005
Regular episodes
 
Series 2-4: David Tennant
Series 2: 2005-2006
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Series 3: 2006-2007
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Animated special
Series 4: 2007-2010
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Minisodes
Animated special
Seasonal specials
 
Series 5-2013 specials: Matt Smith
Series 5: 2010
Regular episodes
Series 6: 2010-2011
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: Apr 2011)
Regular episodes
(Part 2: Aug 2011)
Minisode
Series 7: 2011-2013
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: 2012)
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
(Part 2: 2013)
Specials: 2013
 
Series 8-10: Peter Capaldi
Series 8: 2014
Regular episodes
Series 9: 2014-2015
Christmas Special
Minisode
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
Series 10: 2016-2017
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
 
Series 11-13: Jodie Whittaker
Series 11: 2018-2019
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 12: 2020-2021
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 13: 2021
Minisodes
Regular episodes
Seasonal specials
 
60th Anniversary Specials: David Tennant
Specials: 2023
Minisodes
60th Anniversary Specials
 
Season 1 (2023)-present: Ncuti Gatwa
Season 1: 2023-2024
Christmas Special
Regular episodes

Template:Wikipedia

Retrieved from "https://tardis.wiki/w/index.php?title=The_Romans_(TV_story)&oldid=786985"