Children of Earth: Day Four (TV story)

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Children of Earth: Day Four was the fourth episode of the third series of Torchwood. It marked the death of Ianto Jones.

Synopsis

Torchwood finally learns of the events of 1965. Britain is in danger of becoming a rogue state, and everything now pivots around John Frobisher, as the ambassador of the 456 destroys its old allegiances.

Plot

Jack recalls the events of 1965. The aliens offered a cure for a deadly new flu strain that will soon arise, and in return wanted 12 children. Jack's partner (a woman) claims that the aliens said the children will live forever and he was requested as he can't die and doesn’t care.

We then see Clement's attempted abduction, and that Jack was the one primarily responsible for handing the children over. It turns out that the reason Clement wasn’t taken was the 456 disappeared before they could take him, and Jack was unaware that Clement had escaped. The 456 did not seem to care as they handed over the cure data.

Back in the present Clement then steals Gwen's gun and shoots Jack. Gwen retrieves her gun from Clement, Jack wakes up, and Clement runs off in a panic. Gwen manages to calm him down. They later wonder why Clem wasn’t taken but speculate that perhaps he was on the verge of puberty and so not wanted by the 456.

At Johnson's facility, Alice and Steven are imprisoned, and Alice warns Johnson about angering Jack.

Back at the home office, Frobisher asks what would happen to the children, and the “456” by responding that a “Remnant” is watching, and then says it is off the record. It then invites Frobisher in with a camera.

A cameraman enters, and we see a profile of the 456. Dekker then says he is detecting 3 heartbeats and that there are 3 distinct types of life in there. We then see a child hooked up to something. The child is identified as one taken in the 1960s and appears not to have aged.

As the cameraman leaves, a recording of Frobisher's voice saying it is off the record is played, the 456 then says they do not harm the children and they feel no pain. The 456 then say if humanity refuse to hand over the children, they will wipe out the human species.

The Americans then demand all the records of 1965 from the PM, and threaten him with UN sanctions of some sort for withholding the information.

After an argument with Ianto about his role in the child swap, Jack calls Frobisher to confirm that the 456 have returned. Jack contends that the 456's return is proof that they cannot be trusted. Frobisher informs Jack that he has Jack's daughter and grandson but they will be unharmed if Jack does not reveal Britain's former dealings with the 456. Jack insists he needs to confront the 456.

There is then a Cobra meeting, which Lois attends. The PM then says they will try to haggle, but they can't take military action as there isn’t anything to target. The PM and Frobisher then talk about camouflaged targets but no more. At one point in the meeting Bridget looks at Lois with suspicion. The PM then tells Frobisher to offer "60 units” and no more.

Back at the 456 “embassy” Frobisher offers the 456 one child per million people on Earth. The 456 refuse, but Frobisher suggests that they consider his offer, since it is far more children that previously provided. Around the world, children begin to chant a number, which upon investigation, turns out to be 10% of the total children in each country.

Back at Johnson's facility, it turns out that she is being kept in the dark and decides to go into London, but keeps her team on the lookout for Jack.

At the Cobra meeting, a discussion commences regarding how to select the 10%. First it is proposed that every family should lose only one child, and perhaps each "second child" should be taken. The logisitics of this are deemed too complicated. Then Denise, one of the cabinet members, proposes that they select the children on the basis of intellect and social status, using the school league tables. This proposal is accepted and given to Frobisher as the source of the 10% to be given to the 456.

The Torchwood team determines that Lois' footage gives them leverage to blackmail the cabinet, and force their way into Thames House. Ianto phones his sister to warn her, knowing that the line is tapped. He also sends a message to those listening -- to protect their children. Ianto also makes a quick call to Gwen, providing Johnson with infomation regarding Torchwood's location.

Frobisher begins to plan how children will be gathered and notes that the government can promise an "inoculation" to prevent children from chanting messages in unison. He suggests that it can be reported that the false vaccination "went wrong,” allowing the government to put the blame on the 456 for the loss of the children.

Johnson arrives a the Torchwood Hub, but Gwen was expecting them, and shows them what they were recording. Rhys has gone into hiding and is ready to send out the footage to the public if anything goes wrong.

Jack and Ianto enter Thames House. Jack talks to the 456, who will not yield on their request for 10% of the world's children. Jack says he is making it a war, then the 456 says the fight begins. The 456 then say: "A virus has been released. It will kill everyone in the building." Jack runs out of the room and warns two guards of the virus. He tells them to get gas masks and oxygen cylinders for the people. Meanwhile, Ianto orders the 456 to release an anti-virus or he'll blow a hole in the 456 tank. Jack comes back in the room and tries to negotiate, but the alien refuses. Ianto and Jack shoot at the 456 chamber, but the bullets bounce off. The 456 then start to shriek which causes Clement to scream in agony and start bleeding. The 456 then say the Remnant will be disconnected, and Clement dies in Gwen’s arms. Jack says he will get Ianto out, but Ianto collapses.

We then see everyone in Thames house collapsing and dying aside from Dekker, who dons an environmental suit in time. Ianto tells Jack that he loves him and dies in Jack's arms. The 456 then tell Jack that he will die and tomorrow the children will be delivered. Jack then kisses Ianto and succumbs to the virus himself.

The Cabinet then wonder what to do next, and decide to go ahead with delivering the children. We then see Gwen and some special ops or UNIT men walk in. The men point out Jack's and Ianto's bodies and she walks towards them.  She pulls down Jack's sheet, and then she pulls down Ianto's sheet and begins to cry. Jack then wakes up and comforts a distraught Gwen who says "there is nothing we can do."

Cast

Crew

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.


References

to be added

Story notes

Ratings

6.24m (overnight)

Myths

to be added

Filming locations

  • Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay - Johnson's team attempt to track down Torchwood
  • No. 13 Rupert Brooke Drive, Newport - Ianto's sister's
  • Thames House, Millbank, London - Thames House
  • MOD Caerwent, Monmouthshire - Ashton Down
  • Cathys Park 2, Cardiff - MI5 headquarters foyer
  • No. 41 Cefn Coed Road, Cardiff - The Frobisher residence
  • Avesta Polarit Steelworks, Newport - Torchwood London warehouse
  • National Park Vistitor Centre, Brecon - Jack revealed his involvement in 1965
  • Coedarhydglyn, St. Nicholas, Cardiff - Prime Minister's office
  • City Hall Road, Cardiff
  • West Brute Street, Cardiff - Jack and Ianto hit a traffic jam on the way to Thames House
  • Ship Lane, Cardiff - Jack and Ianto head to Thames House
  • Abington Street, London - Frobisher heads back to MI5
  • Chelsea Bridge, London - Johnson's convoy on its way to Torchwood
  • Dumballs Road, Cardiff - Johnson tracks down Torchwood
  • Tresillian Terrace, Caardiff - Johnson tracks down Torchwood
  • Queens Circus, Battersea, London - Johnson's convoy on its way to Torchwood
  • Brangwyn Hall, Swansea - MI5 Thirteenth floor
  • Western Lesuire Centre, Cardiff - Gwen finds Jack and Ianto amongst the bodies
  • Ponton Road (aerial), London - The Torchwood 1 holding area
  • BBC Broadcasting House (Lift shafts), Llandaff, Cardiff - Elevator shafts in Thames House

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.
  • Clem is still breathing after the 456 killed him
  • 325,000 is way below 10% of the UK's children. The UK has around 10 million children aged under 15, so the figure should have been around 1 million.

Continuity

to be added

Timeline

In the present

For Jack in the flashback

Home video releases

  • This episode was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on 13 July 2009.

Footnotes

v • e
Torchwood television stories
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Children of Earth: Day One • Day Two • Day Three • Day Four • Day Five
Series 4
Stories listed here are only those that have been officially licensed by the BBC.
v • e
UNIT stories
TV
Doctor Who
Major
Minor
Torchwood
SJA
PROSE
U.N.I.T.
website
UNIT Press
Briefings
Operations
Board
Candy Jar UNIT series
Operation Wildcat and Other Stories
Operation Fall-Out and Other Stories
More to be added
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