Mirth, or Walking Spirits (short story)
Mirth, or Walking Spirits was the sixth short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: Christmas Around the World. It was written by Gareth Wigmore. It featured the Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon and Zoe Heriot.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition is in trouble. One of its members, Allan Ramsay, died and was buried. Now, the other members are disappearing, one by one. And it appears that the "ghost" of Ramsay is the one taking them.
When William Cuthbertson is the only one left on Christmas day, he wanders around instead of staying inside. He encounters the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe and offers them his hospitality. He tells them that he is alone, and the Doctor is disappointed because he was hoping to meet Mossman and Dr Pirie. Cuthbertson tells his story, explaining that a ghost has taken the other members of the expedition.
Something is not right. The Doctor knows the history of the expedition. The Doctor suggests that Ramsay's "ghost", the first human to die in Antarctica, is lonely and that is why he is taking the others. The Doctor explains to Cuthbertson that this expedition, while not famous, will have important ramifications in Earth's future. The missing men should not have gone missing.
Jamie, to annoy Zoe, plays Bill Smith's bagpipes. At the Doctor's suggestion, he plays Christmas carols, and the others sing along. Suddenly the spirits of the missing expedition members appear, and one by one they solidify. The "ghost" of Ramsay watches for a while, then leaves.
The expedition members celebrate Christmas with a huge dinner, and they agree amongst themselves to never mention what happened to anyone else.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Second Doctor
- Jamie McCrimmon
- Zoe Heriot
- William Cuthbertson
- Allan Ramsay
- Dr Pirie
- Mossman
- Alastair Ross
- William Martin
- Bill Smith
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Jamie plays "I Saw Three Ships", "The Coventry Carol" and "The Boar's Head Carol".
- The expedition has a dog named Russ.
- Martin and Cuthbertson wonder if they could escape to Cape Horn or the Falklands.
- Cutherbertson mentions H. G. Wells.
- Christmas dinner includes tomato soup, pheasant, penguin, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, plum-duff, fruit, coffee and cigars.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
