Plight of the Pimpernel (audio story)

Plight of the Pimpernel
Doctor:	Sixth Doctor
Companion(s):	Peri, Oliver
Main enemy:	Argana
Main setting:	Highmoor House, England and Paris, 1793
Key crew
Publisher:	Big Finish Productions
Writer:	Chris Chapman
Director:	John Ainsworth
Producer:	John Ainsworth
Music:	Andy Hardwick
Sound:	Andy Hardwick
Cover by:	Tom Newsom
Release details
Number of parts:	4
Release number:	271
Release date:	8 December 2020
Format:	2 CDs Download
Production code:	BFPDWCD271
ISBN:	ISBN 978-1-83868-016-9 (physical) ISBN 978-1-83868-017-6 (digital)
Official trailer
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Plight of the Pimpernel was the two hundred and seventy first audio story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Chris Chapman and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.

Publisher's summary

It's 1793 and the Reign of Terror is slicing through the elite of Paris - but not if the Scarlet Pimpernel has anything to do with it! With a very British pluck, and daring bravado, he rescues French aristocrats from Madame Guillotine's embrace. But who hides beneath the Pimpernel’s mask? And isn’t the Scarlet Pimpernel just a fictional character?

At Highmoor House, in England, Peri plays lady of the manor while the Doctor tends to the strange wounds of her ‘husband’, Sir Percy Blakeney. As Peri prepares to host a lavish ball in Sir Percy’s name, French agent Citizen Donat, and a sinister alien force are uninvited guests, both intent on unmasking the Scarlet Pimpernel and putting an end to his heroic escapades, forever!

Plot

Part one

to be added

Part two

to be added

Part three

to be added

Part four

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Colin Baker
• Peri Brown - Nicola Bryant
• Z22 / Charlie / Guillame / Frederic - Stewart Clarke
• Babs / Bernadette / Lady Morton - Rebecca Crankshaw
• Donat / Devore / Lord Morton - Anthony Howell
• Oliver / Bisset / Andre / Computer - Joe Jameson
• Sir Percy / Terrance - Jamie Parker
• Nancy / Lady Calisto / Hologram Tyrax - Becky Wright

Crew

• Remote Sound Engineer - Shane O'Byrne @ The Soundhouse
• Music, Sound Design & Remote Recording Dialogue Assembly - Andy Hardwick
• Cover Art - Tom Newsom
• Producer, Script Editor & Director - John Ainsworth
• Writer - Chris Chapman
• Senior Producer - David Richardson

Worldbuilding

• The Doctor expresses that it's always been a fantasy of his to be the master of disguise.
• The Doctor references much of the original text for Emmuska Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel and identifies the numerous Pimpernels as a League (as they are known in the sequel novel).

Notes

• This story was recorded on 11-12 August 2020 at the Soundhouse and remotely.
• Working titles for the story included: The Multicoloured Pimpernel and The Scarlet Pimpernels.
• The concept of a story featuring the Doctor as the Scarlet Pimpernel originally came from a suggestion by Colin Baker. (BFX: The Plight of the Pimpernel)
• The ruined building on the cover, depicting Sir Percy's homeworld, resembles the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, now known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, a remembrance of the 140,000 people killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
• The cover depicts Peri with the longer curled hairstyle she had in The Mysterious Planet and Mindwarp, indicating that this story takes place during shortly before or around that period of her travels with the Sixth Doctor.

Continuity

• According to Susan, the Doctor's favourite period of history was the French Revolution. He previously visited the city of Paris in the company of his granddaughter, Ian and Barbara, and later, a version of Paris twisted by the the Pageant, in the company of Dodo. (TV: The Reign of Terror; PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask)
• Maximilien Robespierre is mentioned, a figure who the Doctor met personally during his first incarnation during TV: The Reign of Terror.
• In England, the Doctor uses his longtime alias of "Dr John Smith". (TV: Spearhead from Space, et al.)
• The Doctor and Peri previously masqueraded as English aristocrats in PROSE: Players.
• The Time Lords -- and the Doctor, by extension -- were identified as a form of aristocracy on Gallifrey. (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask; AUDIO: Davros)
• The Doctor recounts playing backgammon with Kublai Khan. (TV: Marco Polo)
• Peri speculates that Robin Hood was probably real. The Doctor replies sort of. (PROSE: The Thief of Sherwood, TV: Robot of Sherwood)
• Peri compares the Z22 to Kamelion who she encountered in TV: Planet of Fire, remembering how he could barely walk in his undisguised form.
• The Doctor claims to Peri that he's not one for dancing, but apparently possesses enough skill to impress later companions, Constance and Flip. (AUDIO: The Behemoth)
• The Doctor recalls having been buried alive several times in the past, a fate that would befall his successor in PROSE: The Room With No Doors.

Cover gallery

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  Textless cover

• 

  Alternate cover

External links

• Official Plight of the Pimpernel page at bigfinish.com