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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
| image | |image = The Longest Night cover.jpg | ||
|range | |range = UNIT (audio series) | ||
|number in range = 3 | |number in range = 3 | ||
| series | |series = ''[[UNIT (audio series)|UNIT]]'' | ||
| number | |number = 3 | ||
| main character | |main character = [[Emily Chaudhry|Chaudhry]], [[Robert Dalton|Dalton]] | ||
| featuring = Will Hoffman | |featuring = Scott Christie{{!}}Christie | ||
| | |featuring2 = Andrea Winnington{{!}}Winnington | ||
| enemy | |featuring3 = Will Hoffman | ||
| setting | |featuring4 = Francis Currie | ||
| writer | |enemy = [[Philip Kirby|Kirby]] | ||
| director | |setting = [[London]], [[January]], [[2005]] | ||
| music | |writer = Joseph Lidster | ||
| sound | |director = [[Edward Salt]] | ||
| publisher | |music = [[David Darlington]] | ||
| cover | |sound = David Darlington | ||
| release date | |publisher = Big Finish Productions | ||
| format | |cover = [[Red Ink]] | ||
| production code = BFPUNITCD03 | |release date = March 2005 | ||
| isbn | |format = 1 CD<br/>Download | ||
| prev = Snake Head (audio story) | |production code = BFPUNITCD03 | ||
| next = The Wasting (audio story) | |isbn = ISBN 978-1-84435-115-2 (physical)<br/>ISBN 978-1-78178-636-9 (digital) | ||
}}{{ | |prev = Snake Head (audio story) | ||
|next = The Wasting (audio story) | |||
|producer = [[Ian Farrington]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]] | |||
|epcount = 1 | |||
}}{{Spotify|album=292HH0N3aV8emIybT8qBW0|height=350}} | |||
'''''The Longest Night''''' was the fourth story in the [[Big Finish]] ''[[UNIT (audio series)|UNIT]]'' audio series. It was written by [[Joseph Lidster]]. | '''''The Longest Night''''' was the fourth story in the [[Big Finish]] ''[[UNIT (audio series)|UNIT]]'' audio series. It was written by [[Joseph Lidster]]. | ||
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"We interrupt this broadcast..." | "We interrupt this broadcast..." | ||
Having survived a day at the seaside, Robert Dalton and Emily Chaudhry are enjoying a few pints... Having spent the day answering the phone and praying for some action, Will Hoffman is enjoying a night out... Having signed a controversial new European treaty, the Prime Minister is on his way back to Downing Street... Having survived yet another day, the people of Britain are settling down to eat dinner, stay in, go out, spend time with their friends... | Having survived a day at the seaside, [[Robert Dalton]] and [[Emily Chaudhry]] are enjoying a few pints... Having spent the day answering the phone and praying for some action, [[Will Hoffman]] is enjoying a night out... Having signed a controversial new European treaty, the [[Prime Minister (The Longest Night)|Prime Minister]] is on his way back to [[10 Downing Street|Downing Street]]... Having survived yet another day, the people of [[Great Britain|Britain]] are settling down to eat dinner, stay in, go out, spend time with their friends... | ||
"...we're receiving reports that..." | "...we're receiving reports that..." | ||
It's just another ordinary evening in the United Kingdom... | It's just another ordinary evening in the [[United Kingdom]]... | ||
"...a bomb has exploded in central London..." | "...a bomb has exploded in [[central London]]..." | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
''to be | The [[Prime Minister (The Longest Night)|Prime Minister]] makes a speech about the member states of the [[European Union]] signing the [[Euro-Combine Treaty]], a speech which members of the public shout over with concerns about [[sovereignty]]. [[Philip Kirby|Major Kirby]] uses the speech as evidence of the Prime Minister being an enemy of the [[United Kingdom]] and declares that, with the help of [[Internal Counter-Intelligence Service|ICIS]], he and his supporters will "make Britain great again" and dispose of the enemy. | ||
[[Will Hoffman|Lieutenant Hoffman]] is at the [[Vita Futura]] [[nightclub]] with [[Nisha Townsend]] on their second date when he notices a group of people trying to get away from one man. He tells Nisha to leave and goes to deal with the man, telling everybody to get down. The man shouts that he is doing what he is doing for his people and detonates an explosive. Hoffman survives the blast and watches as [[Flemming (The Longest Night)|Sergeant Flemming]] arrives and shoots Nisha, telling his men that there must be no survivors. | |||
[[Scott Christie]] reports on the Prime Minister's plans, the arrest of [[Goran Dhampir|a Kosovan]] suspected of killing [[China|Chinese]] immigrants, a [[flu]] outbreak in the [[home counties]] and the explosion in [[Central London]]. | |||
[[Emily Chaudhry|Colonel Chaudhry]] and [[Robert Dalton|Colonel Dalton]] are at the [[White Rabbit (London)|White Rabbit]], expecting to be joined by Hoffman at some point, and play [[darts]] until Chaudhry sees Christie's news report. Hoffman calls Chaudhry and gives her and Dalton a description of the bomber, a [[Scotland|Scotsman]], as he runs away from Flemming's [[police]]men. He is caught by Flemming and shot, but he ensures that he falls into the [[River Thames]] to keep Flemming from identifying him as [[UNIT]]. | |||
[[Meena Cartwright]], the [[Deputy Prime Minister]], informs the Prime Minister that intelligence suggests that the bombing at the nightclub is unlikely to be an isolated incident. Soon enough, a woman detonates a [[bomb]] in [[Westminster tube station]]. | |||
Dalton keeps Chaudhry from putting herself in danger by going after Flemming. She receives a call from [[Francis Currie]] and goes to meet him alone at [[Westminster Abbey]] as he claims to know who is behind the two bombings. Currie leads Chaudhry to a private area and attacks her, calling her a "murdering bitch". She kicks him in his [[genitalia]] and calls Dalton. | |||
Using [[CCTV]] and the ID database, Dalton identifies the nightclub bomber as [[Marcus Hussey]], a twenty-four-year-old of clean character. However, Christie reports that the bomber was a [[Islam|Muslim]] student called [[Abdul Malik Haseeb]]. Dalton answers the phone to Chaudhry and they agree that Currie and Hussey were likely brainwashed. Using Currie's car, Chaudhry transports him to [[UNIT HQ]]. | |||
After giving a brief statement and refusing to answer any questions, the Prime Minister tells Meena that they need to get Kirby and keep the media under control. Kirby eventually arrives and the Prime Minister orders him to institute a media blackout; however, Kirby can only use the [[Broadcasting Act]] to stop the [[BBC (in-universe)|BBC]], not [[ITN]], [[Planet 3]] or any other independent broadcasters. Kirby suggests putting [[Internal Counter-Intelligence Service|ICIS]] in control, but Meena and the Prime Minister are against it. Later, Meena receives a phone call. | |||
At UNIT HQ, Chaudhry and Dalton question Currie, who has no [[memory]] of calling Chaudhry nor attacking her. He starts to remember being called by somebody who told him he had to do something for his people. Dalton identifies the number that called him as belonging to a government helpline to help people give up [[smoking]]. Although Chaudhry is initially sceptical, Dalton and Currie deduce that somebody is manipulating people into calling such helplines to become sleeper agents to incite racial hatred. | |||
[[Andrea Winnington]] receives a phone call from Kirby appealing to her [[xenophobia]] and asking her to do something for her people. | |||
[[Tom (The Longest Night)|Tom]] reports from [[10 Downing Street]] on the likelihood of martial law being declared. Meena exits Number 10 and claims to have received a phone call from a terrorist organisation who have kidnapped [[Trevor Cartwright|her husband]] and children. To save their lives, she shoots herself. A bomb is detonated in the television studio, killing Christie. | |||
Dalton speculates that Kirby could be behind the brainwashing, but Chaudhry does not think that he is capable of three bomb attacks. When Dalton tells her about the fourth bombing, at [[Holloway Prison]], she worries that Winnington could be on the loose and that ICIS could have some involvement. Dalton goes to speak with the Prime Minister and Chaudhry, starting to believe that Kirby must be involved somehow, remains with Currie and investigates the Major. She learns that he was discharged for allegedly abusing prisoners during the [[Iraq War]] but still managed to get a job as press secretary, possibly due to him being a distant relation of [[Charles III|the King]]. | |||
Currie calls a colleague, [[George (The Longest Night)|George]], and has him look up stories about Kirby or ICIS which were kept from being published. He finds that, two years ago, [[Planet 3]] were kept from reporting that Kirby had an affair with his [[personal assistant]] in the [[1980s]] and had an illegitimate daughter: Winnington. As ICIS was being set up at the time, the government sought an [[injunction]] to protect Kirby and, by extension, ICIS from scandal. Chaudhry leaves Dalton a voice message and is confronted by Winnington, who reveals that Dalton has been brainwashed and left the door open for her. | |||
Winnington gives Chaudhry her [[gun]] and tries to goad her into shooting her. She fires, but Currie gets in the way to keep her from committing [[murder]] and is shot through the wrist. Chaudhry takes Winnington away and tells her that her father brainwashed her into letting herself die to take down UNIT. | |||
Kirby shows the Prime Minister evidence of racially-motivated violence across the country, trying to persuade him to sign the forms to put ICIS in charge without honouring the Euro-Combine Treaty. Dalton arrives and tells the Prime Minister that martial law is the only option. The Prime Minister signs the forms and Dalton prepares to shoot him for his people whilst Kirby makes a call and inquires about Brimmicombe-Wood. Using Winnington as a hostage, Chaudhry pushes her way into Downing Street and orders Kirby to stop Dalton from killing the Prime Minister. Kirby, however, does not care about Winnington's life. | |||
ICIS go onto the streets and break up crowds by mowing people down with bullets. One soldier kills a [[journalist]]. | |||
Chaudhry charges Kirby with murder and tries to persuade Dalton to put his gun down and break the conditioning by singing "[[London's Burning]]". Winnington is disgusted with her father because of what she has seen outside and how he was willing to allow her to die for their beliefs. Dalton breaks the conditioning and Chaudhry records Kirby's confession for Currie to air for the public, hoping that the public realising that they were manipulated would calm them down. Kirby reveals that he has a bomb ready to detonate and, with the Prime Minister having already left, Chaudhry and Winnington flee. | |||
Winnington hits Chaudhry over the head before exiting the building, leaving her to die. The bomb detonates and Kirby and Dalton are killed. [[Big Ben]] tolls and Winnington tells the [[Paul (The Longest Night)|Prime Minister's aide]] that the soldiers from UNIT are dead. | |||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
* [[Emily Chaudhry|Colonel Emily Chaudhry]] - [[Siri O'Neal]] | * [[Emily Chaudhry|Colonel Emily Chaudhry]] - [[Siri O'Neal]] | ||
* [[Robert Dalton|Colonel Robert Dalton]] - [[Nicholas Deal]] | * [[Robert Dalton|Colonel Robert Dalton]] - [[Nicholas Deal]] | ||
* [[Will Hoffman|Lieutenant | * [[Scott Christie]] - [[Scott Andrews]] | ||
* [[Andrea Winnington]] - [[Sara Carver]] | |||
* [[Will Hoffman|Lieutenant Hoffman]] - [[Robert Curbishley]] | |||
* [[Nisha Townsend]] - [[Georgina Field]] | |||
* [[Francis Currie]] - [[Michael Hobbs]] | * [[Francis Currie]] - [[Michael Hobbs]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Paul (The Longest Night)|PM's Aide]] - [[Harry Myers]] | ||
* | * [[Prime Minister (The Longest Night)|Prime Minister]] - [[Steffan Rhodri]] | ||
* [[Meena Cartwright]] - [[Vineeta Rishi]] | * [[Meena Cartwright]] - [[Vineeta Rishi]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Philip Kirby|Major Philip Kirby]] - [[Johnson Willis]] | ||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* | * Chaudhry rhetorically asks Dalton if he expected her to be the kind of woman who goes to [[the Ivy]] and drinks [[Cristal]] [[champagne]] and eats [[beluga]]. | ||
* The Prime Minister wonders if the media may blame the attacks on Chechen rebels or the [[Irish Republican Army|IRA]]. | * Chaudhry and Dalton eat [[pork scratching]]s. | ||
* Chaudhry and Currie refer to the [[11 September]] attacks; the media wonders if the attacks are due to British involvement in [[Iraq]]. | |||
* The Prime Minister wonders if the media may blame the attacks on [[Chechen]] rebels or the [[Irish Republican Army|IRA]]. | |||
* The killer policeman Sergeant Flemming sarcastically quotes the [[Metropolitan Police Service]]'s "working for a safer London" slogan. | * The killer policeman Sergeant Flemming sarcastically quotes the [[Metropolitan Police Service]]'s "working for a safer London" slogan. | ||
* A terrorist attack at [[Holloway Prison]] killed several prisoners and allowed others to escape. | |||
* Dalton and Currie are disparaging about the ''[[Daily Mail]]''. | * Dalton and Currie are disparaging about the ''[[Daily Mail]]''. | ||
* London is using the [[Euro]] as its currency as part of the [[Euro-Combine Treaty]]. | * London is using the [[Euro]] as its currency as part of the [[Euro-Combine Treaty]]. | ||
* [[Emily Chaudhry|Chaudhry]] refers to [[Ross Brimmicombe-Wood|Brimmicombe-Wood]] as a "[[Casanova]]". David Tennant had played this role on television the same year. | * [[Emily Chaudhry|Chaudhry]] refers to [[Ross Brimmicombe-Wood|Brimmicombe-Wood]] as a "[[Casanova]]". David Tennant had played this role on television the same year. | ||
* Dalton sings the children's song ''London's Burning''. | * Dalton sings the children's song ''[[London's Burning]]''. | ||
* Major cities under attack from ICIS include [[London]], [[Bradford]], [[Manchester]], [[Glasgow]], [[Lincoln]] and [[Hull]]. | * Major cities under attack from ICIS include [[London]], [[Bradford]], [[Manchester (city)|Manchester]], [[Glasgow]], [[Lincoln]] and [[Hull]]. | ||
* Over 1000 people, including two members of the Royal Family and television personalities, were killed within the UK during the attacks, with 452 in [[London]] alone and 15 people in Lincoln and Hull. | * Over 1000 people, including two members of the [[British Royal Family]] and television personalities, were killed within the UK during the attacks, with 452 in [[London]] alone and 15 people in Lincoln and Hull. | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
* This audio drama was recorded on [[5 December (production)|5 December]] 2004 and [[30 January (production)|30 January]] 2005. | * This audio drama was recorded on [[5 December (production)|5 December]] [[2004 (production)|2004]] and [[30 January (production)|30 January]] [[2005 (production)|2005]] at [[the Moat Studios]]. | ||
* Part of the plot involves the bombing of the [[London Underground]] to terrorise people. On | * Part of the plot involves the bombing of the [[London Underground]] to terrorise people. On 7 July 2005, four months after the story was released, the Underground was bombed in real life. | ||
* The audio drama begins to start the end credits theme when Kirby is arrested, only for it to abruptly stop when he reveals he's carrying a bomb. | * The audio drama begins to start the end credits theme when Kirby is arrested, only for it to abruptly stop when he reveals he's carrying a bomb. | ||
* [[PROSE]]: ''[[Rise of the Dominator (novel)|Rise of the Dominator]]'' places ''[[The Coup (audio story)|The Coup]]'' as occurring in late [[2004]], placing this story as early [[2005]]. | |||
* This story was originally released on CD. It is now available as a download only. | |||
* The story was re-released as part of the ''[[UNIT: The Complete Series]]'' box set in [[May (releases)|May]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]]. | |||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
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* The Kosovan asylum seeker arrested in Southend is likely [[Goran]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Snake Head (audio story)|Snake Head]]'') | * The Kosovan asylum seeker arrested in Southend is likely [[Goran]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Snake Head (audio story)|Snake Head]]'') | ||
* The flu outbreak in the home counties turns out to be an alien [[virus]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Wasting (audio story)|The Wasting]]'') | * The flu outbreak in the home counties turns out to be an alien [[virus]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Wasting (audio story)|The Wasting]]'') | ||
* Colonel Chaudhry refers to the sleeper agents' brainwashing as "a [[ | * Colonel Chaudhry refers to the sleeper agents' brainwashing as "a [[Aliases of the Doctor#John Smith|John Smith]] situation", referring to UNIT cases involving [[the Doctor]]. In response, Colonel Dalton refers to [[Auton|window shop dummies]] coming to life. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') | ||
* Francis Currie has left the [[BBC]] and been hired as the front line reporter for [[Planet 3]]. [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had previously worked for the television news network as an undercover journalist, exposing corruption by companies and officials in high places. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Comeback (audio story)|Comeback]]'') | * Francis Currie has left the [[BBC (in-universe)|BBC]] and been hired as the front line reporter for [[Planet 3]]. [[Sarah Jane Smith]] had previously worked for the television news network as an undercover journalist, exposing corruption by companies and officials in high places. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Comeback (audio story)|Comeback]]'') | ||
* Chaudry and Dalton were at the [[White Rabbit (London)|White Rabbit]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Harvest (audio story)|The Harvest]]'', ''[[A Death in the Family (audio story)|A Death in the Family]]'') | * Chaudry and Dalton were at the [[White Rabbit (London)|White Rabbit]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Harvest (audio story)|The Harvest]]'', ''[[A Death in the Family (audio story)|A Death in the Family]]'') | ||
* Chaudhry remarks that Dalton would have liked Brimmicombe-Wood. Their fathers had been friends. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Project Valhalla (novel)|Project: Valhalla]]'') | * Chaudhry remarks that Dalton would have liked Brimmicombe-Wood. Their fathers had been friends. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Project Valhalla (novel)|Project: Valhalla]]'') | ||
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== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{bigfinish|releases/v/u-n-i-t-the-longest-night-408|The Longest Night}} | |||
{{dwrefguide|unit03.htm|The Longest Night}} | {{dwrefguide|unit03.htm|The Longest Night}} | ||
{{ | |||
{{BF UNIT}} | |||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
[[Category:UNIT | [[Category:Big Finish UNIT audio stories]] | ||
[[Category:2005 audio stories]] | [[Category:2005 audio stories]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in London]] | [[Category:Stories set in London]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in 2005]] | |||
[[Category:UNIT audio stories]] | |||
