Smoke and Mirrors (audio story): Difference between revisions

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|number          = 5
|number          = 5
|doctor          = Fifth Doctor
|doctor          = Fifth Doctor
|companions      = [[Adric]], [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]], [[Nyssa]]
|companions      = [[Adric]], [[Nyssa]], [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]]
|featuring      = [[Harry Houdini]], [[Eleventh Doctor]]
|featuring      = [[Harry Houdini|Houdini]], [[Eleventh Doctor]]
|enemy          = {{Ainley|c}}
|enemy          = {{Ainley|c}}
|setting        = [[England]], the [[1920s]]
|setting        = [[England]], late [[1920s]]
|writer          = [[Steve Lyons]]
|writer          = [[Steve Lyons]]
|director        = [[John Ainsworth]]
|director        = [[John Ainsworth]]
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|prev            = Babblesphere (audio story)
|prev            = Babblesphere (audio story)
|next            = Trouble in Paradise (audio story)
|next            = Trouble in Paradise (audio story)
|epcount = 1
|epcount         = 1
}}{{spotify|album=77WvMh3SFbdmvO58U6iq9O|height=350}}
}}{{spotify|album=77WvMh3SFbdmvO58U6iq9O|height=350}}
'''''Smoke and Mirrors''''' was the fifth release of the ''[[Destiny of the Doctor]]'' audio series, produced by [[Big Finish Productions]] for [[AudioGO]].
'''''Smoke and Mirrors''''' was the fifth release of the ''[[Destiny of the Doctor]]'' audio series, produced by [[Big Finish Productions]] for [[AudioGO]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
[[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] answers a [[psionic]] distress call being sent from [[England]] in the [[1920s]]. There, in the environs of a fairground, he is reunited with an old friend: [[Harry Houdini]]. To [[Adric]] and [[Nyssa]] the name means very little, but to the Doctor's companion [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]] he is a legend. [[Escape artist]] extraordinaire, Houdini's reputation will last for decades.
[[Fifth Doctor|The Doctor]] answers a [[psionic]] [[distress call]] being sent from [[England]] in the [[1920s]]. There, in the environs of a fairground, he is reunited with an old friend: [[Harry Houdini]]. To [[Adric]] and [[Nyssa]] the name means very little, but to the Doctor's companion [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]] he is a legend. [[Escape artist]] extraordinaire, Houdini's reputation will last for decades.


But how come Harry knows so much about Tegan herself? Is it really just guesswork, as he says? Is Harry right to be concerned about the fairground's [[fortune teller]], who claims to have supernatural skills? Both he and the Doctor suspect an alien influence they know of old.
But how come Harry knows so much about Tegan herself? Is it really just guesswork, as he says? Is Harry right to be concerned about the fairground's [[fortune teller]], who claims to have supernatural skills? Both he and the Doctor suspect an alien influence they know of old.
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== Plot ==
== Plot ==
While attempting to take [[Tegan]] to [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow airport]] for her flight attendant job, the Doctor diverts to [[London]] in the [[1920s]]. Tegan, [[Nyssa]] and [[Adric]] are of the opinion that the Doctor has once again failed to pilot [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] properly, but for once they are wrong; he has followed a [[psionic]] [[distress call]] received via the [[telepathic circuit]]s. It leads them to a fairground, and an old and famous friend: [[Harry Houdini]].
Instead of travelling to [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]], [[Fifth Doctor|the Doctor]] follows a [[psionic beam]] to an [[England|English]] [[funfair]] in the late [[1920s]] and introduces [[Adric]], [[Nyssa]] and [[Tegan Jovanka|Tegan]] to [[Harry Houdini]], who wants his help to debunk the inexplicable abilities of a [[medium]]. The Doctor has his [[companion]]s stand guard whilst he and Houdini inspect the medium's booth and find her [[crystal ball]], which is actually an [[Ovid Sphere]] capable of reflecting [[thought]]s and [[memory|memories]]. He uses the sphere and is told by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] that he has to return it to the Ovids.


Tegan is suitably impressed, and thrilled to meet the renowned escape artist and illusionist. The reference is lost on Nyssa and Adric, but even they are caught up in his charisma; and when he knows more than he should about Tegan, they are intrigued. Houdini plays it off, however, and diverts to another matter: He has come to the fair to debunk its fortune teller, who has inexplicable abilities of her own, but he has not been able to do so. Now he wants the Doctor's help.
The three companions accidentally wander into the [[menagerie]] and are confronted with a [[tiger]] which Adric runs from in the hope of buying time for Nyssa and Tegan to escape, but they are chased by a [[leopard]]. Adric is saved by [[hypnosis|hypnotised]] fairground workers and taken by them to a [[theatre]]. Meanwhile, Nyssa also has an odd encounter, with a man wearing the face of her lost father: The Master. He takes hypnotic control of her, and forces her to abduct Tegan and bring her to the theatre as well.
 
Something is not right, though. Houdini seems intent on drawing information from the Doctor which he should not have, regarding his own future and the workings of the TARDIS. Before it can be addressed, however, the group is split up; Houdini and the Doctor go to check out the fortune teller, and the three companions find themselves inside the fair's menagerie.
 
The Doctor and Houdini don't find the fortune teller, but they do find something else—her crystal ball. It proves to be no ordinary prop. The Doctor recognises it, and refers Harry back to a previous adventure they shared (in the Doctor's first life, along with Ben Jackson and Polly Wright) in which they encountered the Ovids, beings of pure thought. The Ovids used crystal spheres to communicate and influence the world; spheres just like this one. And this one is already in use.
 
In the menagerie, the companions are menaced by animals that have been released from their cages, including a tiger. Adric runs, leading the tiger away from the others, giving them time to try to escape. Tegan shouts for the Doctor, but to no avail. Adric is rescued, however, by a group of fairground workers and performers; but it is short-lived, as it becomes clear that they are under some kind of mind control. They escort him to a theatre on the grounds. Meanwhile, Nyssa also has an odd encounter, with a man wearing the face of her lost father: The Master. He takes hypnotic control of her, and forces her to abduct Tegan and bring her to the theatre as well.


The Doctor tries to make telepathic contact with the sphere, and is successful, though it hurts him. As he is about to make progress, he is interrupted by the image and voice of a [[Eleventh Doctor|young man wearing a bow tie]]. He tells the Fifth Doctor that he will soon be tempted to destroy the sphere, but he must not. Instead, he must return it to its rightful owners, the Ovids. At the same time, he is interrupted by Tegan's scream, which the sphere has also picked up; he realises that they are in danger, and he has failed to help them.
The Doctor tries to make telepathic contact with the sphere, and is successful, though it hurts him. As he is about to make progress, he is interrupted by the image and voice of a [[Eleventh Doctor|young man wearing a bow tie]]. He tells the Fifth Doctor that he will soon be tempted to destroy the sphere, but he must not. Instead, he must return it to its rightful owners, the Ovids. At the same time, he is interrupted by Tegan's scream, which the sphere has also picked up; he realises that they are in danger, and he has failed to help them.
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