A Matter Of Life And Death
An Eagle is launched to reconnoiter a promising planet which the Moonbase Alpha crew has dubbed “Terra Nova” – new Earth. The two men aboard the ship return with good news – they’ve found a planet with an Earthlike atmosphere and almost unlimited resources – but just as they make their final approach back to the moon, an electrical discharge envelops the Eagle, incapacitating the crew. The ship is still brought in for a safe landing, with the crew alive but unconscious – and carrying an extra passenger who Dr. Russell says is her husband, missing and presumed dead after his last space mission ended in disaster five years ago. Though he is breathing and seems to be alive, none of the medical instruments indicate life signs. Commander Koenig decides to postpone any further visits to Terra Nova, let alone any colonization operations, until the mystery of Russell’s husband. When the long-lost astronaut awakens, Helena tells him of Koenig’s plans to colonize Terra Nova – and then he lashes out at her with the same energy that almost brought the Eagle down.
written by Art Wallace & Johnny Byrne
directed by Charles Crichton
music by Barry Gray
additional music by Vic ElmsGuest Cast: Richard Johnson (Lee Russell), Prentis Hancock (Paul Morrow), Clifton Jones (David Kano), Zienia Merton (Sandra Benes), Anton Phillips (Dr. Mathias), Nick Tate (Alan Carter), Stuart Damon (Parks)
LogBook entry by Earl Green
Cast: Deidre Hall (Lori / Electra Woman), Judy Strangis (Judy / Dyna Girl), Norman Alden (Frank Heflin), Peter Mark Richman (The Pharaoh), Jane Elliot (Cleopatra), Bruce Hoy (Mayor), H.B. Haggerty (Museum Guard)
The Doctor is asleep in the interzone between worlds, and the Kro’Ka appears to torment him – only to find that it must put up with Charley and C’rizz, who quickly become aware that the Kro’Ka seems to be powerless while the Time Lord is unconscious. Once awakened, the Doctor is subjected to a kind of mind-probing technique by the Kro’Ka, but he quickly gains the upper hand on the interzone guardian, forcing it to tell him, at least in general terms, where the TARDIS is located. The Doctor follows the trail to a place called Caerdroia, a surreal world where verdant hills populated by seemingly normal cows and rabbits lead to a circular maze. But that’s not the most surreal thing about Caerdroia – topping that list is the fact that the Doctor has emerged from the interzone in what seems like three aspects of his character: one rational, one inquisitive and easily distracted, and one dark and quick to anger. Charley and C’rizz can only tag along with the three Doctors as they look for a way out of the maze – and a way to find out who’s holding the Kro’Ka’s leash.
Notes: Caerdroia is a Welsh word for a labyrinth. This audio adventure received an early release – with alternate cover art (seen here) – at a Doctor Who convention in November 2004; the limited edition alternate cover version was also sold by the internet vendor Tenth Planet.
The Mind’s Eye: The Doctor finds himself alone in the jungle of a distant world, discovered by security officers from a human expedition which has arrived to examine the planet’s plant life. One particular specimen is of great interest to the expedition’s leaders: a plant which can infiltrate the dreams of animal victims before it consumes them. One side effect of even the most fleeting exposure is memory loss, and only now does the Doctor remember that Peri and Erimem were with him. Erimem is discovered in the jungle, and the Doctor has to use an experimental technique to enter her dreams and lead her back to reality. When Peri is found, however, she is in a more advanced state of the process – the plant has enveloped her body and begun to feed. The Doctor is ready to go into Peri’s dreams to save her, but he discovers that some members of the expedition have a vested interest in studying Peri as she dies.
Cast: Scott Haran (Tom Clarke), Percelle Ascott (Benny Sherwood), Annette Badland (Ursula Crowe), Michael Higgs (Michael Clarke), Jefferson Hall (Varg), Gwendoline Christie (Lexi), Brian Blessed (voice of the Nekross King), Tim Rose (Nekross King puppeteer), Dan Starkey (Randal Moon), Tom Bell (Jathro), Gabriel Woolf (voice of the Stones)