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The
Fires of Vulcan
(Steve Lyons) |
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 Another
Seventh
Doctor story called "The Fires of Vulcan" was
released in September 2000. Written by Steve Lyons and
directed by Gary Russell it was recorded on the 11th and
12th March 2000 and heralds, after an absence of 14 years
in the show, Bonnie Langford in the role of Melanie
Bush.
Also starring are: Gemma Bissix (who played Nigel Bates'
adopted daughter Claire in Eastenders), Anthony
Keetch, Karen Henson, Robert Curbishley, Andy Coleman,
Nicky Goldie, Steven Wickham, Lisa Hollander and Toby
Longworth.
Two
thousand years ago, a volcanic eruption completely buried
the Roman city of Pompeii under volcanic ash. Unfortunately
for The Doctor it also buried his TARDIS.
But The Doctor already knew this would happen and despite
Melanie's attempts to intervene The Doctor is not willing
to do anything to prevent the loss of his TARDIS. All
because The Doctor knows that in the year 1980 archaeologists
are going to find a Police Box buried under the volcanic
ash.
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| Bonnie Langford & Gemma
Bissix |
|
The TARDIS
brings The Doctor and his companion Melanie to Pompeii just one day before the
disaster. They soon find themselves separated from their ship and entangled in
local affairs. Melanie finds herself befriended by a Grecian prostitute and the
victim of a political conspiracy while The Doctor gets himself kidnapped and
unable to help anybody and especially his companion Melanie. With time running
out, Melanie becomes more and more desperate to escape from the shadow of Mount
Vesuvius which is starting to stir. But how can they hope to succeed when
history itself is working against them and with The Doctor unwilling to change
a future event that he knows is going to happen in his own past?
With the
citizens of Pompeii unaware of the tragic events that are going to befall them
Melanie alone tries to convince those around her of the danger they are all in.
Then just as The Doctor realises that there is a way out time runs out and the
volcano erupts. With the city being buried there is panic as everybody takes
shelter. Can The Doctor and Melanie find there way back to the TARDIS? And how
can The Doctor protect his past and both of their futures?
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Notes:
- Featuring the Seventh
Doctor and Melanie
Bush.
- Serial Number: 7F/A
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Cover Length: 110 minutes
- Episode Lengths: 1 = 24'58", 2 = 24'57", 3 =
27'05", 4 = 26'30"
- This story takes place between "Delta
and the Bannermen" and "Dragonfire".
- Cover Illustration: Clayton Hickman
- Recorded: 11th and 12th March 2000
- Recording Location: NU Groove Studios
- Released: September 2000
- ISBN: 1-903654-02-5
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On the
Back Cover:
Two thousand years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic
eruption wiped the Roman city of Pompeii from the face of the Earth. It also
buried The Doctor's TARDIS...
Arriving in Pompeii one day before the disaster,
The Doctor and Mel find themselves separated from their ship and entangled in
local politics. With time running out, they fight to escape from the shadow of
Mount Vesuvius. But how can they succeed when history itself is working against
them? |
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On the
Inside Cover:
I was a bit nervous about hearing my first script
being performed. I knew it probably wouldn't sound like I'd imagined it, and I
was right. It sounded much better. The actors really brought the characters to
life, and I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to them for that list
of hard-to- pronounce Latin words - especially to Gemma Bissix, who got stuck
with the nickname 'Algae' for the weekend.
The characters
in "The Fires of Vulcan" are based on real people who lived in Pompeii at the
time of its destruction. However, as we don't know much about them, I've
probably libelled most of them. My main reference book was "Pompeii The Day a
City Died" by Robert Etienne (Thames and Hudson).
A big thanks
to Neil Blomley, who helped out with research and whose idea it was to have The Doctor visit Pompeii in the first place. Kyle Rickards wanted a mention too,
but he didn't do anything to deserve one. |
Steve Lyons,
March
2000 |
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Full Cast
List:
| Part One |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Melanie |
Bonnie Langford |
| Professor Scarlini |
Anthony Keetch |
| Captain Muriel Frost |
Karen Henson |
| Tibernus |
Robert Curbishly |
| Popidius Celsinus |
Andy Coleman |
| Valeria Hedone |
Nicky Goldie |
| Murranus |
Steven Wickham |
| Eumachia |
Lisa Hollander |
| Aglae |
Gemma Bissix |
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| Part Two |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Melanie |
Bonnie Langford |
| Eumachia |
Lisa Hollander |
| Popidius Celsinus |
Andy Coleman |
| Valeria Hedone |
Nicky Goldie |
| Aglae |
Gemma Bissix |
| Priest |
Toby Longworth |
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| Part Three |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Melanie |
Bonnie Langford |
| Eumachia |
Lisa Hollander |
| Valeria Hedone |
Nicky Goldie |
| Murranus |
Steven Wickham |
| Aglae |
Gemma Bissix |
| Popidius Celsinus |
Andy Coleman |
| Roman Legionary |
Robert Curbishly |
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| Part Four |
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Melanie |
Bonnie Langford |
| Murranus |
Steven Wickham |
| Popidius Celsinus |
Andy Coleman |
| Valeria Hedone |
Nicky Goldie |
| Roman Legionary |
Robert Curbishly |
| Eumachia |
Lisa Hollander |
| Aglae |
Gemma Bissix |
| Professor Scarlini |
Anthony Keetch |
| Captain Muriel Frost |
Karen Henson |
The
Production Team:
| Writer |
Steve Lyons |
| Director |
Gary Russell |
| Sound/Music |
Alistair Lock |
| Theme Music |
Mark Ayres |
| Producers |
Gary Russell and
Jason
Haigh-Ellery |
| Executive Producer for the BBC
|
Jaqueline Rayner |
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