 |
The
Settling
(Simon Guerrier) |
|
 The
2 CD release for May 2006 was "The Settling"
by Simon Guerrier - a Seventh
Doctor story directed by
Gary Russell and recorded on the 9th and 10th November
2005. This is Simon Guerrier's first Doctor Who audio
release for Big Finsh Productions.
It stars Sylvester McCoy, as The Doctor, Sophie
Aldred, as Ace, and Philip Olivier, as Hex. Joining them
are: Roger Parrott, Hugh Lee, Clare Cathcart, Ian Brooker
and, playing the part of Oliver Cromwell is former Casualty
star, Clive Mantle.
Also
contained in the three CD cardboard case is a 43 minute
free promotional CD, presented by Gary Russell, which
features excerpts from the following Big Finish Doctor
Who ranges: Dalek Empire, UNIT,
Sarah Jane Smith, Gallifrey, Doctor
Who Unbound and Cyberman.
The TARDIS
lands in the Irish town of Drogheda during its siege in
1649. The English general Cromwell, at the head of an
army of over 10,000, is on his way and much feared by
the townspeople.
 |
| Seventh Doctor |
|
As Hex recalls the town’s fate, events swiftly turn
bloody and the travellers become separated. All three
of them learn first hand that war is about senseless,
violent death and people fighting for their lives –
that there can be no winners or losers, just people who
die.
But was Cromwell simply the monster of folklore? What
fateful involvement might someone with foreknowledge of
the history have? While The Doctor has his hands full
with an Irish woman, who is on the run and having a baby
in the middle of the battlefield, Ace and Hex are about
to find out what life was really like with Oliver’s
Army...
For
once The Doctor starts to panic when he realises he must
put his companions and the war ranging around him to one
side and focus on delivering the baby. Luckily for him
he manages to coerce an English doctor to help with the
delivery of the baby. But how can something so wonderful
be born amidst all the death?
For Ace and Hex The Doctor’s instructions to them
not to fight is very difficult for them to obey as they
are confronted with the Irish being horrifically slaughtered.
They are forced to disobey his orders and try and help
stop the injustice – but in doing so they put themselves
in grave danger.
 |
Ace |
|
For
Hex his previous profession as a nurse has imbued him
with a sense of life preservation and so he confronts
Cromwell and tries to convince him that what he is doing
is wrong. Taking advantage of Cromwell’s mood swings
and the revelation that he isn’t an out and out
monster, Hex seizes upon the opportunity to try and influence
him for what he believes to be the better, but in doing
so he is accused at first of being a witch and then when
he thinks that both The Doctor and Ace are dead he is
willing to bring down the entire English army and so risks
being hanged as a traitor…
Instead
of being just observers and not become involved with historic
events Hex finds himself doing the exact opposite and
instead of influencing history for the better it appears
he has actually caused the massacre that he worked so
hard to prevent! But the hardest lesson for Hex to come
to terms with is when he learns that his interference
has sent women and children to their deaths instead of
to safety.
As Ace and Hex reflect on recent events it becomes
clear all three of them will never be the same again as
they get caught up in this world of injustice and death
and witness the full onslaught of the fighting and murder.
Hearing people being brutally slaughtered really drives
home the horror of the situation – and for The Doctor
it is witnessing new life being born in so much destruction.
But
for Hex it has affected the young man the most. After
all the destruction he has witnessed he wonders if he
did the right thing and what he could have done things
better. He ponders that maybe it is time that he should
leave the TARDIS for ever…
It is therefore up to Ace to convince him
not to – but will she be able to prove to him that
there are no real bad guys in this story, just ordinary
people trapped in impossible situations and that he is
not to blame?
|
| |
|
Notes:
- Featuring the Seventh
Doctor, Ace and Hex.
- Serial Number: 7WD
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Cover Length: 100 minutes
- Episode Lengths: 1 = 22'57", 2 = 33'56",
3 = 23'39", 4 = 23'29"
- Total Story Length: 104'01"
- This story takes place after "Survival"
and follows on from "Night Thoughts".
- Cover Illustration: Lee Binding
- Recorded: 9th and 10th November 2005
- Recording Location: The Moat Studios
- Released: May 2006
- ISBN: 1-84435-171-8
|
|
On the Back Cover:
Note to Sir Arthur
Aston, governor of the town of Drogheda, 10 September
1649. "Sir, Having
brought the army belonging to the Parliament of England
before this place, to reduce it to obedience, to the
end effusion of blood may be prevented, I thought fit
to summon you to deliver the same into my hands to their
use.
If this be refused, you will have no cause
to blame me.
I expect your answer and rest your servant.
O. Cromwell."
|
| |
|
Full Cast List:
| The Doctor |
Sylvester McCoy |
| Ace |
Sophie Aldred |
| Hex |
Philip Olivier |
| Colonel Sinnott |
Ian Brooker |
| Mary |
Clare Cathcart |
| Jenkins |
Simon Guerrier |
| Fitzgerald |
Hugh Lee |
| Roberts |
Stephen Mansfield |
| Oliver Cromwell |
Clive Mantle |
| Dr Goddard |
Roger Parrott |
| Chidley Coote |
Alan Ruscoe |
| Turner |
Steven Wickham |
The Production Team:
| Writer |
Simon Guerrier |
| Director |
Gary Russell |
| Sound/Music |
David Darlington |
| Theme Music |
David Darlington |
| Producers |
Gary Russell and
Jason Haigh-Ellery |
|
|
|
|
