| JUBILEE by Robert Shearman |
| Story 40 Synopsis: The TARDIS materialises in 1903, but is torn between two localities. The Doctor and Evelyn hear a cry of help, and enter the Tower Of London, where they are taken to see Rochester, President of the English Empire. Rochester doesn't believe the Doctor is who he says, and takes him to meet the prisoner, a Dalek. The Dalek confirms the Doctor's ID. Later, Rochester takes the Doctor on a trip across London, where he then reveals he thinks there is a plot against him. Meanwhile, Evelyn has a chat with the Dalek (who is unarmed). Then Rochester's wife, Miriam, takes Evelyn into her confidence, and takes her to see the hidden prisoner in the Bloody Tower... who happens to be the Doctor. This Doctor is the man who helped the English defeat the Daleks. The English then used the Dalek technology to conquer the rest of the world. The Dalek is rearmed, but seeks orders, which no-one can give. It exterminates the old Doctor. The current Doctor is appalled at Rochester's plans to use dwarves as new Daleks, for future jubilees. The Doctor tells Rochester that there is no plot - it is Rochester himself who is mad. Miriam is plotting to dethrone Rochester, so she can live a womanly subservient life. Rochester wants the Dalek to talk during the jubilee ceremony, but it won't. Evelyn persuades it to talk. The humans in the crowd chant for its death, and the Doctor realises that these humans are becoming Daleks. The Daleks who invaded in 1903 materialise through time, taking the Doctor and Evelyn hostage. The lone Dalek is interrogated, and causes alarm because it disobeys. The Doctor persuades it that ultimately, its mission is doomed, and so the Dalek destroys all the others through the command network. It asks Evelyn to use its gun to exterminate it, and she does so with sadness. The TARDIS sorts itself out, and the Doctor and Evelyn depart, aware that humans can be just as evil as the Daleks. |
| Review:- Before this play, Rob Shearman had written The Holy Terror and The Chimes Of Midnight, both to much critical and popular acclaim, although I remain firmly of the view that the latter is a weak retread of the former. So, bearing those in mind, I consider this story to be a welcome return to form. Indeed, in many ways, this is one of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time. The idea of a Dalek story with hardly any Daleks is not new. Genesis Of The Daleks is probably the most famous example of this, and like that, it's not until the final episode that the Daleks come in force. Before then, instead of Davros, we have a lone Dalek, who has lived in captivity for 100 years, during which time it has been tortured, and it has gone a little mad. But this is not evil megalomania madness. This is a simple crisis of choice madness, and the Dalek gives some of the greatest action and dialogue in ages. Its conversations with Evelyn about being a follower not a leader and with Lamb, over being a loyal soldier are quite profound for an often-derided series. Rochester and his wife are a fine pair of lunatics, each as dangerous as the other, and both misguided over the best way to move forward. Real life husband & wife Martin Jarvis & Rosalind Ayres bring real class to their performances, and the chilling truth of insanity. Farrow and Lamb make for convincing guards, and the few other characters all ring true. Probably the greatest twist is learning of the fate of the other Doctor & Evelyn, and how the 2003 Earth got to be in its mixed-up state. That the Daleks are the cause and conclusion of the mess allows them to return to centre stage. It is a bit of a shame that the last episode has to wrap things up so conveniently, and the final scene, where the Doctor shovels the message down Evelyn's throat is overdoing it. But overall, for a story where a Dalek finally gets to exterminate the Doctor, this is well recommended. |
| Disclaimer: I own a copy. |