Earth Aid (serial)


*The following article is written from an Out of Universe perspective.*

Earth Aid is the first story in Season 27. It was written by Ben Arronovitch, directed by Chris Clough and features Sylvester McCoy as The Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace.

Synopsis

The Space Vessel Vancouver has a new Captain and her name is Ace! As she and the Doctor, undercover, investigate an unidentified ship approaching them, tensions rise within the crew. When gunfire erupts, Ace and her team finds signs of a struggle but no crew. The only survivor an aid worker who's story doesn't add up. As they investigate further, they uncover a horrifying mystery in a missing container....

Plot

Part 1

In the vastness of space, the Space Vessel Vancouver is on a mission. Ace, the captain, and her crew members Yanikov and Shepstay are informed of their arrival at Lilliput. As they near the planet, the crew detects an unidentified craft approaching Lilliput. They attempt to establish contact, but there is no response.

Ace, accompanied by the Doctor, heads to her quarters to receive updates on the situation. While discussing the matter, Ace expresses her concern that Yanikov doesn't trust her. The Doctor dismisses her worries, and they reveal that they are working undercover in case of an emergency.

Meanwhile, on the bridge, Yanikov voices his mistrust of Ace to Shepstay. Suddenly, the scanner picks up gunfire from the unknown ship. Yanikov reports this to Shepstay, who orders everyone to do their jobs.

Ace and the boarding party, led by Lieutenant Baraki, head to Lilliput to investigate the situation. The Doctor thinks it's unnecessary for the troops to arm themselves. Upon arriving, Ace splits the party into two groups to cover more ground. While investigating the banquet area, Ace and the Doctor find that all the food is still warm, indicating that something has happened to the crew. Lt. Baraki contacts Ace, informing her and the Doctor that they have discovered someone using the showers.

Ace and the Doctor rush to the shower area to investigate. They find one shower left on, but nobody is using it. Baraki then contacts Ace, informing her that someone is using a rowing machine in the gym. The Doctor, Ace, Baraki, and the troops enter the gym to find Victor Espinosa, an aid worker, singing while using a rowing machine. Baraki confirms his identity. When questioned about what happened, Victor refuses to speak. He demands to be taken to the sickbay, or else he will lead them to the armoury where it all started.

In the armoury, the Doctor, Ace, and Baraki hide behind a rack while Victor fires his gun at them. Victor claims that he needs the gun to survive. The Doctor tries to convince him to put the gun down, but Victor refuses. Ace suggests that they shoot the gun out of Victor's hand and take him out. Ace tells the Doctor and Baraki to keep Victor talking while she goes to find an air duct. The Doctor tells Victor that they can't leave him behind as he holds the key to the crew's disappearance. Victor claims he doesn't know what happened, but the Doctor points out that he knows more than he's letting on. Ace suddenly appears from behind and shoots the gun out of Victor's hand. Baraki handcuffs him, and the Doctor insists on taking him with them to answer some questions.

Back on the Vancouver, in sickbay, Victor sits with his injured hand being bandaged by the Doctor. Victor explains that he acted in self-defence but refuses to reveal what happened, claiming it is too horrifying to relive. He pleads with the Doctor not to push him to reveal more. As they speak, Baraki enters and requests to speak with the Doctor.

Baraki asks the Doctor if he believes Victor's story, to which the Doctor replies that he suspects Victor knows more than he is letting on. When Baraki inquires about Victor's role, the Doctor reveals that Victor has been assigned to the Lilliput to manage the grain supply and agricultural machinery for the planet Safensthome. However, the Doctor discovers that while there are only five containers of machinery, Victor arrived with six.

Baraki realises that they need to investigate the mystery container. With a cutting tool in hand, Baraki cautiously cuts through the container, warning the Doctor of potential booby traps. Upon entry, they discover traces of consumed food and scratch marks on the walls. The Doctor grows concerned that something is alive inside the container but is no longer there.

Part 2

The Doctor and Baraki search for clues inside a container and find small oxygen cylinders that explain how someone inside was able to breathe. Baraki suggests they search the whole ship for the mystery intruder, but they receive a call from her communicator saying that sickbay is in lockdown and Victor has locked himself inside. The Doctor goes to the sickbay and finds Victor holding a scalpel while singing. The Doctor convinces Baraki to let him handle the situation, and he enters the sickbay, claiming he has a headache. Victor lets him in but becomes annoyed when the Doctor reveals he doesn't have a headache and starts asking questions. Victor denies knowing anything about the sixth container or the mysterious passenger. Baraki storms in with her men and places Victor under arrest. The Doctor tells Baraki he thinks Victor is somehow linked to the disappearance of the crew and suggests they inform Ace.

On the Vancouver, Yanikov and Shepstay inform Ace that they've got nothing on the bogey, and Yanikov believes the ship may be hostile. Baraki contacts Ace privately and updates her on the situation. Ace wants to head back over to the Lilliput, but the Doctor tells her to stay put and lead the crew. Ace asks if he's coming back, to which he replies that he needs to investigate. Shepstay suddenly calls for Ace, saying they've picked up the bogey. The Doctor gives Ace instructions on interstellar combat before she heads back to the bridge.

Meanwhile, Baraki suggests the Doctor return to Vancouver, but he insists on staying to investigate further. He thinks Victor is hiding something and has an agenda, despite Victor's denials.

Ace asks about the mysterious bogey, but Yanikov and Shepstay say they have no information about it. Shepstay thinks the bogey is being hidden and that the pilot is using technology that is invisible to the Vancouver's scanners. Yanikov believes the ship may be hostile. When Ace asks why he thinks that, he says there is no other reason to hide. Lt. Baraki tells Ace that the Doctor wants to talk to her privately. Ace goes to her quarters, and the Doctor updates her on the situation, warning her not to go back to the Lilliput. Ace argues that there may not even be a ship, but the Doctor says that there is, and she needs to lead the Vancouver crew. The Doctor then gives her instructions on interstellar combat, and Ace returns to the bridge.

Baraki suggests that the Doctor returns to the Vancouver, but the Doctor refuses. Baraki then tells the Doctor that she doesn't trust him or Ace and that she thinks their credentials are fake. She also warns the Doctor that Yanikov is getting suspicious. The Doctor reminds her that the grain silo has not been searched.

On the Vancouver, Yanikov argues with Ace about the bogey when suddenly it reappears. Yanikov says it's big and matches nothing in their database. Ace wonders if it's a warship, and Yanikov says it could be. The vessel starts heading towards the Vancouver.

The Doctor, Victor, and Baraki go to the grain silo. Victor explains that he is just an aid worker and doesn't know anything. The Doctor and Baraki do not believe him. Baraki wonders if the Doctor is secretly working with Victor and if they're part of a rival organisation.

Ace tells the Doctor that she thinks they're in trouble and asks about Delta-V reserves. The Doctor explains it to her, and she realises that they'll be able to go faster if they have low fuel reserves. Shepstay informs Ace that the mysterious vessel is no longer on a reverse interception course and has changed headings.

The Doctor, Baraki, and Victor reach the airlock and are wearing spacesuits. They enter the grain silo and meet three insectoid-like aliens hanging upside down, stuck to the ceiling by some type of goo. The main alien introduces himself as a Metatraxi. He then tries taunting Baraki into firing at him, but the Doctor stops her. The Metatraxi attempt to taunt the Doctor, but he ignores them.

Baraki asks what he's doing, insisting that the Metatraxi are responsible for the crew vanishing. The Doctor insists that he just wants to look at the grain before racing through the door into the access corridor and shutting it.

On the Vancouver, Shepstay and Yanikov continue to track the vessel. Shepstay insists that they accelerate to pursue the vessel, but Ace points out that they don't know if they should pursue. Yanikov tells her that he's having no luck getting a response, telling Ace that they can hear them, they just don't want to respond. Ace orders a missile to be fired. Shepstay asks why and Ace tells her that it's to fire a warning shot and get their attention. Shepstay says they can't. Yanikov then tells Ace that the vessel has a new heading, and after Ace asks where it's heading, he tells her it's heading for the Lilliput and straight towards the grain silo.

Part 3

Yanikov reports that the ship won't collide with the grain silo, leaving Ace relieved. Shepstay reports that they're attaching lines to the Lilliput and towing it away, leaving Ace confused before suggesting they follow it.

The Doctor reaches the silo door with a keypad requiring a password. He guesses correctly, Demeter, the Goddess of wheat. The light reveals piles of grain with worm-like creatures emerging. The creatures introduce themselves as Grub from the planet Safensthome. They stowed away, stuck the crew to the walls, and were kicked out of their planet for eating all the food. The main door slams shut.

Victor is meddling with the keypad when Baraki stops him before demanding he opens the door. The Doctor runs out and explains about the Grub and crew's location. He advises Baraki to get food to distract the Grub and use gel to free the crew. Baraki agrees.

On the Vancouver, ships approach a planet that Shepstay confirms is Safensthome. Yanikov is relieved they're at their destination. Ace is confused by the inhabitants' cheeky behaviour.

In the silo, Baraki's troops free who they think are the crew. They're actually the Metatraxi, who ambush and kill Baraki's troops. The Doctor and Baraki attempt to run, but the Metatraxi corner them. Victor is revealed as a traitor, working with the Metatraxi.

The Metatraxi and Victor frogmarch The Doctor and Baraki onto the Lilliput's Bridge. Victor reveals he's fighting the injustices of politics behind food aid but admits he's doing it for money. Victor forces a headset on Baraki's head, communicating with sentient planets, which only works with women. Baraki goes into a trance.

On the Vancouver, Yanikov detects a dozen ships heading towards them, a war fleet.

The Metatraxi leader reveals Safensthome is their home planet. They plan to take the crews to their battle arena and "taunt them to death." The planet evolved the Metatraxi to combat the Grub. They constantly fight wars, leaving the planet safe and plentiful.

On the Vancouver, the ship is coming under heavy fire from the war fleet. Ace asks Yanikov to patch her through to the main battleship. A Metatraxi replies, introducing his race. Ace introduces herself and reveals that she's fighting against them. The Metatraxi orders his fleet to retreat, seeing it as an insult that a woman would challenge them.

In the Metatraxi battle arena, dozens of Metatraxi cheer as the Doctor is forced inside. He confronts the Metatraxi leader who verbally taunts him. At first, the words have no effect, but soon the Doctor is on his knees, mentally exhausted as the Metatraxi leader taunts him for allowing his friends to die. He's saved when the Vancouver arrives. Ace calls down to them, flying the ship over to the Lilliput, grabbing the grain silo and emptying it, releasing the grain and Grub onto the planet. The Grub are happy and rejoices at being back on Safensthome. Several Metatraxi wish to kill the Grub, but the planet tells them not to. The Grub reveals that they’ve learned their lesson and wish to return home. The Metatraxi believe they'll devour everything and beg the planet to let them kill the Grub. The planet refuses, stating that the Grub are their brothers and both should get along. The Metatraxi reluctantly agree. The Doctor then leaves, since this is a family affair.

Later on, both the Doctor and Ace are safely inside the TARDIS. Ace asks the Doctor if he thinks the Metatraxi and Grub will get along. The Doctor believes that they will, saying that the strangest people get on. Ace remarks that if they don't, the planet could always evolve a third race to kick them both off. She then asks how Baraki enjoyed essentially being a planet and the Doctor reveals that he thinks she missed it once they removed the headset, but got great satisfaction from placing Victor in irons. Ace asks Doctor if he knew about everything all along like he usually does. The Doctor claims he did, but when Ace presses him he reveals that for once, he knew absolutely nothing. Ace says that it makes a nice change and hopes that he keeps it up.

Cast

Crew

Writer - Ben Aaronovitch
Producer - John Nathan-Turner
Script Editor - Andrew Cartmel
Director - Alan Wareing
Lighting - Ian Dow
Designer - Nick Somerville
Visual Effects Designers - Malcom James, Dave Chapman
Make-Up Designer - Joan Stribling
Casting Director - Anne Henderson
Music - Dominic Glynn
Costume Designer - Ken Trew
Edited by - Hugh Parson
Vision Mixer - Dinah Long
Original Theme Music - Ron Grainer
Title Music - Keff McCulloch
Title Sequence by CAL Video

Memorable Quotes

To be added.

Background Information

Production History

To be added.

Development

In 1989, Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel and writer Ben Aaronovitch began developing the concept for a new story idea, which would eventually become the serial Earth Aid. The story was originally conceived as a way to showcase Ace, the Doctor’s companion, in a leading role, and was inspired by the popular science fiction series Star Trek.
However, the idea was initially dismissed by Cartmel, who was concerned that the story’s ambitious scope and elaborate special effects would be too costly for the BBC’s budget. It was only after producer John Nathan-Turner expressed a strong interest in the idea that the project was given the green light.
Aaronovitch returned to the script and fleshed out the story, incorporating elements of a strong-villain concept that he and Cartmel had previously developed.

Production

The supporting cast for this serial was made up of largely unknown actors, with much of John Nathan-Turner’s stunt-casting reserved for later stories. Paterson Joseph, who played Victor Espinosa, had some television and theater experience in the UK, but wasn’t anywhere near a well-known face. Cartmel had been keen to cast a black actor in a leading-role during the season and this went to Joseph. Sabina Franklyn, who played Shepstay, had a few television credits to her name. Michael Keating, who played Yanikov, was best known for his role as Vila in the science fiction series Blake’s 7, which Nathan-Turner often stole actors from, and also starred in The Sun Makers back in 1977. Sasha Mitchell, who played Baraki, was a relatively new actor with only a handful of television credits. Peter Tuddenham, who played the voice Metatraxi, had a long career as a voice actor for the BBC. Simon Coady, who played the Grub, was also a relatively unknown actor at the time.
The creatures in this story were achieved using costumes, much like the ones used in Battlefield and the Curse of Fenric, the previous season. However, the Metatraxi were not voiced by the performers in the costumes but instead by veteran voice actor, Peter Tuddenham. The realisation of the creatures worked surprisingly well and many were eagerly impressed.

Post-Production

To be added.

Reaction

Official BARB ratings - 4.3m for Part One, 4.7m for Part Two and 4.6m for Part Three.

Story Notes

This is the second story to feature an actor who would later go on to play the Doctor: in this case, Paterson Joseph, who plays Victor Espinosa, would later be cast as the Twelfth Doctor. The previous example of this was Colin Baker, who first played Maxil in the Season 20 story Arc of Infinity, later being cast as the Sixth Doctor.
This would not happen again until 2019, when Ace Bhatti, who had previously played Gravvil in the Panopticon episode C'est La Vie, was cast as the Sixteenth Doctor.

Continuity

Ace, is once again angered at being called small. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks)
Ace wishes that she still had her original tape-deck. (DW: Remembrance of the Daleks)
Ace mentions that she almost became a cheetah on one occasion. (DW: Survival)

Home Video Releases

To be added.