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

Welcome aboard the Space Vessel Vancouver. Its mission: to guard a vast shipment of grain from Earth to the planet Safensthome.

Its Captain is called Ace. She seems a little unsure of herself. In fact, some might almost think she was new to the job...

Its medical officer is called simply "the Doctor", and he's perhaps not all he seems.

When mysterious ships target the Vancouver, Ace and the Doctor are pushed to the limit. Meanwhile, there's something nasty in the grain containers. And it's not very happy....

Plot

Part 1

The Space Vessel Vancouver flies across space. On the Bridge, Yanikov and Shepstay announce the arrival of the Lilliput to the Captain who's revealed to be Ace. Ace, satisfied that they reached the Lilliput retires to her quarters.

Ace enters her room to find the Doctor eating biscuts and drinking tea, she tells him that this plan isn't going to work, however the Doctor says that she's doing fine. Ace then expresses concern that Yanikov doesn't trust her, to which the Doctor thinks she's exaggerating. It's then revealed that the Doctor and Ace are working undercover in case something happens.

Back on the Bridge, Yanikov expresses his mistrust about Ace to Shepstay who dismisses this. The scanner then suddenly picks up an unidentified craft approaching the Lilliput, some of the crew attempt to make contact with the Lilliput, but there's no response.

Back in the Captain's quarters, Ace is informed about the situation over a comms link, with the Doctor listening in. Ace (with the Doctor whispering in her ear,) requests a Boarding Party to go on to the Lilliput and find out what's going on. Shepstay complies and states that Lt. Baraki will lead the party.

Ace, the Doctor and the boarding Party are on the shuttle being instructed by Lt. Baraki who tells the troops to arm themselves which the Doctor thinks is unnecessary.

After arriving on The Lilliput Ace, (with the Doctor once again whispering in her ear,) orders the party to split up into two groups so that they can learn what's going on much quicker. The Doctor and Ace split into one group, while Lt. Baraki leads the other.

The Doctor and Ace investigate the banquet area where they find all the food is still warm, meaning that something bad happened to the crew. Lt. Baraki contacts Ace, and informs her and the Doctor that they've discovered someone using the showers, Ace and the Doctor head there to investigate.

After entering the shower area, the Doctor and Ace find one shower has been left on, but nobody is using it. Ace is then contacted by Baraki who informs her that somebody is using a rowing machine in the Gym.

The Doctor, Ace, Lt. Baraki and the troops enter the Gym and find one of the crew, a man singing while using a rowing machine. After getting his attention, the man states that he already knows they're a Landing Party from the Vancouver. After Ace asks for identification, the man introduces himself as Victor Espinosa, an Aid Worker. Baraki confirms this. The Doctor asks what happened, but Victor refuses to say. He then says that if they don't take him to the sickbay, he'll take them to the armoury where it all started.

Back on the Vancouver, Yanikov continues to air his suspicions about Ace, believing she got her terms from a story about a starship. Shepstay becomes frustrated and tells everyone to do their jobs, to which Yanikov says that nothing's happening. The scanner suddenly picks up activity from the unknown ship. Yanikov reports that he's detecting what appears to be gunfire coming from within the Lilliput.

In the Lilliput's armoury, the Doctor, Ace and Baraki are hiding behind a rack while Victor fires a gun at them. Victor tells them to stay away from him as he doesn’t want to hurt them. Victor stops shooting, and the Doctor attempts to convince him to put the gun down. Victor refuses, stating that he needs it to survive. The Doctor points out that he's already survived, and that whatever took the rest of the Lilliput's crew spared him. Ace then tries telling him to put his weapon down, but this fails. Baraki then suggests shooting him, which at first the Doctor objects to, but Ace then suggests that they shoot the gun out of his hand and take him out. Ace tells the Doctor and Baraki to keep Victor talking before going to find an air-duct. The Doctor tells Victor that they can't leave him here as he holds the key to the Lilliput's crew disappearing, to which Victor claims that he doesn't. The Doctor tells Victor that he knows what happened. When Victor claims he doesn’t, the Doctor asks why he feels the need to harm himself. Victor replies that he needs to be ready for when 'they' come back. Ace suddenly appears from behind and shoots the gun from Victor's hand, knocking him over. Baraki then handcuffs him and the Doctor tells him that he's coming with them to answer some questions. Ace is then contacted by Yanikov who requests that she return to the Vancouver immediately. When Ace asks what's wrong, Yanikov simply states that they’ve got company.

A bit later in the sickbay, Victor is having his hand bandaged up by the Doctor. Victor says that he just wanted to defend himself, but refuses to say what from or what happened, claiming it was too horrible, he begs the Doctor not to make him talk about it as he doesn’t want to live through it again. Baraki then asks to speak with the Doctor.

Outside the sickbay, Baraki asks the Doctor if he believes Victor. The Doctor says that he believes Victor knows more than he's letting on. When Baraki asks the Doctor who Victor is, the Doctor says that he looked Victor up and found that he was assigned to the Lilliput to help look after the grain supply, and the agricultural machines meant for the planet Safensthome. The Doctor then points out that there are apparently five containers carrying agricultural machinery, but a report states that Victor arrived with six. Baraki realises that they're going to have to investigate the mystery container.

Baraki goes and cuts through the sixth container with a cutting tool, informing the Doctor that it might be booby-trapped. Baraki eventually cuts her way through, and she and the Doctor investigate. They quickly discover traces of eaten food and scratch marks on the wall. The Doctor realises with concern that something alive was in the container, but that it's not there now.

Part 2

The Doctor and Baraki begin to search the container for any more clues as to who or what was in there. Baraki suggests that they search outside the container, to which the Doctor agrees. As they search the outside of the container, the Doctor discovers small oxygen cylinders on the sides, explaining how whatever was inside was able to breathe. Baraki suggests that they do a search of the whole ship for the mystery intruder before getting a call on her communicator. She then informs the Doctor that they’ve got a situation, and that the sickbay is in lockdown. The Doctor asks if it's Victor, and Baraki confirms his suspicion, explaining that somehow he broke free and has locked himself in the sickbay. The Doctor is confused by the somehow part, and Baraki states that heads are going to roll. She then races in the direction of the sickbay, the Doctor following close behind.

In the sickbay, Victor is standing at the back of the room, trembling and holding a scalpel while singing the song he was singing on the rowing machine, but in an unhinged manner. From the other side of the door, the Doctor compliments his singing and Baraki says that she's not buying his 'Scared, lone survivor routine. The Doctor convinces her to let him handle the situation as it's his jurisdiction to which Baraki agrees. Victor says that he knows what they all want, and that he's not coming out which the Doctor says is fine. Victor warns them not to come in, but the Doctor says that someone will come in. Victor then says that it's safe and that he doesn’t have a gun this time which the Doctor agrees with. He then says that he's not a threat to anyone which the Doctor confirms. Victor says that all he's got is a scalpel. The Doctor points out that that's fine. Victor then says that it's "Just a tiny, but very sharp scalpel"

Outside Baraki threatens to punish the person who allowed Victor to get a hold of a scalpel. Victor continues singing, but the Doctor tells him to stop. Victor says he just wants to stay in the sickbay which the Doctor says is fine. He then thinks for a few moments before claiming that he has a headache. Victor is sceptical, but when the Doctor says it's bad and getting much worse, Victor agrees but warns the Doctor that only he can enter. Baraki is hesitant to allow the Doctor in, but he assures her that he'll be fine.

Victor places the trolly back and unlocks the door. The Doctor enters and Victor starts looking around for antibiotics. The Doctor then reveals that he doesn’t actually have a headache, he just said that so Victor would let him in. Victor is horrified and annoyed, but the Doctor tells him to be quiet and that he has questions for him. Victor reluctantly sits on a nearby bed, and the Doctor asks about the mysterious sixth container. Victor claims he doesn’t know what the Doctor's talking about, but the Doctor tells him that his name was on the manifest and therefore he'd know. Victor continues to insist he has no clue what he's on about. The Doctor then asks about the mysterious passenger in the container, but Victor claims to have no knowledge of an unknown occupant in the container. Baraki and her men suddenly storm in and surround a horrified Victor. The Doctor says he told Baraki to wait outside. Baraki then places Victor in irons, and he's escorted from the sickbay. The Doctor then demands to know what Victor's hiding, but Victor maintains that he knows nothing. The Doctor says that he doesn’t trust him due to his behaviour and believes he has an agenda. Victor asks the Doctor what he thinks the agenda is, and the Doctor replies that he intends to find out. The Doctor tells Baraki that he thinks Victor is somehow linked to the disappearance of the crew and that they should inform Ace of recent developments.

Back on the Vancouver, Ace asks about the bogey, but Yanikov and Shepstay inform her that they’ve got nothing and that the bogey has vanished. Shepstay believes that it's being shrouded and that the technology the pilot has allows them to be invisible even to the Vancouver's scanners. Yanikov believes that the ship may be hostile. When Ace asks why he thinks that, he states that there'd be no other reason to hide. Lt. Baraki then comes through on the coms stating that the Doctor wishes to speak to Ace. When Yanikov attempts to patch the Doctor through Baraki states that he asked to speak to her privately. Ace asks Yanikov to patch the Doctor through to her coms, which he begrudgingly does. Ace then heads to her quarters, telling Shepstay that she has the bridge.

Inside her quarters, the Doctor updates Ace on the situation. Ace wants to head back over to the Lilliput, but the Doctor tells her to stay put. Ace argues that there may not even be a ship, but the Doctor says that there likely is and that she needs to lead the crew of the Vancouver. Ace asks if he's coming back, to which he replies that he needs to investigate. Ace says she needs him, but Shepstay suddenly calls for Ace, saying they've picked up the bogey. Ace is worried, but the Doctor assures her she'll be fine before giving her instructions on inter-stellar combat. Ace then heads back to the Bridge.

Back on the Lilliput, Baraki suggests that the Doctor returns to the Vancouver, but the Doctor says that he's just finished explaining to Ace why he can't. Baraki argues that he should, the Doctor tries convincing her to go back but she refuses, sensing that it's not safe, which the Doctor agrees with. Baraki then says that it's not safe with him around. She then tells the Doctor that she doesn’t trust him and while she respects Ace, she's not sure she trusts her either. The Doctor asks why, and she replies that he and Ace just suddenly showed up before they all left for the mission, with credentials that she's convinced are fake. And now the crew have gone missing except for Victor. Baraki warns the Doctor that Yanikov is getting suspicious. The Doctor then says that he's the ranking officer, to which Baraki reminds him that she's in charge of the search. The Doctor then asks if Baraki searched everywhere, to which she says she did. The Doctor then reminds her that this is a grain ship and Baraki realises that they've not searched the grain silo.

Back on the Vancouver, Yanikov has lost the bogey much to Ace's annoyance. The two begin arguing over whether the systems are working when suddenly the bogey reemerges. Yanikov says that it's big and matches nothing in their database. Ace wonders if it's a warship, Yanikov says it could be and that it's no longer hiding. The unknown vessel suddenly begins heading towards the Vancouver.

The Doctor, Victor and Baraki are heading down to the grain silo. Victor explains that Earth Aid is the most charitable organisation in the universe and that he's just a simple Aid Worker and knows nothing. The Doctor and Baraki don't believe him. Baraki wonders if the Doctor is secretly working with Victor and asks if they’re secretly part of a rival organisation. The Doctor dismisses her theory.

On the Vancouver, Yanikov informs everybody that the mysterious vessel is suddenly changing course. Shepstay soon confirms that the vessel has bigger Delta-V reserves, confusing Ace. Ace asks Yanikov to patch her through to the Doctor. She then heads for her quarters. Yanikov is now frustrated with Ace, but Shepstay tells him to stop it.

In her quarters, Ace tells the Doctor that she thinks they're toast and asks about Delta-V reserves. The Doctor explains it to her, but this only leaves Ace feeling more confused and worried. However, she soon understands that they'll be able to go faster if they have low fuel reserves. Shepstay then comes through on the coms and informs Ace that the mysterious vessel is no longer on a reverse interception course and has changed headings. Ace heads back to the bridge.

The Doctor, Baraki and Victor reach the entrance to the grain silo, and Victor asks why he can’t stay here and gets berated by Baraki. The Doctor tries to argue that they don’t need Victor, but Baraki says she wants him where she can see him. As they approach the airlock, Baraki asks the Doctor what he thinks is in the grain silo, but the Doctor laments that he hasn't got a clue which frustrates him.

Back on the Vancouver, Shepstay informs Ace that they’re unsure what the mysterious vessel is up to. Yanikov states that they've tried contacting it, much to Ace's surprise. Shepstay says it's a standard procedure and that they tried contacting the vessel as soon as it appeared. Ace tells them to keep trying much to Yanikov's annoyance.

The Doctor, Baraki and Victor have now reached the airlock and are wearing spacesuits. Baraki wants to go first as they've no idea what they could be dealing with, but the Doctor insists on going first. They then enter and are met by 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 and heads for the entrance to the grain silo. Baraki asks what he's doing, insisting that the Metatraxi are the ones 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 are continuing 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 header, 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 is not going to collide with the grain silo leaving Ace relieved. Shepstay reports that the vessel is now attaching lines to the Lilliput and towing it away, leaving Ace confused before suggesting that they follow it.

The Doctor finally reaches the door to the grain silo which has a keypad, meaning there's a password. He correctly guess the password as Demeter, the Goddess of wheat. The Doctor then enters the silo.

The Doctor switches on a light, revealing massive piles of grain. Quite suddenly, large worm-like creatures emerge from the grain. The Doctor says that he means them no harm, but wishes to know who they are and what they’re doing here. The main creature introduce him and the others as Grub, a race from the planet Safensthome who were kicked out due to eating all the food. They found the grain silo and stowed away on board, they then stuck the crew to the walls. The main door suddenly slams shut.

Victor is just outside the door, meddling with the keypad when suddenly Baraki stops him before demanding he open the door. Victor complies and opens the door, allowing the Doctor to run out. Baraki berates him for disobeying her orders, but the Doctor quickly explains about the Grub and where the crew are. He then advises Baraki to get her troops to gather some food, use it to distract the Grub, and then use some special gel to free the crew, Baraki agrees to this.

Back on the Vancouver, Ace and the others see that the ships are approaching a planet which Shepstay confirms is Safensthome. Ace is confused by this, feeling that the inhabitants are a bit cheeky. Yanikov says that he's just relieved they’re at their destination.

Later in the grain silo, the Grub are busy eating while Baraki's troops are freeing who they think are the crew. Baraki tells the Doctor that she feels she was wrong about him and that she'll be glad when this is all over. The Doctor, however, doesn’t think it's over, and feels that Victor isn’t being truthful, but Victor tells him to stop worrying. The troops finish releasing the crew and it's revealed that it wasn’t the crew, but the Metatraxi who ambush and kill all of Baraki's troops. The Doctor and Baraki attempt to run, but the Metatraxi corner them and it's revealed that Victor is working with them.

The Metatraxi and Victor frogmarch The Doctor and Baraki on to the Lilliput's Bridge. Baraki tells Victor that she always suspected that he was no good. Victor states that he's a loyalist, fighting the injustices of politics behind food aid. The Doctor's not convinced, prompting Victor to reveal he's just doing it for money. Victor then takes out a headset, and the Doctor explains to Baraki that it's used to communicate with sentient planets. Victor forces it on to Baraki's head, revealing that the device only works with women, The Doctor adding that sentient planets are female. Baraki then goes into a trance.

Back on the Vancouver, Yanikov detects a dozen ships heading towards them from the planet. He then informs everybody that it's a war fleet.

The Doctor comes to the conclusion that the Metatraxi have taken over Safensthome, but the Metatraxi leader reveals that this is in fact their home planet.

The Doctor, Baraki, Victor and the Metatraxi step out on to Safensthome. The Doctor notes that there isn’t much of a famine going on, to which Victor reveals that he made the famine part up. The Metatraxi leader reveals that he and the other Metatraxi plan to take the crews of both ships to their battle arena and "taunt them to death" The planet, speaking through Baraki reveals that it evolved the Metatraxi in order to combat the Grub. The Metatraxi constantly go off fighting in wars, leaving the planet safe and plentiful.

Back on the Vancouver, the ship is coming under heavy fire from the war fleet and Shepstay tells Ace that they're almost out of weapons. Ace then gets an idea and asks Yanikov to patch her through to the main battle ship. A Metatraxi replies, introducing his race. Ace introduces herself and reveals that she's the captain of the Space Vessel Vancouver, and she's fighting against them. The Metatraxi is disgusted by this and orders his fleet to retreat, seeing it as an insult that a woman would challenge the Metatraxi. Yanikov and Shepstay congratulate Ace while other crew members clap. Shepstay asks Ace how she knew that would work, and Ace states that some boys at her school would back off if she challenged them.

In the Metatraxi battle arena, dozens of Metatraxi are heard cheering as the Doctor is forced inside. He then confronts the Metatraxi leader who verbally taunts him. At first, the words have no effect, but soon the Doctor is on his knees, clutching his temples. He's mentally exhausted as the Metatraxi leader taunts him for allowing his friends to die. He's soon saved when the Vancouver arrives. Ace calls down to them (horrifying the leader,) before flying the ship over to the Lilliput, grabbing the grain silo and emptying it, releasing the grain and Grub on to the planet. The Grub are happy and rejoice at being back on Safensthome. Several Metatraxi discover this and wish to kill the Grub, however, 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 begs 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 whine over this, but 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 - Chris Clough
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

A working title for this story was Bad Destination.
In an early draft of the script, the Metatraxi were intended to be more Samurai like.
This early draft also featured something known as a 'Data Vampire' and the Seventh Doctor creating Stone Henge to send a signal into space.

Production

To be added.

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 story marks the debut of a brand new TARDIS console room which would go on to be used until Hatred of the Daleks.
This is the first story to feature the Metatraxi. They would later appear in Crime of the Century, Blood and Iron and The Enemy Uncovered. They also make an appearance in The Elysium Season 4 episodes Hostile Assault and To the Death.

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)
The Doctor would later encounter the Metatraxi in Karifstan in the Middle-East in October 1990. (DW: Crime of the Century)

Home Video Releases

To be added.