Monday 31 December 2007

The Ben Chatham New Years Eve Special: "Wolf"

The cast:
Ben Chatham - Adam Rickitt
Katie Ryan - Kate Ryan
Kyle - Rory Jennings
Anselm Ashmore - Harry Lloyd
Professor Halbutt - Griff Rhys-Jones

It is New Years Eve and Ben is alone in his apartment putting the final touches to his New Years Eve Party spread. He arranges the cucumber sandwiches and nibbles and places the large bowl of punch, made with a £100 bottle of 1963 claret, in the centre. Then he sits down to enjoy an absinthe while listening to Bowie's "Low" album, having sent Katie , Anselm& Kyle out to the shops to buy more wine.
Suddenly the doorbell rings and Ben finds its one of his old Archaeology professors from the University , Professor Halbutt.
"Ben I'm in terrible trouble" he explains.
" I was asked to examine some fossilised bones from a dig at Figsbury Rings. As I was dating them this afternoon they began to glow and transform into a strange wolf-like creature. Its out there somewhere on the rampage. I know you have connections with certain organisations...."
Ben is concerned:
"You have done the right thing. Have a fox's glacier mint , while I contact Torchwood."

Meanwhile Katie, Anselm and Kyle are in Jepsons, an exclusive Cambridge wine shop.
"I don't see why Ben insisted we get such pricey booze" Kyle observes.
"Because he has standards, unlike you chavboy." Katie retorts.
Suddenly they hear screaming in the street. Rushing out, Kyle sees a huge werewolf tearing its claws into shoppers, tossing small children into the road as it bites at heads and necks. Thinking quickly, Kyle lobs a bottle of wine at the creature which hits it on the head. It runs off, making grunting noises.

Back at Ben's flat, Katie, Anselm & Kyle explain what has happened and Kyle suggests that they go out and find the creature. Ben grins:
"Theres no need. I have just recieved a text from Torchwood, they picked the thing up 10 mins ago. Sometimes the easiest thing to do IS to contact the proper agencies."
Katie suggests they all toast Ben, while the Professor helps himself to a cucumber sandwich.

- THE END

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all blog readers!

Have a few absinthes tonight!

Winter of the Lost: Part 6

Here is part 6 of this gripping story folks:

Running down a corridor, Ben finds Anselm outside Yates' office in a state of shock. The door was ajar and Anselm had overheard Yates' conversation with Queen Thalisa. Tears fill his eyes. As Ben ushers him away he tries to explain:
"I don't understand.... they mean to wipe the planet of most of its population.... not to take a select few to the new world..."
Ben is concerned:
"I'm sorry Anselm. Yates is clearly using your Cult of the Sun to assist him by spinning this false aim. How exactly was the transportation to another world supposed to happen?"
"We were all to assemble on Danebury Hillfort on Christmas Day and the combined force of out psychic energy was to activate the transportation."
Anselm explains more of what he heard as they find an exit and run out of the building and across some fields. He is very emotional, so Ben gives him a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down and hugs him. Reaching a road, Kyle thumbs down a car and they hitch a lift back to the house.

In the drawing room, Ben pours out some of Lord Ashmore's brandy and ponders the situation. "It seems that this Queen Thalisa alien is using Yates in order to clear the earth for her people. Probably span Yates a yarn about returning to some pre-industrial golden age knowing that Yates once worked for UNIT. From what the Doctor said about him though he seemed an ok kind of chap so she probably has him under mind control as well. "
Kyle makes a suggestion:
"Why don't we drive to this Danebury place and check it out. "
Ben tuts:
"Hardly any point now. Its Christmas Eve and we're tired. Lets get an early night, start off tomorrow and catch them at it."

On Christmas morning, they arrive at Danebury in Anselm's car and walk up the slope towards the hillfort. Hearing voices they hide in the ditch and slowly creep up and peer over. A large group of people surround a makeshift altar as Yates preaches to them, dressed in a robe:
"Oh Children of the Sun: the day of deliverence is hear. Today we journey to the new earth.Focus your minds."
Suddenly a gasp goes up from the group as a new figure approaches the altar: Kylie Minogue:
"I will help you to reach the stars. Focus your minds on me. Imagine a world free of people, the new world green. Think of it. Focus your psychic energy."
A low hum begins and a strange glow emenates from the ground:
"How come she looks like Kylie?" Katie asks:
"Fascinating." Ben states: "The technology is buried benieth the hillfort. Its probably been here for centuries awaiting activation. Presumably it needs psychic energy to activate and the Queen is a psychic energy catalyst.She is clearly a shapeshifter impersonating Kylie to inspire unquestioning devotion in her followers".
"Then lets stop 'er." Kyle shouts.Kyle leaps up and shouts 'stop' breaking the group's concentration. The energy glow stops. Thalisa runs towards him. She pulls out a gun, aims at Kyle's head and fires.......


...... to be continued.

Winter of the Lost: Part 5

Here is part 5 of this Yuletide special folks!

Ben listens in silence while Yates explains how he plans to use alien technology to transport the Cult of the Sun members to a new planet in another solar system.
"Imagine a new world, a new beginning for mankind. You could be part of this."
Yates concludes.Ben stands up resolutely:
"I can see how this idea might appeal to some people, however I don't much care for the idea of living on some rural planet in a mud hut with no books, refined cultural pleasures and fine restaurants."
Anselm looks disappointed:
"But Ben, think of the adventure and the sense of discovery."
Ben takes his hand:
"I'm sorry Anselm. But I'd imagine the whole experience would be most distasteful. I have no desire to live like some kind of neolithic person. I like to keep myself clean."
Yates stands up:
"I'm very sorry that you feel this way Ben. We must keep you here until the project is complete, maybe you will change your mind."
As Ben is led away to a holding room, he gazes lovingly into Anselm's dark eyes,
"Think what you are doing Anselm. Don't go with them....."

Meanwhile, Kyle and Katie have been bunged in a room with some of Yates' men, when Yates himself walks in after talking with Ben.
"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting, I've had things to do and I've just been chatting to your associate Ben Chatham. He has agreed to join the Cult of the Sun and come with us to the new world."
Kyle is having none of it:
"Yeah, as if. Ben would never agree to give up 'is 'ome comforts and modern tastes."
Yates stares at him:
"Hmmm very perceptive. I can see you may be trouble."
Katie jabs Kyle in the side:"*whispering* Don't antagonise him , numbnut"
She then addresses Yates:
"Why are you keeping us here? Please just let us go and we'll say nothing."
Yates smiles:
"I assure you that we mean you no harm. We are a pacifist organisation. It is simply our dream to start again on a freash, green new world free of war, corruption and greed."
Kyle stares at him:
"Well Why did you murder that bloke then? With the sword? "
"Oh come now, that wasn't me. It was an accident. He stumbled on a ... shall we say ceremony that we were holding in the old chapel ruins. Its also an Iron age burial ground you know. There was a fight and the sword accidently went into him."
Kyle isn't convinced:"Thats a load of bull. and all this stuff about goin' to another planet don't ring true either.Whatever you're plannin' it ain't 'ow you say."
He jumps up suddenly and throws the table over, knocking Yates against the wall. Punching one of Yates' men, he grabs Katie's arm and they flee the room.

Ben is lying on the bed in his locked room, thinking of Anselm when he hears a commotion outside. The door is kicked open and he sees Kyle with Katie:
"Come on Ben, quick."
Kyle says.Ben jumps up:
"Well done Kyle. You're developing initiative skills. Ahm, we need to find Anselm".
Kyle disagrees:
"But he's one of this Cult thing and we ain't got time."
Ben is irritated:
"We are not leaving here without him."
They rush down the corridor and down a staircase looking for Anselm.

Meanwhile, Yates in in his office. He sits alone, almost in a trance. There is a low humming sound emenating from his phone, which seems to be excerting an hypnotic effect on him. Eventually he picks the phone up and presses it. A female voice comes from the phone:
"Yates. Is everything still going according to plan."
"Yes, Your Majesty. The snoopers have been confined. The will of Queen Thalisa of the Zenons will be obeyed."
"Good Yates Good. Soon this planet will be wiped clean of all technology and most of its population. Ripe for colonisation by my subjects."
Yates stares blankly:
"Yes... wiped clean....."As he gazes down at the videophone he sees the face of...... Kylie Minogue!

- to be continued.

Tuesday 25 December 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL BLOG READERS

Its Christmas Day!!!!!!

Friday 21 December 2007

Winter of the Lost: Part 4

Anyway, here is part 4 of this Christmas special folks!

Ben and Anselm are lying together after making love by the riverbank:
"So, what was that vision we saw earlier? What are you involved with?" Ben asks. Anselm strokes Ben's blonde hair:
"Ben, on Christmas Day we are going on a journey, the Cult of the Sun I mean. Our leader is going to take us to a new home, another planet beyond the solar system. He has the technology. That vision was part of a game, to give us a sense of what life will be like without modern technology and society."
Ben lets his hair fall over his face as his dark, dreamy eyes fill with tears:
"But I've only just found you and now you say you are leaving."
"Come with me Ben. Come with me to the new world. *Anselm pulls out a punnet of stawberries from his bag and offers one to Ben*.

Meanwhile Katie has rung the police on her mobile, in a state of frustration. Kyle is tring to calm her:
"Look theres nowt much the police can do an' they ain't gonna take seriously us seeing weird visions. Lets see if we can find anything else."
However as he searches, three men approach and one of them pulls out a gun.
"OK, don't move. Now give us the objects."
They take the sword and catapult from Kyle and then bundle him & Katie into the back of a landrover and drive to the mud track that leads to the road.

Ben & Anselm arrive back at the house just as the police are arriving. Lord Ashford is greeting the police:
"Oh what now? We've given our statements, can't you leave us alone Barnaby?"
Chief Inspector Barnaby remains stony faced:
"My Lord, we've recieved a call from a woman in a severe state of distress on your land. Is it Ok if Sergeant Troy here has a look around?"
Ben is concerned:"Hey, that sounds like Katie. I'm sorry, my name is Ben Chatham and I've just seen a vision of some Iron Age warriors. Katie may have done the same."
Barnaby looks gone out:
"Are you taking the Michael?"
Ben is irritated:"Look, I know how it sounds, but I'm telling the truth."
Barnaby ignores him and heads off towards the garden with Troy, while Lord Ashford goes inside.In the drawing room, Ben & Anselm help themselves to a brandy:
"Look Ben, I wish you hadn't told the police that. Look, come with me now. Come and meet the leader."
Ben isn't sure about this, but he feels such a closeness to Anselm that he agrees. They knock back the brandies then set off in Anselm's car . As they leave, Barnaby comes stomping back into the house:
"Right, don't anymore of you leave. We've found another body....."

Anselm drives to a large house set within a plush estate. The gates are electronically operated & he punches in the code. As they arrive at the house, Anselm rings the occupents and the door is opened. Several men usher them into a large study, where a man stands with his back to them. Anselm addresses him:
"Sir, I have brought someone to meet you. I think he would be an ideal addition to our group. His name is Ben Chatham."The man sniggers:
"Oh I have heard of Ben Chatham. *Turning around* welcome Ben. Welcome to the Cult of the Sun. My name is Mike Yates......"


- to be continued

Tuesday 18 December 2007

These new 'Academy' Schools

What a daft idea. Ugly modern buildings, education on a huge scale.....

The best schools are those with oak-panelled walls, leafy grounds and where the headmaster knows the name of every pupil.

The Christmas Thread

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all blog users.

"Winter of the Lost" Part 3

I see that parts 1&2 are here already.

OK, here is part 3 of this festive story:

Back at Duxforth House, Ben, Katie and Kyle are enjoying afternoon tea in the drawing room and admiring the magnificent tree. The police have arrived and are removing the body.
"I expect they'll want to interview us all" Ben warns. Lady Ashford frowns:
"Oh how inconvenient. I have a meeting at the church hall at four to discuss the arrangements for the New Year country crafts fete."
Ben sympathises with her then frowns.
"I wonder whose body it was."Anselm answers:
"Oh I recognised it instantly. It was Porter, the assistant gardener. Probably stabbed by one of his drunken mates in a fight, he was always getting into trouble in the Dog & Gun."
Lord Ashford is angry:
"Damn that man! We should have let him go long ago, he was always loafing around .No wonder the garden is out of control."
Kyle chips in:
"Ere, the bloke has just been done in ain't he? Hows about leaving off 'avin a go at him."
Ben glares at Kyle for his akward comment while the others carry on with the conversation.

After the police gave conducted the interviews, Anselm offers to take Ben to the river for an evening of fishing. Ben is keen to spend more time with the attractive young aristocrat and agrees. Left alone in the drawing room with Katie, Kyle suggests that they go back to the garden site to investigate.
"I'm sure the police have dealt with everything"Katie muses.
"Yeah but they didn't experience the time shift thing or believe us when we told 'em. Theres stuff goin' on here, lets find out what."
Katie reluctantly agrees and they go out to the garden area which is cordoned off with police tape. Katie is annoyed:
"See? All cordoned off. Why the hell did Ben leave me alone with you?"
Kyle spots something in the grass:
"Hey whats this? Its another sword, like the one used to kill that bloke. And theres a catapult thing 'ere too."
Suddenly the air around them starts to go swimmy and they see a vision of a group of bearded men dressed in rags & fur charging at them, swords drawn. Katie screams!

Meanwhile, at the river, Ben & Anselm are fishing.
"It must be great to have he opportunity to fish and shoot whenever you like on your own land" Ben muses.
"Its a shame that we don't all have the chance to live more naturally." Anselm replies.
"I love the country way of life" Ben states.
He stares at Anselm and feels an onslaught of desire for him. Ben imagines himself holding him in bed and exploring his slender limbs. Anselm stares back:
"Ben, ever since I saw you, I suspected that you were our kind of guy."
"You mean gay? Yes. Its funny how you sometimes know."
Anselm grins:"Well yes, I am gay but I didn't mean that. I mean our kind of guy. Look Ben, when I was at university, some of us formed a circle. An underground group if you like. Devoted to rejecting the culture of the modern urban world and returning to a simpler way of life. We call ourselves the Cult of the Sun. You can be part of this. Ben the new age is coming. On Christmas Day, everything changes. The Leader will deliver!"
Ben feels nervous. Suddenly everything swirls around gim and he sees visions of men with spears.
"Wha... whats happening?" he mutters.
"Don't fight it Ben. Its a taste of things to come" Anselm replies, embracing Ben in his arms.....

.... to be continued

Sunday 16 December 2007

New Ben Chatham Story: "Winter of the Lost" on OG

The Ben Chatham Christmas special is now being posted on OG. Will post here if theres enough interest.

Tuesday 4 December 2007

I'm off for 3 days on a work trip

Taking the students on an Archaeology trip to Stonehenge/Avebury

The new Radio Times Doctor Who cover

I'm not sure I like the picture. Kylie looks very OLD in it and David Tennant has a strange expression, as if he needs the toilet.

I'm BACK on OG (The Doctor Who Forum!)

YAY! They seem to have rectified the problem.

Sunday 2 December 2007

I CANNOT log into the new DoctorWhoForum!!!!!

What is going on? Everytime I try to log in it claims I've typed the wong password and locks me out!!!! I am typing the CORRECT password!!!!!!

More Ben adventures coming soon

I've been having a break due to work pressures. However hopefully by the end of the week I'll have time to finalise & post my 2009 specials pitch.

Sunday 18 November 2007

My letter to DWM

Dear DWM team,

I would like to compliment you on an interesting and well written DWM 389. Despite a continued over-concentration on the new series and the rather mundane Sarah Jane Adventures, the article on 'Destiny of the Daleks' was excellent and well researched and I have enjoyed the comic strip, 'The First'.
However I would like to suggest that you include some articles on Ben Chatham , if only a few reviews of his latest adventures. Ben is the most important Doctor Who spin-off character and I'm sure many fans would be pleased to see him featured in your magazine.

Thursday 15 November 2007

"NEMESIS" Part 8 : The conclusion!

"NEMESIS: Part 8"

The aliens pour out of the ship, reptilian creatures in strange transluscent uniforms. The signal is still being transmitted from the cryogenic chamber. As the Nazi guards see them approaching, they open fire. A battle commences between the Nazi forces and the aliens - with SS elite troops encircling the invaders and attempting to fight their way onto the ship. The aliens blast at the house from the ship, causing part of the roof to fall in.Inside the building, Hitler is pacing up and down:
"What is the meaning of this? What are these reptilian scum?"
Hoffman tries to explain:
"Mein fuhrer, ven mein father placed you in the chamber in 1945, he had to remove a creature from it first. These things fit zie same description. Clearly zie creature vas launched into space in some kind of attempt to find a new vorld. Ven you revived it must have sent some kind of signal for them to come."
Hitler is furious:"Mein Gott! Vie must crush the invaders like the filth they are. Lower than zie Russian schwein!"
"Yes Mein fuhrer!"

As the battle rages on, for several hours, UNIT forces arrive, contacted by Torchwood,with Ben, Kyle and Katie arriving in a UNIT van. The UNIT forces attack the aliens from the rear, blasting the ship with massive bazookas as the SS throw grenades through the entrance. Kyle joins in the fighting while Ben and Katie sit watching the scene with the UNIT officers. Suddenly the ship explodes, sending everyone scurrying for cover. Out in space, the alien fleet leaves, their commanders deciding that earth is not a safe place to land. However, as the UNIT forces prepare to enter the house, they find themselves surrounded on all sides by SS and regular Nazi troops. Hoffman marches from the house.
"Excellent verk men. These vill make excellent bargaining material. Round them all up and herd them into that storage varehouse."'

They are forced into the half-empty warehouse, Ben and Katie included. Kyle meanwhile has managed to hide behind a large, smouldering hunk of the ship and is unseen. As they enter the warehouse, Hoffman has Ben & Katie brought forward.
"These two vill come vith me."
Inside the house again, they are ushered into Hoffman's drawing room, where Hitler sits listening to Wagner's 'Prelude to Lohengrin'. He looks up:
"Ah, it is the strident blonde youth again. Come and sit down. Have some coffee."
Ben looks distainfully at him:
"If I must join you, I'd like some brandy please."
Hoffman is angered:
"You insolent schvein! The fuhrer does not approve of drink!"
However Hitler waves his hand:
"It is no problem. Give the boy and his madschen whatever they like."
Ben has a large brandy and Katie a vodka and orange. Ben is resolute:
"You'll never escape Hitler! UNIT and regular British troops will be surrounding this place as we speak. Why not give up?"
Hitler will have none of it:
"I will use the prisoners as hostages until I am given an aircraft to fly me out of this country."
Ben is having none of it:
"There is nowhere for you to go. Most Germans of today hate you and I think just about any country you tried to go to would arrest you instantly. You are despised as a mass racist murderer. Just give up."
Hitler is angered:
"Surely some of the German volk continue to honour my memory."
"Only a few skinheads in the Eastern part. Not many others. Look Hitler, why not have a brandy, chill out a bit and then surrender."

As he speaks, the window crashes through and someone leaps through and grabs Hitler as he rises. Its Kyle, with a knife pilfered from a fallen Nazi:
"Ok, let your prisoners go or 'e gets it in the neck".
Ben has a better idea:
"Hoffman, send out a message of surrender to the army, by ordering your men to drop their weapons and leave the house with their hands raised. Or Kyle here will knife your fuhrer , and he will do it, he's from a council estate."
The nazis begin to surrender and troops move into the building. Kyle lets Hitler sit down as the UK soldiers enter the room. However as he sits down, Hitler pulls something from his pocket:
"Ah, you think you mongrelised British can hold me! That chamber was not the only alien technology we have. Aufidersehn.... for now."
Hitler presses a button on the device and beams away to destination unknown.

Later, back in the Mermaid Wine Bar in Cambridge, Ben, Katie and Kyle are discussing the adventure.
"So where do you recon he went to?" Kyle asks. Ben sips an absinthe:
"Who knows."
Katie chips in:
"Lets hope its somewhere peaceful where he can live out the rest of his life with no hassle."
Ben is irritated:"Katie, its Hitler. It would be better for the world if he were to stand trial."
Suddenly a guy brushes past Ben carrying drinks and some spills out onto Ben who is irritated:
"Hey watch it , idiot!"
The man scowls:
"Sorry, but that was an accident. And my name isn't idiot, its Leonard. Leonard Hatred to you!"
"Leave it Ben",
Kyle advises. As the man walks away, Ben looks at him:
"Mmmm nice rear."
This irritates Katie:"Ben when are you going to stop this sort of thing."
Ben scowls at her:"Look Katie, if you're uncomfortable with gay people, just go."
Katie throws her drink at Ben who shouts at her to go again and she stomps off to the bar. Seeing the guy there again she slinks up to him:
"So hi Leonard. *Placing her hand on his leg* so what brings you to Cambridge......."

..... THE END

The Onward March of Dimness

The average 16-18 year old these days has 1/3 less words in their vocabulary than 20 years ago. Partly this is due to their complete inability to read books. As a teacher I find all of this incredibly frustrating.

Sunday 11 November 2007

Cast Kyle

OK, I'm looking for suggested actors to play Kyle in my Ben Chatham/Doctor Who stories. All suggestions appreciated.

Ho hum, work again tomorrow

I need a holiday. Autumn is cold , wet and dark, not a time of year to be working.

"NEMESIS" Part 7

"NEMESIS" Part 7

Ben, Katie and Kyle are in the holding cell, awaiting possible execution. Katie is on edge:
"How the **** are we going to get out of this. *Bangs hands on door* ."
Ben sighs:
"Calm down Katie. Theres no use in us losing it. We need to think this through."
She glowers at him:"Whats to think through. We're stuck in here waiting for some crazed Krauts to come and shoot us and you got us into this."
Meanwhile, Kyle is surrupticiously picking at the lock with a device he had concealed within his trainer.
"Dan it! We're out. Cam on."
He slowly opens the door and they quietly move out and down the winding corridor. They find a store room and a door that leads outside into a yard. Kyle scales a wall and Ben helps Katie up before scaling it himself. They run off across the windswept moorland until they reach a road. They wave down a car and ask the driver where he is going:
"Just driving up to Cardiff boyo" says the bearded man inside.
"Perfect" Ben replies cheerfully.

When they arrive in Cardiff, Ben contacts Captain Jack Harkness and his Torchwood team. Ben recounts what has happened to a disbelieving Jack, however he eventually realises that it is no wind up.
"So Hitler is alive. Wow, is this serious."
While Ben is with Torchwood, he leaves Kyle and Katie in a wine bar having ordered them drinks and food. Katie is unimpressed:
"I'm not happy with Ben just leaving us here while he goes off to meet these people. As if its all some big secret we're not allowed into."
Kyle is more reconciled:
"He must 'av 'is reasons."
"Yeah, trust you to agree with him. You do realise that you're not Ben's type at all don't you? You probably amuse him in some way." Katie replies.
"Look, I've told you it ain't like that."
Katie smirks:"If you say so. Anyway, Kyle, how do you like the food Ben has ordered?"
"Not much." kyle replies. Katie erupts into laughter and tips back on her chair:
"ha ha.... I thought you wouldn't.... more of a big mac boy I'd imagine.... ha ha".
Kyle glowers:"Look 'ere we are just 'avin escaped from Nazis and all you do is make snobby digs at me. Me 'an Ben are friends, I ain't tryin' to come between you an' im, although what you 'ave goin together seems pretty weird to me."
Katie scowls:"I think I know a fair bit more about Ben than you do, chavboy."
They sit in silence until Ben returns. He sits down and pours a glass of wine which he knocks back.
"mmmm lovely this, for cheap red. Come on you two, cheer up."

Meanwhile, the alien ships near the earth and begin to enter the atmosphere. The scout ship lands in Cornwall, near the Nazi base. On board, the ship commander speaks:"The signal tells us that Isar has revived. Which means that this planet must be suitable for colonisation.........

to be continued

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Deleted Doctor Who VHS stories I have recently bought from ebay:

1) Shada
2) The Horns of Nimon
3) The Masque of Mandragora
4) Silver Nemesis
5) Meglos

"NEMESIS" part 6

"NEMESIS: Part 6"

As they are invited to view the cryogenic chamber by Hoffman, they are shocked to see...Adolf Hitler!
Ben siezes his chance and lunges at one of the guards while Kyle wrestles another to the ground. As Hoffman reaches for the alarm on the wall, Katie tries to pull him back, however he grabs her and throws her off. Katie smashes into the cryogenic chamber and inadvertantly elbows a set of switches on the side. It begins to hum and a strange glow is emitted. More Nazis arrive and quickly overpower Ben and Kyle. Hoffman shouts:
"Mein Gott" Vat have you done. Zie Fuhrer!"
Suddenly the glass top of the Chamber begins to open and Hitler's eyes flicker open. Hoffman and the other Nazis gasp and fawn as Hitler begins to revive and slowly sits up:
"So, the time has come. Help me out of here." Hitler says. He speaks in German, however Ben can understand him as he is still linked to the TARDIS translator.
"The Fourth Reich has arrived yes? What year is it?"
Hoffman looks worried:
"Shortly mein fuhrer, shortly.. It is the year 2007."
"Oh, it has been this long? Still it is good to see that the 21st century belongs to Germany."

Ben is angry and steps in:
"That is factually innacurate Hitler. The USA and China are the most powerful countries in the world. Germany is just part of the EU. Also Israel is one of the most powerful states in the middle east. Your Nazi plans achieved nothing. You are remembered as a mass murderer"
Hitler stares at him menacingly:
"And who are you? You remind me of one of my fine blond SS bodyguards, except your hair needs a cut. That length of hair is degenerate."
Ben is hurt:"
How dare you say that about my hair. At least I don't look like Charlie Chaplin and shout every sentence in a loud and vulgar manner."
Hoffman is furious:
"How dare you insult zie fuhrer. Take them away. Zie vill be shot!"
Ben, Katie and Kyle are thrown back into a cell within the complex.
"What were you sayin' to 'im in German?" Kyle asks:
"Just putting him straight on a few things. We must get out of here as Hitler's revival may force the Nazis into drastic action of some kind."

Meanwhile, back in the cryogenic chamber room, the chamber is still glowing and begins to transmit a signal. Out in deep space, on a far distant planet, a computer locks onto the earth's co-ordinates. It prepares to beam to earth a landing party of alien beings..........

to be continued

Sunday 4 November 2007

Bonfire Night!

I love Bonfire Night. What a shame so many local displays are falling foul of wet , PC 'health & safety' laws. A bit of common sense is all that is needed.

Important Announcement: 2009 Specials pitch!

Following the completion of the Ben Chatham Annual with 'Nemesis', my next project will be my pitch for the three 2009 specials. The first will follow on from 'Mirror Mirror on the Wall..." and be a sequel to 'Invasion of the Dinosaurs.'

Marking holding up work on 'Nemesis'

I've had to do two piles today. The next parts of Nemesis will not be finished until the end of the week at least. Maybe I could reduce my hours and write more Who if a fund were organised to sponsor me.

Thursday 1 November 2007

Obese women in skin-tight leggings

It does puzzle me why ladies of a certain size still where such attire. I saw one this evening.

How to measure a good History essay:

1) Does it have a clear introduction and conclusion.

2) Has the writer successfully learned all the key facts within the topic and included them.

3) Does the essay establish an answer to the set question?

4) Is this answer the correct one, ie the one that the teacher has told them?

5) On a scale of one to ten, is the essay above 8 in terms of grammatical accuracy?

EXCLUSIVE Blog story: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...."

This story is set after 'Nemesis' and explains why Ben returns for a while to travelling with the 10th Doctor:


"Mirror Mirror on the Wall....."



Ben wakes up one morning after a particularly unsettled night of broken sleep. He kept dreaming of Nimons and other strange creatures that the Doctor had told him about. Putting it down to an unpleasant evening in 'Zanzer' , the new Cambridge gay club where a teenager in eyeliner had called him a, "sad tosser", Ben drags himself to the bathroom and stares into the mirror.
"Mmmm at least I still look good", he muses to himself, stroking his long, blonde locks and smooth cheeks.
Suddenly he feels himself being pulled into the mirror. Ben struggles in horror, however a strange, malevolent, unseen force pulls him through the looking glass into a strange, black place with silver framed mirrors and still, silent human-size toy soldiers. Ben is alarmed as it isn't normal to be pulled into mirrors. He hears the sound of laughter all around and feels himself floating on a wind of dark heat, yet still standing in this strange, beguiling room.
Suddenly Kyle and Katie Ryan appear. They are writhing in agony and begging Ben to help them. However when he approaches, they vanish.

Eventually Ben sees the figure of an elderly humanoid, dressed in gold approaching:
"I am the cosmic guardian of all who pass through the mirror into the land of eternal dreams" it says. Ben realises that he has been attacked by some occult force playing tricks with his mind:
"You can't fool me magician! I reject your illusion!" He shouts.
Ben finds himself back in the bathroom of his apartment. However he is shaking with fear:
"This is very wrong. Some occult force is trying to kill me." he thinks to himself.

Ben realises that the time is right to contact the Doctor and return to the TARDIS. He wakes up Kyle, who was kipping on Ben's sofa, and texts Katie.
"Something dark and sinister is afoot" he tells them.....

The epic Ben Chatham story "NEMESIS"

OK folks, here it is, the final epic story in the 2008 Annual. I think this may well be my finest Ben story to date:

"NEMESIS"part one:

Ben wakes up in his Cambridge apartment with a thumping headache. On the bedside table are several empty glasses and wine bottles while Katie is asleep in the bed beside him.
"Oh no, what have I done again",
Ben thinks to himself and he drags himself to the bathroom and stares vacantly into the mirror. His beauty is undiminished, although his dark, dreamy eyes are slightly hazy .
"I must stop doing this to myself. I need a proper relationship." He thinks to himself.
He hears the door buzzer go and , thinking it must be the postman with a parcel, forces himself into the lounge and to the door. However he is shocked to open the door and see Kyle:
"Awight mate, good ta see ya."
Ben is puzzled, "Er, hello Kyle."
"Thought I'd surprise ya. Well like, ya said that I should visit you in Cambridge sometime."
"Oh ehm right. Ehm, you'd better come in."

Kyle bounds in and looks around the flat enthused:
"Ere lovely pad this. An you got your own little bar area."
Katie is emerging from the bedroom rubbing her head.
"Oh hello. Ben said he'd been having problems with one of the taps in the bathroom. Its through there, probably the washer gone."
Kyle looks bemused. Ben steps in: "Oh no, he's not the plumber, Kyle's a friend".
Katie is confused:"You mean to say that you know this person socially? Hang on... no.... you idiot Ben, you mean to say that you're seeing rent boys? And you slept with me you ****"
*throws a cushion at Ben*.
Kyle is offended:"Whats she mean rentboy & plumber? Stuck up cow."
"Well I can see that Ben hasn't invited you here for the intellectual conversation." Katie retorts: "Still I suppose you need the money for glue & plastic bags."
Ben steps in again:"Look he's someone I met in London. I said he could stay if he was ever in Cambridge, I didn't actually think he'd take me up on it...."
Kyle is furious:"I ain't stoppin' ere. **** you!"

He strides out, slamming the door behind him .Katie elegantly sits herself down on Ben's sofa:
"Its for the best. Foul mouthed . *wiping a speck of dust off her knee* I knew you were confused Ben but this is very sad".
Ben turns on her:
"That was awful. He isn't a rent boy and I shouldn't have said that last thing. Look just go Katie, ok."
Katie gets up:"What you need is to sort your head out. You need a good woman to straighten you out and you know it!"
"Just GO".Ben holds the door open while Katie gathers up her things and flounces out.

After a shower and a poached egg , Ben puts on some nice clothes and heads off into town. He has an appointment with Professor Hoffman, one of his old lecturers, to discuss some research work he'd been doing for the university at Avebury. As he walks down the road, he spots Kyle waiting at the bus stop. He goes over:
"Hi, look, I'm sorry about Katie."
"**** off".
"Ok I'm sorry about saying that I didn't really want you to come. Its just a surprise thats all, I mean it must be a long way for someone of your.. means to fork out for."
"You and your bird just think I'm filth. Actually I didn't cam ere because of you, I'm in a spot of bovver an this just seemed an easy way outa Landon for a bit thats all. An I hitched most of the way."
"Katie isn't my 'bird'. Its complicated. And you're in trouble? What kind of trouble?"
"Whats it to you?"
"Are you on the run from the police?"
Kyle is angry:"As it 'appens no. My mates, well kinda mates, thought it'd be a larf to rob some bloke in a car park camin' out of this flash motor. Turns out he worked for Des Hutcheson."
Ben is confused:"Des Hutcheson?"
"Don't you know naffink? He owns 'alf of the protection rackets in Sarf London".
"So lets get this straight. You were out with your lowbrow so-called mates when they mug a man who works for one of London's top gangsters. And you had to get out of there fast for a while, so you thought you'd come here as no one would know where you were. Good grief!"
"Well you needn't worry, I'm goin' back."
Ben takes a reluctant sigh:"No you're not. Look I'm sorry for what Katie said. You can stay for a while. I have an appointment at noon, lets have a bit of breakfast in town first."

Later that morning, Ben & Kyle are punting down the Cam.
"I haven't done this since I was a student", Ben muses, "I don't suppose going to Cambridge was ever part of your life expectation."
Kyle is looking all around at the buildings and students sitting by the river.Suddenly, as they pass under a bridge, the punt hits something hard. Ben looks down and is shocked to see....... a body in the water!

- to be continued

Wednesday 31 October 2007

Its OFFICIAL relaunch night folks!

OK, this blog is now being relaunched. Expect exclusive Doctor Who fiction, incisive social commentary and historiographical work.

All you need to contribute is a blogger account. Keep the comments refined.

EXCLUSIVE Ben Chatham Story: "CURSE OF THE VAMPIRE SKULL"

Ben wakes up slowly, rubbing his neck and moaning. Slowly he remembers what has happened, he was being driven back to Cambridge from an archaeological dig in Hampshire by Katie Ryan when the car skidded off the road on some oil and into a ditch. He pulls himself up and sees Katie struggling to open the crushed door. The darkness has descended and they are alone in the middle of nowhere.
"You OK Katie?" Ben asks. Katie winces:
"Of course I'm not Ok, we've just crashed".
"Well you were driving Katie, and too fast as usual."
"Oh **** off Ben... ahh my ankle... and my phone's smashed"
Ben helps her out of the car and sets off for help,his phone being damaged as well, leaving Katie by the car and none too pleased. As he walks down the narrow lane in the dark, the trees seem to close in from all sides. Ben hears the eerie sounds of owls and a strange, sinister whispering sound coming from the musty trees. He senses a presence, something dark, foreboding, menacing......
Ben has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down and his mind begins to float in a state of euphoric bliss. As he moves forward, his foot kicks something. Looking down, Ben sees a skull, its eyesockets full of soil with worms crawling out. As he stares at the skull he feels a presence behind him. Turning he sees a woman, dressed in a black shawl with strange hypnotic eyes and protruding fans. Ben starts to run, but the woman transforms into a large black dog and leaps at Ben, sinking its teeth into his leg. Ben gasps with pain as the creature's Master appears before him, a tall, undead creature in a large cloak:
"Give me the skull" it whispers in a menacing tone......
Suddenly the vision fades, and Ben finds himself alone in the woods. He puts it all down to a combination of the crash and tiredness and walks to the nearest Little Chef to phone for the AA.

Monday 29 October 2007

This Blog will be formally RELAUNCHED in two days!

The blog has been going through a dry spell due to low quality replies, and therefore a formal relaunch is in order on Halloween.

Includes an exclusive Ben Chatham Halloween special.

Sunday 7 October 2007

The Lords of Ancrazar

The Lords of Ancrazar

part 1

Ben has been visiting London in order to consult with Professor Dixby Leam of Royal Holloway on some archaeological finds he has discovered. Sitting in his hotel room that night he decides to check out the area's gay club , the Pink Dragon, which he'd discovered via the internet before making the trip.
Leaving the hotel, Ben is walking through the dark London side-streets when he is confronted by three hoodies with knives who push him against a wall:
"Wallet"
One of the hoodies mumbles in a mono-syllabic way. Ben is infuriated:
"No, I'm not giving you my wallet. And if I were you I'd put those knives away and shove off."
The hoodies snigger:
"Dude thinks he's clever yeah. How bout we cut 'im?"
"Yeah man . Slash 'is pretty face up"

However Ben leaps forward and makes some clever judo moves, knocking knives out of their hands and decking one of them. One hoodie pushes back at Ben and they both crash into a door, smashing it open and falling through. Looking up, Ben sees that they have fallen into a room full of men dressed in strange robes and hats, with long-flowing gowns. Incense is burning and there is an altar with chanting men kneeling beside it.The other hoodies run off as Ben and his attacker are surrounded by the figures in the room, who seem to hold Ben in awe. They close the broken door.
"It is Johannan. He has returned from the dead".
One shouts,
"No. But the resemblance is almost perfect" another says.The hoodie rubs his head as Ben gets up and and asks who they are:
"We are the exiled knights of Lord Johannan of Ancrazar. Our planet is being ruled by the usurper King Ansol , cousin of Johannan. When we came to this planet, our teleport machine malfunctioned and Johannan was killed. However we can now return to Ancrazar and free our world from the tyrant."
"Er how exactly?" Ben asks bemused:
"Because you well make a perfect substitute Johannan. We have repaired the teleport and can return and prepare for battle. We offer you the chance to be King of Ancrazar. And your associate can become a Lord of the Round Table.
The hoodie groans and says he wants to "naff off arht of 'ere".
"And what if we refuse your 'offer'?"
Ben asks:"We would have no choice but to cut your throats"
the medieval garbed alien replies coldly.

Ben is angry but conceals this and has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down. He offers one to the disconcerted hoodie who snatches it and shoves it in his mouth. The hoodie feels the room start to swirl and a strange sensation of floating bliss sweep over him.

- to be continued

Sunday 30 September 2007

The Lindig Valley Mystery

Anyway folks, here is the next strip story adventure for the annual. Hopefully someone will volunteer to use this synopsis to create the artwork:

THE LINDIG VALLEY MYSTERY

Ben is alone in his Cambridge apartment sipping an absinthe and drifting in and out of sleep on the sofa. He is listening to Nico's "The Marble Index" and trying to forget Milo, who had turned down Ben's offer of another date. However just as Ben drifts into sleep, his mobile rings. Its Katie Ryan:
"Ben, Ben... you there? I can't explain now but you must come... please. "
Ben is frustrated at being disturbed:
"Oh what is it? Look Katie I'm not in the mood ok."
"Ben, I'm at the site I told you about the other day, in Lindig Valley. Something strange is going on here. I ... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........."
Ben is now intrigued:
"Hello? Katie? Are you ok?"There is no reply and Ben is alarmed. Katie had sent him a long email a few days before about her trip to Wales with a small team to excavate the site of an old monastery in the remote Lindig Valley. He tries ringing her back but she doesn't pick up.

Just then the door rings ; it is Chiara.
"Hi Ben, I wondered if you fancied lunch in the Mermaid Bar."
Ben explains to her what has just happened and that he must drive to Wales and see what has happened. Chiara agrees that this is the best thing to do and volunteers to come along.They jump into Ben's rare vintage car and speed off, the wind blowing through their hair.

After a long drive and a few stops along the way, they are soon driving through the fresh Welsh countryside. Ben is slightly disgruntled as Chiara had insisted that they stop at a Little Chef a while back:
"... not only was the food as bad as I predicted but it was full of kids" he is complaining, however Chiara smiles:
"Oh Ben, you should try to loosen up and not let these things get to you. Put the music back on."
Ben puts Tin Machine back on and they enjoy the music blasting out and the countryside passing. Eventually Ben turns down a narrow country lane:
"I think we're not far now. Lets ask this local".They stop next to a rustic local carrying a spade:
"Hi. We're looking for the village of Lanfridigg in the Lindig Valley. This is the Lindig valley isn't it? Are we far from the village?"
The local scowls:"An who might you be boyo?"
"I'm Ben and this is Chiara."
"Well I'd go back home if I were you. We don't much like strangers around these valleys boyo. "
Just then the man's face contorts with a look of pure terror. Coming down the road in front of them are six monks in full habits with hoods up.
"No , No I wasn't talking to them...." the Welshman pleads however the monks all stare at him. A stream of red light emenates from their eyes and hits the man who screams and falls.

Ben doesn't wait for the same to happen to them and he races the car away, narrowly missing them on the thin lane. They enter the village shortly and finding no one around and the shop closed, drive on to the dig site. Chiara is unnerved so Ben lets her have a swig of brandy from his bottle in the glove compartment. At the site, Ben finds it deserted. They are just about to leave when they suddenly find themselves surrounded by monks. One of them lifts a staff and hits Ben over the head. They they drag Chiara & carry Ben to a cave entrance and down some underground steps.Ben awakes to find himself in an underground temple with incense burning and monks chanting. A strange priest-like figure approaches with a golden mask on:
"Why have you come here?"
Ben is angry:
"Who are you?"
The figure gestures to the monks to leave.The figure lifts the mask to reveal....The green face of an amphibian creature with bulging eyes and fish-like mouth.
"I am Zeno of the Zenathon. I came here on a scouting mission to explore this planet and discovered the hidden monastery of the Cestian heretic sect . It was easy to convince them that I was Jesus, reborn as the son of nature and the greenworld. For many years this sect have been hidden here, perfecting their use of psychic mind over matter. Useful
"Ben is angry:"What do you want here?"
"We want this world. Even now my scout ship is landing in the city of Cardiff. Soon the whole fleet will be here."
Ben is shown a monitor screen where a ship is landing in Cardiff. Shoppers run as the alien ship mows them down with lazer blasts. Several girls are hit and the flames spit and crackle through their hair as they fall down in burning heaps. Chiara tries to hit the alien however a beam of energy from its eyes restrains her.

They are thrown in a cell with Katie Ryan.In the cell, Ben finds that his mobile is useless.
"We must play along with it and catch it off guard." Chiara suggests:"Wow, idea of the century." Katie mutters,
"I didn't know Ben was bringing one of his trainees"."I'm not a trainee archaeologist, I'm his friend."
Katie is irritated:"Ben's friends usually have a degree at least of sense, not to mention looks."
Ben intervenes and tells Katie to shut up as he has an idea. He takes out a small bottle of absinthe from his pocket and pours it under the door. Then he borrows Katie's cigarette lighter and sets it alight. As the flames rise outside, the monks open the cell door to see whats going on & Ben, Katie & Chiara overpower them. They rush out and race down the cave, clambering over rocks, eventually getting out. They all jump into Ben's car & speed off, as the crazed monks emerge from the cave after them.

Ben drives to Cardiff where buildings are ablaze as the aliens roam the streets on a killing spree fighting street battles with Torchwood and the arriving UNIT forces. The aliens have the upper hand, however Ben races up to the UNIT commander with an idea. The commander radios Cambridge Dept of Ecology.Several hours later a UNIT helecopter is spraying the city with a yellow liquid and the aliens start dying. The UNIT Commander turns to Ben:
"Its working."
Chiara is puzzled:"What was your idea Ben?"
Ben smiles:"Oh its simple. I have an interest in ecology and I know about Cambridge doing research into finding an antidote for Hatchkov's Disease, which is killing frogs & newts in asia. I knew they'd have some of the virus and since the aliens are amphibians...."

Later, Ben, Chiara & Katie are enjoying a drink in the Mermaid Wine Bar . Chiara laughs:
"Well its been an interesting day but I've gotta go. Up early tomorrow ".
As she leaves, Katie scowls:"You haven't been trying to hit on her have you?"
Ben is annoyed and has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down. He feels his mind floating as transluscent colours swirl through his consciousness in a kaleidoscope of ambience. Then he gets up and goes home, leaving Katie to finish her drink.

- the end.

Thursday 27 September 2007

The Lindig Valley Mystery - coming soon!

And its an absolute classic, possibly the finest Ben Chatham spin off adventure next. It involves a strange underground monastery and a threat from beyond the galaxy.

The Key to Time Boxset: Who bought it?

I did and its stunning. I'm halfway through so far. Androids of Tara next.

Adam Rickitt is Innocent

Just to emphasise what thinking people already know. It was an honest mistake. Thats all.

Tuesday 18 September 2007

The New Ben Chatham annual story

Anyway, moving forward, here is the next story in the annual folks. It will take up the challenge and introduce a new female character who is presented favourably:

The Cult of Quexecostal


It is Saturday evening. Ben is alone in his apartment sipping an iced tea and listening to Radiohead's 'OK Computer' album. Katie is away on an archaeological project and Ben is alone, thinking about his poor luck in relationship matters.
His phone bleeps and he sees that he has recieved a text from Tara asking if she can come round 'to hang out and listen to some music'. Ben groans to himself and thinks that there must be more to do on a Saturday evening than this. He steels himself, texts Tara back saying 'Not tonight' and determines to go out. There is a new gay club in town ,'Heaven's Above' , and Ben decides to give it a try. He puts on some nice clothes, sprays himself with excusive 'Odour a la Plature' and sets off into the cool evening air.

Arriving at the club, Ben sees a crowd of young guys buzzing around the entrance and going in. Its a cold night and several are dressed just in thin white T-shirts and tight jeans. Ben chuckles to himself and follows them in, thinking that the club looks a tad scabby but needs must. Inside the loud dance music blasts out and Ben finds it all rather unpleasant. He buys a double Martini on the rocks and sits down where he can have a clear view of the young guys on the dancefloor. As he is sitting there, a girl comes and sits next to him:
"Hi. I'm Chiara. You here on your own?"
Ben is puzzled:
"Yes. I'm Ben by the way. I presume you're with your girlfriends'.
Chiara laughs:
"Oh no, I'm straight. I'm with some gay friends from uni, male friends. I do like coming to gay clubs, its less intimidating for a girl in some ways."
Ben frowns:
"Well it sounds weird to me. How are you going to pull a bloke in here? And you'll attract female attention."
Chiara laughs again:
"Not all women go out just to pull. Anyway Ben, have you seen anyone you fancy?"
Ben looks at the dancefloor:
"Yes. That young guy in the purple shirt with the hilights in his hair. I wouldn't mind spending the night with him."
Chiara laughs again:
"Oh I know him, he's one of my friends, Milo. I'll introduce you."


Chiara leaps up and drags Milo over and introduces them. Ben looks into Milo's dark eyes and they begin to chat. Milo is in his final year at Cambridge studying ancient history and they have a chat about Mayan culture. After a while, Ben needs the toilet and heads off while Milo gets the Martinis in.
In the gents, Ben is irritated to see several camp teenagers laughing and pointing up at something. Looking up he sees a used condom draped over a cubicle door.
"Thats not funny, "
Ben snaps, annoyed, and hearing grunting noises from another cubicle he storms out and finds Milo at the bar:
"This place is too noisy and lowbrow. Lets go somewhere else."
Milo suggests his place and, agreeing, Ben & he leave. On the way out he finds Chiara and they exchange phone numbers:
"I'll tell you how good he is in bed, "
Ben says grinning.

At Milo's penthouse apartment, Ben is delighted to see a well stocked bar. Milo pours him an absinthe and they lie across the leather sofa, kissing. Eventually Milo leads him to the bedroom. As they go in, Ben is puzzled to see that part of the room is partitioned by a purple curtain. Ben is curious:
"Whats behind that?"
"I'll show you" Milo replies and he draws the curtains back. Ben is disconcerted to see an altar with the gold-coloured statue of a large bird on it. Suddenly two more guys enter from the other room and grab hold of Ben, forcing him down onto his knees:
"Behold the image of Quexecostal. All must kneel to him."Milo shouts as the statue's eyes begin to grow red:
"What the hell is this?"
Ben shouts:
"Bend, bend to the will of Quexecostal" Milo and the others chant as a red light shoots out from the creature's eyes and onto Ben's head. Ben screams as the lifeforce within him is consumed by the light.

As the light consumes Ben, the door flies open and a shocked Chiara bursts in:
"What the hell....."
Shocked by what her friends are doing to Ben she feistily grabs him , dragging him out of the light, while karate kicking Milo and the others. She knocks Milo into the wall and gives him a rabbit punch while the light retracts into the statue. Ben is dazed and semi-conscious but alive. However an image forms and materialises in the room. It is of a bird like creature standing on two legs with an elongated, hideous face:
"I am Quexecostal, last of the Quallufax. Long ago after the Andromeda wars I took refuge in this statue to hide on this primitive planet from out victorious enemies the Hex. Now I have consumed enough cellular energy to return. My disciples have brought me many creatures to consume. "
Chiara is shocked:
"H... How? They would be missed."
A dazed Milo laughs:
"We used mostly renters we picked up in London. Lots of young men disappear in London every year. Of course our Master leaves no bodies to find."
Quexecostal flexes its wings:
"Soon I will control the minds of all humanoids on this planet and enslave them."
Light beams emenate from the creature's eyes and hit Chiara , however she just manages to lob a tablelamp at the gold statue. It knocks its head off and Quexecostal screams.
"No no. Transference not complete."
The creature has not fully transfered from the statue and breaking it in this transitory stage destroys Quexecostal and sends his atoms into the ether in a hazy swirl. Milo and his friends scream as they are released from the creature's mind grip.


A few days later they are all sitting in the Mermaid Wine Bar enjoying a drink and a chat.
"Its lucky you dropped your mobile in the club after we exchanged numbers or I'd never have followed you to Milo's place" Chiara tells Ben.Ben smiles:
"Yes, you certainly saved the day for all of us Chiara, though I don't usually appreciate being followed to my pull's place by women. How did you learn karate moves like that, it must be hard for a girl?"
"Oh I did martial arts classes when younger."
"Well you picked it up surprisingly well" Ben adds.
"You guys are so funny"
Chiara laughs.

Ben, Milo and the others all propose a toast to Chiara and they all clink glasses.
"Heres to Chiara" they say in unison.

THE END

Sunday 16 September 2007

I have been challenged.....

To write a Ben Chatham story with a new female character in it. As if my previous female characters are awful or something. What a cheek- who does this person think he is?

Tuesday 11 September 2007

The 'Key to Time Season' DVD

I'm really looking forward to this release. A bit pricey though.

Thursday 30 August 2007

The first of the Strip Stories

Anyway, moving on, here is the synopsis of the first of the two strip stories. Fugitoid & Zorklord have volunteered to do the artwork so feel free to decide which one to do.

THE ZRANTI BEAST

Ben is alone in his Cambridge apartment sipping an absinthe and reading the Telegraph when the phone rings. He is surprised to hear that its an old friend from uni Chris Jennings, a science graduate.
"Hi Ben, long time no see. Look I know this might seem a bit odd, but can you come round now. I'm still living in the same house."
Ben finds this an unusual request as he never liked Chris that much, he was a friend of a friend, and Ben disliked his sarcastic manner. He tries to get out of it:
"No",
However Chris is insistent:
"Please Ben. Look I know this might seem strange coming out of the blue like this but I've heard about your interest in... well the extraterrestrial. I need to talk to someone.Please."
Ben is still reluctant:
"I never liked you. I presume this is a wind up. Goodbye."
He slams the phone down and goes back to his sofa.

Next day, Ben is shocked to see on the local news that Chris has been found dead in his rented house, suspected murder. Feeling slightly guilty he heads round there in his car and finds the place sealed off and the police around. Luckily he has contacted Torchwood who have fixed it with the police for Ben to see the house. He is intrigued to see it full of sophisticated scientific equipment . The police inform him that Chris died of a massive dose of microwave energy,
"As if he'd been put in a giant oven."
Ben is concerned and he calms himself by having a Foxes Glacier Mint. Inspecting the back garden he sees strange burn marks in the grass almost footprint shaped.

Meanwhile Chris' girlfriend Tara has turned up and is making an hysterical scene and shouting at the police.
"Look what happened to him, why arn't you telling us anything."
Ben offers her a mint and tells her to 'deal with it'. Tara slaps him, however when she then collapses in floods of tears she lets Ben hug & console her .
Ben takes Chris' journal which he finds on his desk & he and Tara go to a wine bar tound the corner for a drink & to calm down. Rrading the journal, Ben finds that Chris was working on a device to transmit microwaves huge distances in an instant, beyond even the milky way. Tara adds that Chris had told her that he was onto something that could revolutionise space communication. Ben is worried.
"What if something transmitted back.... some kind of force?"

Suddenly there is a scream from outside. Ben & Tara tush out to see a strange glowing, tansluscent thing walking down the street transmitting energy which is burning people.Tara screams and Ben shouts
"Run"
as the thing moves towards them and they run as cars spontaneously combust. Ben tells Tara that Chris must have inadvertantly brought an energy creature to earth. The thing walks into a MacDonalds and people in it catch fire, screaming in agony. A group of children run out on fire and collapse in smouldering heaps in the street. Ben suggests that they head back to Chris' house for an answer.Running round the block they manage to get back in the house and find more of Chris' papers. It turns out that by reversing the polarity of Chris' machine they can reverse whatever effect it has had. Ben flicks the requisite switches and the thing disappears.

Later, back at Ben's flat, Tara and he are lying on the sofa enjoying a drink. Ben had told her about himself & his relationship with Carl. Tara is crying over Chris.
"Look, I know you're gay, but I really can't bear to be alone tonight..."
"Thats ok, stay here."
They kiss and then Ben leads her to the bedroom.....

Tuesday 21 August 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Its my birthday in 35 mins folks! 22nd August. I'm hoping for LOTS OF PRESENTS!

The Ben Chatham Annual 2008

OK , here is the first story in the annual folks:

THE LIVING PICTURE

Taking a short break from travelling with the Doctor, Ben is driving through the countryside having been invited to spend the weekend at his new boyfriend Carl's parents' house, Ashmore Manor, while Carl's sister Abby is left to run Foxglove Farm for unwanted horses.
He has opened the car windows, letting the summer breeze blow through his blonde hair , while listening to Rufus Wainwright's 'Want One' album on the car stereo.

Arriving at the large country house, he is pleased to see Carl standing on the front gravel, having just texted him. He walks up and kisses Carl, however Carl pulls back uncomfortably.
"Ben, I wanted to talk to you before we go in."
Ben starts to feel uneasy:
"Its just that theres something I've not told you. I'm not sure how to say this... look I'm not exactly out to my parents."
Ben is confused:
"Not exactly out?"
"They don't know I'm gay ok. Sorry I didn't tell you when we arranged this."
"Well you could have said something, but I understand. You want me to be there when you tell them for support"
Ben replies.Carl frowns:
"Er no Ben, you misunderstand. Theres no way I'm telling them ;they wouldn't approve at all. We just pretend that you're an old college friend. I assumed you'd be ok with this , from what you've told me about your own parents and how you went out with girls to please them."
Ben turns his head to one side, the tears welling up:
"What about the sleeping arrangements?"
"Separate rooms." Clive replies.

Ben begrudgingly accepts the situation and goes into the house and it introduced to Carl's parents , Richard and Margaret, in the drawing room.
"Hello Ben, pleased to meet you. Would you like a drop of brandy?" Richard asks. They all sit down for drinks before dinner is served. At the dinner table, they are joined by Abby, who has driven from the farm, and Carl's older brother David. The family are chatting:
"So Ben, I hear you're an archaeologist ?" Margaret asks.
"Yes , I'm hoping to join the team working on the Silbury restoration work soon."Ben replies.
"I do wish Carl would get a proper job. " She replies.Abby is annoyed:
"I wish you'd accept that Foxglove Farm is a proper job mum."
"Oh but it isn't dear. Looking after a few saggy old horses is ok for you, but Carl has a degree."
"Its time he got himself a girlfriend as well, " Richard chips in.
"People are starting to wonder if he's queer or something. "

The conversation then turns to politics and the need to restrict immigration and Ben feels less ill at ease. However Abby challenges her father:
"Dad I do wish you'd keep your opinions to yourself. I don't think Ben wants to hear your prejudices." Richard is angry:
"Abby is one of those namby pamby types Ben. Ok in a girl I suppose. Just ignore her."
David smiles: "We always do".
Ben feels reluctant to antagonise them so laughs and joins in the political chat.

Later , as they are being shown to their rooms, Ben notices a row of pictures on the staircase. There is something odd about them. The eys seem piercing and almost alive. However he puts it down to the drink and is shown to his room. Lying on the bed after everyone has retired, Ben texts Carl who agrees to sneak to Ben's room for a drink. However as they are both lying on the bed sharing a cognac they hear a strange thumping sound and a scream. Rushing outside they see Mima, the young polish maid, lying face down in a pool of blood. A figure in a long black cloak is striding away. Ben runs after the figure and is shocked to see in disappear into one of the paintings on the staircase!
Ben texts Torchwood while Carl rings the police on his mobile. Nobody believes what Ben saw, even the police, who insist that nobody leaves the house until a full search and interviews are conducted. The back door is found to be unlocked. Abby arrives from the farm and she is the only one to believe Ben's story. Even Carl is sceptical:
"We had been drinking Ben. Look, the intruder obviously got out through the back."
Ben is upset that Carl doesn't believe him and his beautiful dark dreamscape eyes fill with tears. David sees this and whispers loudly to Carl:
"Hey he's not a marmite chaser is he? "

An upset Ben is taken to the lounge by Abby who makes him a coffee.
"Look , don't let them get to you. They're idiots."
Suddenly there is another round of shouting and they are horrified to see two dark figures pushing Richard over the banisters so that he crahes to the floor. The police try to intervene and are run through with swords. Ben is stunned to see that the figures have no face. They disappear back into the pictures. With the police dead, Carl and David take the lead and removing the pictures take them out the back to be burned. Ben is concerned and wishes to contact the doctor for advice, but Carl won't listen and he& David set the pictures on fire. Ben's fears are confirmed as five figures, dressed as a Cavalier, an 18th century nobleman, an 18th century lady, a victorian gent and a WW1 era soldier emege from the fire.
"You have released us" they chant as they morph into silver clad aliens with golden hair , white skin and piercing eyes.
"We are the Seers! We were imprisoned in those pictures by Time Lord known as the Doctor many years ago . Now we are free!"
Ben gets through to the Doctor on his phone who tells him that the Seers are the last of an inter-galactic super-race who cannot be destroyed. They live on humanoid cellular energy . The only way to defeat them in to imprison them in inanimate objects Ben holds the phone up towards the seers and the Doctor sends sound energy from the TARDIS down it which takes the aliens and swirls them in a circle of energy before they shoot into the house walls!

Later, in the drawing room, Richard is recovering from his injuries with a brandy while the agents from Torchwood carry the bodies away. Ben tells them that the aliens are now imprisoned in the very fabric of the house, in the bricks and walls.
"As long as it remains, the earth is safe".
Everyone thanks Ben, however Ben lets them know that he is going back to Cambridge. Outside, Carl follows him:
"Look you don't have to go."
"Yes I do. Your family were extremely unpleasant to me , apart from Abby, and you could have supported me more."
Carl is a bit aggrieved:"Oh come on, you're blowing this out of proportion. Stop being a wuss.And you didn't have to behave so obviously gay."
Ben is angry:
"Thats it. I'm going. "

Ben gets into the car and drives away, sobbing bitterly....

Monday 13 August 2007

Season 4 Pitch: Episode 13: "All Things Must Pass"

Episode 13: All Things Must Pass

The Doctor is extremely angry at the sight of the Cyberman and pleads with the Monk to think what he is doing. However the Monk is having none of it:
"Oh you are in no position to lecture me about interfering with humanity. All I am doing is helping them along to their destiny."
"No, what you are doing is altering their future in this universe", the Doctor shouts.
"Even the awful, urbanised Great and Bountiful Human Empire wasn't populated by cold cyborgs."
The Monk grins:"But they're so.... collectable. And its fascinating to see how BOSS will co-ordinate a cyborg civilisation."
Donna stomps forward:"You can't just treat the human race like your toys. Handing us over to some mad computer just to satisfy your curiosity."
The Monk smiles:
"Where did you find this one from? Anyway, I'm off. I've done my bit, its now up to BOSS. I'm just an amused observer."
The Doctor & Donna are taken back to BOSS' control centre by the Monk's men.
"Welcome back, please pull up a chair. Watch the screen."
On the plasma screen, images of Cybermen marching out of New World Enterprises plants all over the world are flashed.
"Let the upgrade begin!"

Meanwhile back at Foxglove farm, the damaged Cyberman has staggered off and Ben & Carl are watching in shock at the sight of the Cybermen on the newsflash pictures.
"Its just like before when the ghosts turned into them" Abby mutters as she recovers from her beating on the sofa.
"No it isn't", Ben points out, "these are clearly of a different design."
There is a banging on the door and they find that its a team sent by Torchwood in answer to Ben's texts. It is led by a young woman who introduces herself as Martha Jones......Ben and Carl explain everything that has happened. Martha is concerned about the Doctor:
"So he has a female companion? Didn't take him long *scowls*. Anyway, no time to lose. Lets head for Fullerton."

However before they can leave, they see on the newsfashes that something else is happening. All over the world, ordinary people are pouring out onto the streets with hammers, spades and whatever they can get hold of and smashing machinery and technology, as if gripped by some force. Even being killed on mass by the Cybermen doesn't stop them. As they watch, Carl and Abby themselves leap up and start throwing chairs at the tv screen, smashing it."
The same scenes are being played out on BOSS' plasma screen, much to its annoyance.
"What is happening? This is most irregular. Even death holds no fear for them This is supremely inefficient!"
"Whats going on Doctor?" Donna asks.
"Dunno, but don't knock it."
Suddenly there is the sound of banging in the research plant. The Monk's men have gone berzerk and are smashing equipment and fighting with Cybermen. As the strange force increases, the human part of the Cybermen is affected and the creatures are thrown into a self-destructive orgy of self-hate and begin deleting each other in a mass mutual suicide.BOSS is distraught:
"What is this? My perfect Cyber race. Destroying itself. This is illogical, Maximum inefficiency, maximum inefficiency!"
As it shouts, the Monk's men burst in and machine gun spray BOSS, with the Doctor & Donna dodging behind them and out the door. BOSS explodes and a huge fire starts.

Back at the farm, Ben & Martha conclude that the reason that they are not being affected by the force is that they both have travelled in time.
"Its the thing we have in common," Ben summises. "Which also means that the Doctor must be unaffected. We must find him."
However the TARDIS materialises and the Doctor and Donna emerge. Martha is a bit put out:"I see it didn't take you long to replace me. Not impressed."Donna looks wary and whispers to the Doctor: "Who's this irritating cat?"
"Martha this is Donna, Donna this is Martha."
Martha whispers to Ben: "Not exactly lamb."
Ben tries to move things on: "Doctor, the whole country is in the grip of this force. OK, its ended the Cybermen threat, but if it continues we''ll be thrown back into the stone age. All machinery is being destroyed. Everyone is doing it, even Martha's Torchwood collegues. They're all at it in the farmyard". The Doctor rushes into the TARDIS and looks at a screen. "Crikey its coming from Wiltshire, *zooming in* Silbury Hill!"The TARDIS lands near Silbury Hill, from where the invisible force is emenating. Donna is worried:"So if whatever is causing this is inside that hill, we're stuffed. Look at the size of it."However Ben smiles confidently:"No we arn't! As an archaeologist, I am aware that there is an old shaft round the other side of the hill that dates from the 1930s and its currently being re-excavated. Thats what all that equipment is for. I visited here only a few weeks ago!"The Doctor grins: "Ben you're priceless. Come on".They run round to the other side and see the open shaft with a wooden workmen entrance. Ben leads the way and they go in. Through the dark, musty shaft they move, Martha occasionally kicking Donna and pretending its accidental. At the end they see a purple glowing light. They find it emenated from a single stone. As they approach it cracks open to reveal a metallic cylinder. From it is projected a luminous image of a humanoid in flowing robes with strange, alien features.
"Behold humanity. I am Messar of the Silkke. To your ancestors we were the Gods from the stars. We came to give you knowledge and impart wisdom. If you are seeing my message you will not have used that knowledge as you were advised. Our planet was destroyed by irresponsible greed and technology for its own sake and we will not allow that to happen to you. Therefore we have planted within this sacred mound the protective device you see before you. Should your destruction of your own environment start to go beyond repair or should you surrender yourselves to rule by machine, then this device will ensure that you go back to the start."

Ben is concerned:"This thing won't stop until people have destroyed every machine. They'll be mass famine. Do something Doctor!"The Doctor holds up a strange fork shaped device which glows with energy from the TARDIS. It immediately disables the Silkke cylinder whicch goes dark."Thankfully, nothing can compete with Timelord technology" the Doctor grins."However let this be a lesson to all humanity. Use your technology to enhance your environment but not to destroy it or to change the climate. And keep it restricted!"

Later, the Doctor, Donna, Martha, Ben , Carl and Abby are all sitting in the lounge at Foxglove Farm, enjoying a drink and a chat. Martha is apologetic to Donna:"Hey its ok. I have my own life now with Torchwood. The Doctor is all yours."Donna frowns:"Its a shame that the Meddling Monk just slipped away without any comeback."
The Doctor looks concerned:"Yes, I doubt that we've seen the last of him. Still, two lonely survivors wandering the universe is better than just one. And it won't take civilisation long to recover.I propose a toast to Ben: without his knowledge of the excavation work at Silbury, we'd have never seen the shaft. To Ben!" *All raise glasses to Ben*
Carl turns to him:"Hey Ben, I've a surprise for you. Two tickets to see Bowie live next month, with backstage passes!"

A month later, Ben and Carl are in the audience watching Bowie , Carl planting a kiss on Ben's lips as the sound of Heroes rings out.
Later, backstage, Bowie comes up to them,"Hi Ben. I'm so pleased that you could come to my show tonight. Thanks for saving the world. You really are special", *ruffles Ben's hair, who blushes appreciatively*.

- THE END!

Friday 10 August 2007

Season 4 pitch: Episode 12: "Cyborg"

OK folks, here it is, part one of the series finale:

Episode 12: Cyborg

Having left the dead PM where they found him, the Doctor , Donna & Ben set off in the TARDIS for Fullerton Research Centre in Wiltshire, the main HQ of New World Enterprises. The Doctor is determined to either confront Poole head on or at least get to the heart of his organisation. However before landing something goes wrong, the TARDIS shudders and swirls and once landed the Doctor finds that they have been diverted off course and are several miles away from the Centre. The Doctor is concerned: "There is no force in the universe that can put up a barrier to the TARDIS. Only Time Lord technology could do that.... but no thats impossible.... unless the Master..... but no he can't be...."
Leaving the TARDIS they find that they have landed in the grounds of Foxglove Farm, a rescue centre for old & unwanted horses run by young Abby Simpson and her brother Carl. It is early morning and the Simpsons are feeding the horses. Engaging in conversation they learn that New World Enterprises are trying to purchase the farm in order to build a second facility on the site and that there has been underhanded pressurising going on, "several of the horses have been killed at night in an effort to force us out. Of course we can't prove it but we're planning a protest today, a march to their centre." Ben meanwhile is chatting to Carl about horsebreeding and finds himself attracted to the young, dark-haired Cambridge graduate.

After a hearty country breakfast the Doctor, Donna and Ben join Abby, Carl and around 50 supporters who have turned up to march to the Centre. They are carrying makeshift placards. Arriving at the gates they are told to clear off by security guards. Ben asks Carl to try and storm the gates and using the diversion created, Donna & the Doctor scale the perimeter fence in another area and make for the buildings. Sneaking in through a side door, they wind through a series of clinical, bland, hospital like corridors. Meanwhile, the police arrive in force and use batons to clear the demonstrators, bashing Abby to the ground and kicking her unconscious. Ben is intrigued that the police are so violent and concludes that the local police must be in the pocket of Poole's organisation.
Returning back to the farm, they hear the sound of frightened horses and running to the stables see a hooded figure firing a laser gun at a horse and killing it. Carl runs up and finding a pitchfork skewers it. However the hooded thing staggers and removes the fork, tossing it to oneside. Carl is shocked to see it has a metallic head underneith the hood.

Back in the Research Centre, The Doctor and Donna are shocked to hear a voice calling their names: "Oh Doctor! Donna! We've been expecting you. I knew our little delaying tactic would only be a temporary postponement. Please come in." The Doctor is angry: "Ok, whatever you are, wherever you are. Do you mind telling us where to go?" "Why the second door on the left in front of you. Come on in and have a civilised drink."Donna feistily leads the way and stomps through the door and gasps. The whole room is full of high tech gadgetry and massive computer stacks. On a huge plasma screen , a man in a business suit can be seen. "Hello again Doctor. Long time no see. You might find me rather upgraded shall we say since our last meeting. I'm the boss. The computer. "But the Doctor isn't having it:"Hang on old bean, or should I say old chip. That force that diverted my TARDIS was beyond and technology that could have developed, fallen, been left, lost or lent to this world. And who the hell rebuilt you anyway after the Global Chemicals business?""That was my doing I'm afraid" a voice says.
The Doctor & Donna turn to see Stephen Poole and several armed men.

In Poole's office, The Doctor & Donna are offered drinks, which they refuse."Oh Doctor, you really shouldn't be so churlish. Anyway, its all very simple you see. I've done my bit as they say. The boss really is the boss, or at least will be after tomorrow. Then I take a back seat. Its so much easier this time round with the internet and so forth. Tomorrow one computer system takes over the entire planet. At last this pathetic, chaotic world will have some order, efficiency and uniformity placed on it. "Donna is angry: "Why the hell would you want to see a machine running the world?"Poole smiles: "For fun my dear. Oh don't look so shocked. You see I just think its the human destiny to be regulated. And enhanced. Upgraded even! Its clearly happened elsewhere.... I'm just moving things on a little.... for the pleasure of it shall we say. I'm only a backseat driver. Its intriguing. The Doctor understands me if you can't. He's as fascinated with humans as I am."
"What does he mean upgraded?" Donna asks the Doctor. The Doctor looks very worried.
"The future of the human race." Poole gloats, grinning. "After all, it happens in other universes..."The Doctor stands up. "Who are you?" Poole grins. "Haven't you guessed? I've been called many things but as I love the contemplative life, the Monk will suffice. Its how you knew me before my regeneration."
"But you couldn't have survived the Time War!"
"Oh but I did. Slipped sideways shall we say. Into another universe where I saw the future of the human race. And I knew that I'd have to help them along a bit in this one. Its been a fascinating journey."
"What future"? Donna asks.
"This"
A door opens and in walks a figure which, athough different in design, clearly resembles...........

- a Cyberman!

Tuesday 7 August 2007

Season 4 pitch: Episode 11 "Conscience"

Anyway, moving on, here is episode 11:

Episode 11: Conscience

A silent office. 2 am in the morning. A man sits with his head in his hands, a desk light shining down on him while the rest of the office is dim. Outside the glass windows the lights of London shine like intrusive ertzatz stars. Sweat pours from John Deerman's face and dribbles down the nape of his neck. He wrenches at his collar to loosen it, then takes another gulp of scotch from the glass in front of him. Inside his fevered head, his mind is dizzy and gliding.
He sees the boy that used to be him staring down at him mother's coffin as it is lowered into the grave. He is seven years old. The cold hand of his father rests on his shoulders as the grey, earthen faces of the mourners turn away coldly. Then he sees a room where his father is stumbling in from the pub and takes a swing at his younger self. He is lifted from the ground and thrown against a bookcase, crashing down. "You're a useless failure" the father shouts.

Taking another huge gulp of whisky he sees a study at Marlborough School and his teenage self is working hard at his studies on a hot summers day. Everyone else is outside socialising in the sun, but John sits working. Through the hazy fog of incandescent memory he sees himself as a student sitting reading on the grass of an Oxford college. An attractive girl approaches: "Hi John. I was wondering if you'd like to come for a drink later." He looks up coldly: "No I can't .I have to work. Some of us want to succeed in our finals." The girl turns and walks away, muttering angrily.
In the office, John Deerman rises unsteadily on his feet and gazes out the window at the lights of London. He sees in his head a party in full swing to celebrate his election to a safe seat as MP for Helmford South. The champagne is flowing as an older collegue slaps him on the shoulder, "Hows it going with Ruth? " John replies: "Fine. I've asked her to marry me. She's efficient and an essential accessary for promotion purposes." The collegue steps back a little: "Oh come on, you're joking surely. You see Ruth as an 'accessary'?" John does not answer and turns to talk to someone else.
He drifts to the scene of another funeral, his father's. As the coffin is lowered he mutters under his breath, "not a failure anymore you old bastard".

Returning to his desk in the office, he pours another large scotch and gulps it down. His mind is floating on a sea of radient swirling colours and disjointed scenes. He sees himself in his Westmister office when he was Environment Secretary. Sitting opposite him is Stephen Poole. Poole is showing him plans for a series of major plants and production facilities. "The economic gains to the country I can bring will be immense.All I need is fastracked approval. Perhaps you'd like to remember the stake I have in several leading newspapers. Do you want me behind your leadership campaign or not?" Deerman replies that hewill back Poole's plans fully. Poole smiles steelily. "Then I'm sure this is the start of a fruitful partnership."
Slumping down at the desk again, Deerman's intoxicated mind floats into another meeting, in the PM's office. He is frightened, more frightened thatn he has ever been before. "This is monstrous, horrific. What you are planning to do must be stopped." Poole smiles: "And Ruth? Your children? You now know I'm sure exactly what I have the capacity to do to them. To anyone who gets in the way. You will obey the Boss or pay the price." Deerman begs and pleads with Poole but his mind is broken and fragmented. He submits to the stronger will. Poole smiles, "call this the Triumph of the Will as a greater man than you used to say".

Back in his London office, Deerman pours a final large glass of scotch. He opens the bottle of tablets on his desk and gulps down a handful . He takes a large swig. Then another handful and another drink. Eventually both bottle and tumbler are empty. Deerman lays his head down on his folded arms. Outside the London nightlife continues. Deerman sinks into unconsciousness. His breathing becomes slower. He dies.
The TARDIS materialises in the corner of the office. The door opens and the Doctor emerges to see a corpse.....

Monday 6 August 2007

Season 4 pitch: the next two episodes

Anyway, here is the next part of my pitch folks:

Episode 9: The Rats of Tenbury

1st part of a two part story

The TARDIS lands near the village of Tenbury in Suffolk where Ben is keen to visit the newly discovered site of a Saxon ship burial. "This is potentially more important than Sutton Hoo" he enthuses to Donna as he sips on an absinthe in the TARDIS lounge. Leaving the TARDIS, they walk to the site only to find it fenced off with police tape. They learn from the police that there has been an 'incident' at the site. Later in the local pub, the Dog and Hedgehog, a local named Pete tells them that he's heard that the chief archaeologist Brian Ford has been found murdered with a saxon sword.
Ben is upset as Brian had been one of his lecturers at Cambridge and has a few too many glasses of cognac. The young barman, James, advises Ben that he has had enough and although Ben is angry, he finds himself attracted to James. James tells him that he has just finished his History degree at Oxford and is doing bar work before finding a proper career. Their eyes meet.

Meanwhile the Doctor & Donna are chatting to Pete, the beardy local. He informs them that there had been strange goings on at the dig even before the death; dark figures and shapes seen moving around Tenbury woods , next to the dig. The Doctor also learns that beyond the woods is a large chemicals plant owned by a company called New World Enterprises. The Doctor is concerned and fears the involvement of Poole. Ben is in no fit state to leave so he stays the night at the pub, helped to his room by James. Meanwhile Donna and the Doctor land the TARDIS just outside Tenbury woods for a snoop about. They walk among the trees but see nothing. Donna gets her legs scratched on some bramble and moans and they are about to go back when they hear a piercing scream. Rushing towards it, the Doctor sees a local tramp lying dead with his throat ripped out. He hears a massive scream from Donna and returning back finds her... gone.
He finds landrover tyre marks just outside the woods and sees the vehicle speeding off in the distance. The Doctor leaves a message on Ben's mobile to say he is going to the chemicals plant and lands the TARDIS in the grounds. His hunch is right as he sees Donna being bundled off into the building by two men.

Meanwhile, Ben wakes up in the early hours in bed with James, his head resting on James' firm chest. He realises that a rustling noise downstairs has woken him . James is also awake and they agree to go downstairs together to investigate. As they go downstairs they flick on the light and see a large animal scurry off out of the open door. The landlord is lying dead on the pub floor, horribly mutilated. Rushing back upstairs they look out of the window and see dark shapes scurrying around the lane outside. Ben recognises the shapes. The whole pub is surrounded by..... giant rats!


Episode 10: Lair


Ben & James call out for police help and Ben contacts UNIT. Meanwhile the Doctor has been caught by patrol guards at the chemicals plant and is marched off to a holding room. Eventually the plant Director named Cooper comes to interrogate them. The Doctor tells him not to bother with any piffle as he knows that the tramp in the woods was killed by some kind of ravenous mammal and would like to know how the chemicals plant has caused this. "Well you already know too much so a little more won't hurt before your demise" Cooper replies. It seems that the plant had been dumping waste products in the river that runs by the woods and that somehow the waste had been killing fish, yet caused rats and watervoles to become enlarged and aggressive. Brian Ford had been killed with the Saxon sword because he saw the rats. The Doctor is concerned as the river flows on right through the nearby town of Holmton. "If it reaches an urban rat population, they could kill hundreds. And if it spreads further... to London...."
However the Doctors fears are founded. In Holmton enlarged rats start coming up from the sewers in their hundreds, and attack shoppers in the High Street, going for the throats. Several babies are ripped from prams and devoured while the local Starbucks is overun with the ravenous vermin. In an outer housing estate a woman pegging out washing is attacked by a giant otter which bites off her lower arm, while more rats race down the streets.
Ben and James are rescued by UNIT and join the force as it heads towards Holmton to try and contain the town. Backed up by the army, the town is surrounded. However rats from Tenbury woods and further down the river's route are spreading out . Meabnwhile,at the chemicals plant the Doctor and Donna are taken out into an outside delivery yard to be shot. As they are being ordered to stand against a wall, the Doctor sees Stephen Poole's face looking at them from a window. However before the guards can shoot them there are shouts of panic from within the building. A giant rat has entered the complex by knawing through the perimeter fence and is running amok. The Doctor uses this as an excuse to floor the remaining guards with venusian martial arts moves, kicking their guns away, and he and Donna escape.
Making it to the TARDIS, they travel to Holmton, having read Ben's info texts. The Doctor persuades the UNIT Brigadier to have a sample dead rat and takes it to the TARDIS lab to work on isolating the chemical. Once found, he quickly produces a counter- compound. Ben bravely volunteers to enter the town with a sprayer and spray one of the rodents as a test. James insists on going to and they both set off. Turning a corner they see a large rat nibbling at a corpse. Ben suggests that they wait in a doorway for it to approach however James recklessly strides out into the street to spray it only to be attacked on all sides by other rats and killed. Ben rushes out and fires a jet of spray at the creatures before running. As he turns around he sees the rats dying.....

The test successful, UNIT and the army carpet spray the town and along the river's route to kill the remaining rats. Later Ben and the Doctor are shocked to discover that no action is to be taken against the chemicals plant for this 'accident' and that the PM , John Deerman, has ordered a national ban on media reporting of the incident 'for economic reasons'.Ben is upset at James' death, ' I told him to wait but he just ran out . We'd only just met and now he's gone and left me alone again'. His eyes fill with tears and Donna comforts him, stroking his lush blonde hair.
The Doctor says ominously that it is time to pay the PM, John Deerman, a visit.....

Wednesday 1 August 2007

Season 4 pitch pt 3

EPISODE 7: ACORN MAN

Morning. Donna wakes up , dresses and enters the TARDIS console room to find the TARDIS has landed in a field & the door is open. The Doctor has gone. She wakes Ben and they go outside to look for the Doctor. They see a spinney in the distance and hear the sound of a flute. Ben starts to feel dizzy. He collapses. Donna is scared and runs to where the flute playing is coming from. She sees a scruffy young man sitting cross legged counting acorns. “I am the acorn man” he says to her and smiles. His teeth are all black. Getting up, he reaches out a hand which has long black fingernails and claws Donna’s face. She runs.
Meanwhile Ben awakes to find himself in a stables, lying on straw. He sees a girl who he thinks is sleeping. Turning her over he sees that her eyes are gouged out. Reeling back in horror, he sees her get up and lunge towards him. He runs outside to find that he’s in a busy city street. Turning back he sees only a brick wall. Staggering through the street, Ben feels nauseous and cannot speak. All around he hears laughing.
Donna runs back to find the TARDIS and sees the Doctor standing by the door. Relieved she runs towards him. He grins, displaying black teeth: “I am the Acorn Man” he says, pulling from behind his back a meat cleaver. Donna screams as the Doctor lunges towards her. She runs.
Surrounded by complete darkness, the real Doctor is locked in a mind battle. He sits cross legged summoning up all of his mental energy. “You will submit” a voice says. “Never” the Doctor replies.
Ben collapses outside a bus shelter. An old lady walks up to him. “Are You alright dear” she says before kicking him in the ribs. She walks off. He sees the street change into a sandy beach with seagulls picking at discarded rubbish. It begins to rain, but the rain is like blood.
“Give me the TARDIS” a voice says, however the Doctor is too strong. Summoning up all of his psychic will, he defeats the intruding entity. Ben & Donna awake, this time for real, within the TARDIS. The Doctor explains that a psychic presence had been trying to destroy them .The TARDIS lands near the source. They emerge into a large house and see an old man slumped dead at a desk. All around the room are books on the occult. The Doctor recognises Gabriel Decavenar, the UK’s leading black magician. In his dead hand are three acorns and a sprig of woodbine. Outside the window a man walks quickly away from the house. It is Stephen Poole.


EPISODE 8: THE IMPERFECT


The TARDIS lands on Ictar 3 in the Andromeda galaxy. The Doctor has promised to show Ben the planet of the Elians, who had visited the earth centuries before and documented in von Daniken’s ‘Chariots of the Gods’. Ben had been sceptical about von Daniken’s theories until meeting the Doctor. However all is not well on Ictar 3. The once peaceful and benevolent Elians are now living under the tyranny of the Council, an oligarchy obsessed with efficiency and perfection. All dissent is crushed via execution in the modernisation chamber, an atomising machine. In the highly technocratic society, all people are linked to a master computer via implants in the head. The ruling Chairman Cressar can be seen on telescreens everywhere grinning. The Doctor, Ben & Donna join a group of underground rebels who tell them that the Council came to power centuries before as an oligarchy of business interests and since then have stifled all free expression. However the planet and its immediate neighbours are running short of resources and it is looking to expand its network of subservient planets. The Doctor helps the rebels hack into the master computer network and cripple the technological infastructure of the authorities. With the network down, mass rebellion ensues and the Council resign and leave Ictar 3.

Tuesday 31 July 2007

Sexiest Doctor Who Companion

OK , which companions would you consider the hottest . Female Category & Male Category.

Obvious leading candidates in the girls corner:

Rose Tyler
Jo Grant
Peri
Sarah Jane Smith
Romana 1 & Romana 2

Obvious leading Male Candidates:

Ben Jackson
Turlough
Mickey Smith
Captain Jack Harkness
Ben Chatham

Friday 27 July 2007

My Pitch For Season 4 Part 2

EPISODE 4: FROM THE DEPTHS

First of a two part story

A body is washed up on a Norfolk beach, horribly mutilated. The TARDIS lands in Norwich, where the Doctor wishes to attend a conference at Norwich Cathedral on gothic architecture. Donna is not impressed, so Ben agrees to go with her on a walk about the town. In a cafĂ©, Ben and Donna overhear an eccentric tramp babbling on about having hitched from coastal town Hunstanton to get away from ‘the creatures’ that stalk the streets at night there. “They come in from Brancaster Bay” he claims. Everybody else ignores the tramp, however as they are leaving, Ben & Donna see two men get up from a table, grab the tramp & bundle him into a car.Ben & Donna contact the Doctor who agrees to investigate that evening and the TARDIS lands near Brancaster Bay. However the whole area is cordoned off with security fences with ‘New World Enterprises’ signs, Stephen Poole’s company. The Doctor learns from a local fisherman Jack that the whole area has been cordoned off for supposed research purposes, however the local community believe that something is being secretly dumped off the coast. The Doctor persuades Jack to take him out in the fishing boat, while Ben & Donna book into as b&b in Hunstanton to check out the tramp’s story. Out at sea at night, the Doctor and Jack witness canisters being dumped off the side of a large boat. They are seen and men from the boat start shooting at them. Back in Hunstanton, Ben & Donna are exploring the streets at night when they are confronted by….. Silurians!

EPISODE 5: REPTILIAN DAWN

Ben & Donna are chased by Silurians, while the Doctor is captured by the boat crew after Jack is shot dead. The crew leader admits to illegally dumping chemicals off the coast to save time and cash . However the ship is attacked by Sea Devils who kill most of the crew . The Doctor tries to reason with them, however they argue that the canisters are rupturing in the depths and polluting the sea. ‘We have come to reclaim our earth from the irresponsible usurper species’ they claim. Meanwhile, Silurians and Sea Devils emerge all along the Norfolk coast in their thousands and begin a relentless march to Norwich.Ben & Donna hide in a disused warehouse, where Ben phones UNIT & Torchwood. Emerging, they find the Silurians gone . The Doctor uses a Venusian Bliss Spray (shaped like a cigarette lighter) to stun the Sea Devils into a state of happy lethargy and escapes in Jack’s fishing boat. UNIT arrive , as does a para-military force owned by Poole’s New World Enerprises. A huge row ensues about the ethics of using reason first or just force against the Silurians, however the New World Enerprises group pre-empt the conclusion by spraying nerve chemicals all over the marching Silurian/Sea Devil hoards , killing them and hundreds of Norfolk people.The UNIT Brigadier threatens to go to the press with all of this, however Poole’s force commander assures him that press & politicians are ‘in our pockets’. Just to reinforce this, he hands the Brigadier a phone saying ‘speak to the PM’. It is clear that the PM backs New World Enterprises’.The Doctor arrives and Ben & Donna furiously tell him of recent developments. He feigns lack of concern, however back in the TARDIS, he admits that Stephen Poole is a deadly threat to the world, and will need careful investigation.

EPISODE 6: CAVALIERS

Attempting to travel to Cardiff to enlist the support of Captain Jack & Torchwood, the TARDIS is thrown off track by a cosmic storm, landing in England in the 1640s . The Civil War is raging and the Doctor, Ben & Donna take refuge in a country house owned by Sir Philip Blanchet, a royalist , and defended by cavaliers. At first treated with suspicion, the TARDIS crew are welcomed into the house after the Doctor convinces them that he supports the King. They are secretly hiding the Prince of Wales & future Charles II in the house. However at night, Donna learns by listening through a door that Blanchet & his valet are secret parliamentarians who plan to deliver the boy to his enemies. She is caught listening and thrown into a rat infested cellar. Later an army of roundheads arrive & Blanchet orders the men not to fire but to ‘let them in for negotiations’. Ben & the Doctor smell a rat and smuggle the Prince out through the back of the house. They catch a glimpse of the roundhead commander and are shocked to see Stephen Poole, clearly manipulating history again. Ben asks if he could be the Master, of whom he has heard about from Martha Jones. ‘Oh no its not him. At least he was a known quantity’ the Doctor replies. The Doctor speculates that Poole needed the monasteries dissolved to deliver land to the protestant aristocracy who in turn could be persuaded to sell it to companies like his in the future.They hide the Prince in the TARDIS, while Donna escapes from the cellar by decking a guard with a feisty right-hook and runs through the house as the TARDIS lands in the main hall. Reunited, the TARDIS crew deposit the Prince safely in France.