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Doctor Who: The Unquiet Dead
The Doctor and Rose travel by accident to 1869 Earth, and find that recently deceased corpses are returning to life, in a ghostly way. A mortician and his assistant know of the problem, but to keep their secret a secret, they kidnap Rose, who witnesses them collecting one of their ghostly corpses. The Doctor then must rescue Rose, and help the ghostly corpses return to there their own universe. He is aided in this effort by the aged Charles Dickens.
Things don’t go as the Doctor expects, and serious repercussions occur to those around him.
Things don’t go as the Doctor expects, and serious repercussions occur to those around him.
| 7.3/10 (15 Votes cast) |
Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x3 Production Number: 103 Airdate: Saturday April 09th, 2005 Alternate Airdates:
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Ireland
Australia
US (
Germany
Recap
At a funeral home in Cardiff in 1869, Mr Sneed offers his condolences to Redpath upon the death of his grandmother. He assures the grandson that she's merely asleep, not death. Redpath asks for a moment alone but then looks on in horror as his grandmother Mrs Peace's corpse comes to life and starts choking him. Sneed hears the commotion and comes back in, and realizes they have another one. He calls for Gwyneth, the maid, but the corpse knocks him down and snaps Redpath's neck, and then breaks open its coffin and walks out into the winter night, screaming as energy flows from it...Read the full recap
Episode Notes
Date: December 24, 1869
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK
The Bad Wolf reference in this episode is: Gwyneth sees the Big Bad Wolf in Rose's thoughts
Simon Callow is one of Britain's leading experts on Charles Dickens, having written several biographies about him. He has also played him on several previous occasions.
The Doctor is a huge fan of Charles Dickens.
Although it was based in Cardiff, this episodes was filmed in Swansea, as there are no surviving buildings in Cardiff from 1869.
Eve Myles (Gwyneth) would later play Gwen Cooper in the spin-off series Torchwood.
This episode reveals that the Doctor "pushed boxes at the Boston Tea Party" on December 16, 1773.
Charles Dickens' great-great-great-grandson, Harry Lloyd, later played Jeremy Baines/Son of Mine in the 2007 episodes "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood".
Working titles: "The Crippingwell Horror" and "The Angels of Crippingwell."
Episode Quotes
Rose: Think about it, though. Christmas 1860. It happened once. Just once, and it's… gone, it's finished. It'll never happen again. Except for you. You can go back and see days that are dead and gone, a hundred thousand sunsets ago. No wonder you never stay still
The Doctor: Not a bad life.
Rose: Better with two.
The Doctor: Not a bad life.
Rose: Better with two.
The Doctor: (to Rose) Go out there dressed like that, you'll start a riot, Barbarella!
The Doctor: Honestly, Charles, can I call you Charles? I'm such a big fan.
Charles Dickens: What? Big what?
The Doctor: Fan. Number 1 fan, that's me.
Charles Dickens: How exactly are you a “fan”? In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?
Charles Dickens: What? Big what?
The Doctor: Fan. Number 1 fan, that's me.
Charles Dickens: How exactly are you a “fan”? In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?
The Doctor: That a boy, Charlie!
Charles Dickens: Nobody calls me "Charlie."
The Doctor: The ladies do.
Charles Dickens: How do you know that?
The Doctor: I told you, I’m your number one…
Charles Dickens: Number one fan.
Charles Dickens: Nobody calls me "Charlie."
The Doctor: The ladies do.
Charles Dickens: How do you know that?
The Doctor: I told you, I’m your number one…
Charles Dickens: Number one fan.
Gwyneth: I’m sorry, sir. We’re closed.
Charles Dickens: Nonsense. Since when does an undertaker keep office hours? The dead don’t die on schedule.
Charles Dickens: Nonsense. Since when does an undertaker keep office hours? The dead don’t die on schedule.
The Doctor: The rift’s getting wider and something’s sneaking through.
Rose: What’s the rift?
The Doctor: A weak point in time and space. A connection between this place and another. That’s the cause of ghost stories, most of the time.
Gabriel Sneed: That’s how I got the house so cheap. Stories going back generations.Echoes in the dark. Queer songs in the air. And a feeling like a shadow passing over your soul. Mind you, truth be told, it’s been good for business. Just what people expect from a gloomy old trade like mine.
Rose: What’s the rift?
The Doctor: A weak point in time and space. A connection between this place and another. That’s the cause of ghost stories, most of the time.
Gabriel Sneed: That’s how I got the house so cheap. Stories going back generations.Echoes in the dark. Queer songs in the air. And a feeling like a shadow passing over your soul. Mind you, truth be told, it’s been good for business. Just what people expect from a gloomy old trade like mine.
Charles Dickens: Can it be that I have the world entirely wrong?
The Doctor: Not wrong. There's just more to learn.
Charles Dickens: I've always railed against the fantasist. Oh, I loved an illusion as much as the next man, reveled in them. But that's exactly what they were. Illusions. The real world is something else. I dedicated myself to that, injustices, the great social causes. I hoped that I was a force for good. Now, you tell me that the real world is a realm of spectres and jack-o-lanterns. In which case, have I wasted my brief span here, Doctor? Has it all been for nothing?
The Doctor: Not wrong. There's just more to learn.
Charles Dickens: I've always railed against the fantasist. Oh, I loved an illusion as much as the next man, reveled in them. But that's exactly what they were. Illusions. The real world is something else. I dedicated myself to that, injustices, the great social causes. I hoped that I was a force for good. Now, you tell me that the real world is a realm of spectres and jack-o-lanterns. In which case, have I wasted my brief span here, Doctor? Has it all been for nothing?
Rose: How much do you get paid?
Gwyneth: Eight pound a year, miss.
Rose: How much?
Gwyneth: I know! I would've been happy with six.
Gwyneth: Eight pound a year, miss.
Rose: How much?
Gwyneth: I know! I would've been happy with six.
Gwyneth: (to Rose) You’re from London. I’ve seen London in drawings but never like that. All those people rushing about… half-naked, for shame. And the noise. And the metal boxes racing past. And the birds in the sky... no, no, they’re metal as well. Metal birds with people in them. People are flying. And you... you’ve flown so far, further than anyone. The things you’ve seen. The darkness... the big bad wolf.
The Doctor: Now, don’t antagonize her--I love a happy medium.
Rose: I can't believe you just said that.
Rose: I can't believe you just said that.
Gabriel Sneed: What did you say, Doctor? Explain it again. What are they?
The Doctor: Aliens.
Gabriel Sneed: Like foreigners, you mean?
The Doctor: Pretty foreign, yeah. From up there. (points upwards)
Gabriel Sneed: Brecon?
The Doctor: Aliens.
Gabriel Sneed: Like foreigners, you mean?
The Doctor: Pretty foreign, yeah. From up there. (points upwards)
Gabriel Sneed: Brecon?
Rose: You can't let (the Gelth) run around inside dead people!
The Doctor: Why not? It's just like recycling.
Rose: Seriously though, you can't.
The Doctor: Seriously though, I can.
The Doctor: Why not? It's just like recycling.
Rose: Seriously though, you can't.
The Doctor: Seriously though, I can.
The Doctor: Mr. Sneed, what's the weakest part of this house? The place where most of the ghosts have been seen?
Gabriel Sneed: That would be.. the morgue.
Rose: No chance you're going to say "gazebo," is there?
Gabriel Sneed: That would be.. the morgue.
Rose: No chance you're going to say "gazebo," is there?
The Doctor: What about me? I saw the fall of Troy. World War Five. I pushed boxes at the Boston Tea Party, now I'm going to die in a dungeon. In Cardiff!
Charles Dickens: There are more things on heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Even for you, Doctor.
Charles Dickens: After all these revelations, there's one mystery you haven't explained. Answer me this… who are you?
The Doctor: Just a friend, passing through.
Charles Dickens: But you have such knowledge of future times. I don't wish to impose on you, but I must ask you… my books. Doctor, do they last?
The Doctor: Oh, yes.
Charles Dickens: For how long?
The Doctor: Forever.
The Doctor: Just a friend, passing through.
Charles Dickens: But you have such knowledge of future times. I don't wish to impose on you, but I must ask you… my books. Doctor, do they last?
The Doctor: Oh, yes.
Charles Dickens: For how long?
The Doctor: Forever.
Episode Goofs
Mrs Peace's age of four-score years and six (86) would have been an incredible age for a lower-middle class woman in the 19th century, the average lifespan would have been only about 35 at the time.
When the bodies of Redpath and Mrs. Peace rise from their coffins, one can see that there is a very non-Victorian light switch on the wall next to Rose; and when the Doctor rushes down the corridor to save her, one can see a central heating radiator on the wall.
In real life, Charles Dickens had finished his final lecture tour months before the events of this episode. As a result, it is unlikely that he was in Cardiff in December 1869.
Cultural References
The Doctor: (to Rose) Go out there dressed like that, you'll start a riot, Barbarella!
Barbarella was a popular French comic book created in the 1960s, and is considered the first mainstream "adult" comic, involving sexual themes and a risque approach to mores. It was the basis for a cheezy sci-fi movie in 1968, in which Barbarella, played by Jane Fonda, wore very skimpy, very sexy outfits in her treks around the galaxy.
Barbarella was a popular French comic book created in the 1960s, and is considered the first mainstream "adult" comic, involving sexual themes and a risque approach to mores. It was the basis for a cheezy sci-fi movie in 1968, in which Barbarella, played by Jane Fonda, wore very skimpy, very sexy outfits in her treks around the galaxy.
Charles Dickens: Maybe The Mystery of Edwin Drood...
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the last novel on which Charles Dickens worked. He was unable to complete it before his death on June 9, 1870, six months after the events of this episode.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the last novel on which Charles Dickens worked. He was unable to complete it before his death on June 9, 1870, six months after the events of this episode.
Charles Dickens: What the Shakespeare is going on?
This is a play on the common phrase, "What the Dickens?" Which is in fact not a reference to Charles Dickens, but to the Devil.
This is a play on the common phrase, "What the Dickens?" Which is in fact not a reference to Charles Dickens, but to the Devil.
Charles Dickens: God bless us, everyone!
Dickens says this at the end of the episode, these words are the same glad tidings of Tiny Tim at the end of A Christmas Carol.
Dickens says this at the end of the episode, these words are the same glad tidings of Tiny Tim at the end of A Christmas Carol.
Episode References
The Doctor: What about me? I saw the fall of Troy! World War Five! I pushed boxes at the Boston Tea Party, now I'm going to die in a dungeon!
The Doctor is referring to an episode of Doctor Who, The Myth Makers, in which the First Doctor and his companions become involved in the siege of Troy.
The Doctor is referring to an episode of Doctor Who, The Myth Makers, in which the First Doctor and his companions become involved in the siege of Troy.
Other Episode Crew
| • Executive Producer | Russell T. Davies | Mal Young (1) | Julie Gardner (1) |
| • Producer | Phil Collinson |
| • Associate Producer | Helen Vallis |
| • Production Designer | Michael Edward Thomas (3) |
| • Editor | John Richards |
| • Casting | Andy Pryor |
| • First Assistant Director | Lloyd Elis |
| • Second Assistant Director | Steff Morris |
| • Music | Murray Gold |
| • Costume Designer | Lucinda Wright |
| • Make-up | Sarah Wilson (2) |
| • Grip | John Robinson (3) |
| • Camera Operator | Martin Stephens | Michael Costelloe |
| • Set Decorator | Peter Walpole |
| • Location Manager | Clive Evans |
| • Property Master | Patrick Begley |
| • Production Coordinator | Pamela Joyce |
| • Assistant Editor | Ceres Doyle |
| • Post Production Supervisor | Marie Brown (2) |
| • Gaffer | Mark Hutchings |
| • On-Line Editor | Matthew Clarke (2) |
| • Director of Photography | Ernie Vincze |
| • Stunts | Lucy Allan (2) |
| • Stunt Coordinator | Lee Sheward |
| • Production Management | Tracie Simpson |
| • Special Effects | Will Cohen (3) |
| • Script Editor | Helen Raynor |
| • Dubbing Mixer | Tim Ricketts |
| • Sound Recordist | Ian Richardson (3) |
| • Third Assistant Director | Dan Mumford |
| • Boom Operator | Damian Richardson |
| • Art Department Coordinator | Gwenllian Llwyd |
| • Main Title Theme | Ron Grainer |
| • Visual Effects Supervisor | David Houghton |
| • Production Accountant | Endaf Emyr Williams |
| • Camera Assistant | David Jones (7) | Anna James |
| • Best Boy | Peter Chester |
| • Casting Associate | Kirsty Robertson |
| • Unit Manager | Emma Reid |
| • Colorist | Kai Van Beers |
| • Continuity | Non Eleri Hughes |
| • Focus Puller | Mark Isaac | Steve Lawes |
| • Graphic Artist | Jenny Bowers |
| • Dialogue Editor | Paul McFadden |
| • A/production Accountant | Kath Blackman | Debi Griffiths |
| • Concept Artist | Bryan Hitch |
| • Production Buyer | Catherine Samuel |
| • Supervising Art Director | Stephen Nicholas |
| • Standby Art Director | Arwel Wyn Jones |
| • Construction Manager | Andrew Smith (3) |
| • Standby Props | Phill Shellard | Adrian Anscombe |
| • Wardrobe Supervisor | Yolanda Peart-Smith |
| • Sound Special Effects Editor | Paul Jefferies |
| • Make-up Designer | Davy Jones |
| • Make-up Supervisor | Linda Davie |
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