Romans Cutaway (short story)

Romans Cutaway was the twelfth short story in the Short Trips anthology More Short Trips. It was written by David A. McIntee. It featured the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Vicki. Cutaway partly filled the narrative gap present in the television story The Romans.

Summary
Ian is dreaming of a car crash, with Barbara as the victim. When he wakes up, he finds himself in the TARDIS, which has materialised at an angle near the bottom of a ravine. The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki are all right except for minor injuries.

The readings suggest they are on Earth. Ian climbs out of the TARDIS, and guides a slender tree trunk through the door of the TARDIS for the others to climb out. They need to right the TARDIS, but it will be difficult. The Doctor and Vicki go for help while Barbara and Ian try to move the TARDIS.

The Doctor and Vicki come across a Roman villa, and realise they are near Rome. As they approach the villa, they see blood on the ground. Inside the villa, they meet Lucius, the caretaker of the villa, who has been attacked by a lion and is fatally wounded. Vicki and the Doctor try to make him as comfortable as possible, and their kindness allows him to trust them. He extracts from them a promise to watch the villa for him until his master returns from a campaign in Gaul. He dies.

As Barbara and Ian work on the TARDIS, a lion approaches. At first it focuses on Barbara, but Ian distracts it and it comes after him. After some dodging, Ian manages to climb up a ledge and lets a boulder drop on the lion, killing it. He is upset over the killing, but Barbara convinces him he had to do it to save their lives.

As the travellers sleep that night in the villa, Ian has the car crash dream again. He realises that he loves Barbara.

Characters

 * First Doctor
 * Barbara Wright
 * Ian Chesterton
 * Vicki Pallister
 * Lucius

Continuity

 * Lucius' master is Flavius Giscard. (TV: The Romans)
 * The Doctor calls Ian "Chesterman" and "Chesterfield". (TV: The Daleks, The Edge of Destruction, et al)