The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance (audio story)

The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance is a 2010 audio adaptation of a 1964 Doctor Who spec script of the same name. It was included in the First Doctor Box Set from Big Finish Productions that began the second season of The Lost Stories series.

It is markedly different in format to the published script. Most significantly, it has narration from the standpoint of an omniscient author, which allows for perspectives that would not have been available to either television audiences or those who read the original script.

Though it features the characters of the First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Susan, it only utilizes the vocal talents of William Russell, Carole Ann Ford and some guest artists. It also has a minimalistic musical and foley score, evocative of Hartnell-era Doctor Who. Thus its format sits somewhere between a Companion Chronicle and a full-cast drama.

From a behind-the-scenes perspective, it is likely most significant, along with the indivisibly purchased Farewell Great Macedon. for reuniting Ford and Russell for their first professional engagement as Susan and Ian since The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

Publisher's summary
On an alien planet, a man named Rhythm woos Barbara. She is unaware, however, that her rejection of his advances mean that Rhythm is now sentenced to die.

Cast

 * Ian Chesterton - William Russell
 * Susan Foreman - Carole Ann Ford
 * Rhythm - John Dorney
 * Rhyme
 * Iamb
 * Melody
 * Harmony

Theories and concepts

 * Fragile Yellow Arc
 * Thin Purple Arc

Continuity

 * The story begins at what appears to have been the end of a fairly lengthy stopover on the planet Fragrance. The TARDIS crew have had time to form relationships with the inhabitants of the planet.
 * No definitive description of the inhabitants of Fragrance is given, though it seems likely they are Near-Humans, since Barbara seriously considers a romance with Rhythm. Likewise, Ian assumes Rhythm's good looks must mean he's fighting off the advances of many women.
 * The sapient species of Fragrance is never named. No noun or adjective for "of or relating to Fragrance" is given by the author or adapter. Thus an "inhabitant" or "native" of Fragrance is the closest the text allows in terms of naming the resident species.
 * This story contains an in-depth explanation of how the Doctor actually flies the TARDIS — far more substantial than any given on television.

Timeline
Placement of this story is uncertain. As it was never produced, it wasn't integrated into the season. It doesn't flow from or fade out with a cliffhanger, the way that every other story of season 1 does. This means it may be retroactively placed between The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants, the only two televised stories featuring Susan not narratively connected. Some fans have tried to assert that it comes after Farewell Great Macedon, but there is nothing in the script which recalls Macedon. How could there be? Macedon was written afterward and would not have referenced Arc, since Arc had already been rejected. Thus they can be placed in any order with respect to each other.