Moscow beach party

The Moscow beach party was an event during one of the early days of the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Fourth Doctor compared it to the 1914 Christmas truce during the First World War.

History
The event was unwittingly brought about by the Monk in a bid to change history by taking control of the revolution. Noting that Russia frequently experienced very cold weather, he purchased an extraterrestrial heat ray capable of altering local climates, which he could use to play revolutionaries and Tsarists off each other as he saw fit.

At one point, the Doctor took control of the heat ray without the Monk noticing. He used it to bathe Moscow in perfect summer weather. The phenomenon brought the revolution to a halt, with both sides taking the opportunity to relax on sandy beaches and lakes.

Sarah Jane Smith assisted in a soup kitchen and handed out ice cream, while Harry Sullivan tended to peoples' injuries. Some revolutionaries watched on disgruntled, but even Vladimir Lenin joined in and lay down on an inflatable giraffe. Tsarina Alexandra got an "ice cream headache".

The Doctor explained to the Monk that many Russians would die, including the "doomed" Tsarina, or experience years of suffering as a result the revolution. The Moscow beach party was his way of allowing many of these people to enjoy one last pleasurable day of peace, drawing comparisons with Christmas football in the trenches.

The next day, the Doctor deactivated the heat ray to allow history to play its proper course. The revolution subsequently resumed. The Doctor noted that, unlike the Christmas truce, the Moscow party would be forgotten by history.

The Monk later related the story of the Moscow beach party during a presentation delivered to the Darkon Corporation about invading the Earth. His tale highlighting two things: how even the best invasion plans could be foiled by unexpected developments, and how the Doctor was liable to interfere. (AUDIO: How to Win Planets and Influence People)