The Categories of Life (TV story)

 was the fifth episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day.

Synopsis
Torchwood goes undercover and discovers the terrible truth behind the Miracle. The enemy is closing in, and death is about to make a shocking return.

PloT
The episode opens in City Hall, Washington D.C. Vera is informed that the medical panels are over and a report was submitted by the HHS (Health and Human Services) Secretary directly to Congress. She is further informed that the categories of life have been uniamously approved for legislation. Confused, Vera asks what these categories are. She discovers there are three new categories for the living since no one dies. Horrified at what this legislation may mandate, Vera calls Rex to say she will join the covert investigation he and Torchwood are doing.

Meanwhile, Gwen returns to the UK under her false identity as Yvonne Pallister to find her father, now taken to one of the overflow camps. Rhys greets her disguised as her driver. Her mother has prepared for Gwen's arrival beforehand and has located Gwen's father at the Cowbridge Camp, formerly derelict army barracks closed down in 1996 - now an overflow camp for patients in the whole of South Wales. The next day Gwen travels with Andy to Cowbridge. Andy remarks that though the system is "bloody chaos, at least it works", relieving the pressure on geriatrics and other hospital departments. Gwen remarks that "Who's paying for all this? PhiCorp. You got healthcare being run by private business and believe me, that's just the start of your problems."

Gwen walks directly to admin demanding the release of her father. A military officer suggests she fills in a claims form. Andy tries to support Gwen by fabricating a story about her father being removed under police authority. Told that thee camp is not under the command of the Welsh police, she is then handed a package titled "Overflow Camp Health Care Provider Framework". Gwen turns this over and is unsurprised at the sight of PhiCorp's logo. Under the threat of arrest, Gwen, Andy, and Rhys leave Cowbridge. Gwen, infuriated as the thought of red tape stopping her after everything she's experienced with Torchwood Three, tells Rhys "we're gonna break in here, we're gonna find my father, and we're gonna get him out - tonight."

On Venice Beach, in California, Esther confides in Jack about her insecurities about being "useless". Esther mentions the death of her mom in 2003 and asks Jack about his mom. He vaguely answers "I don't know. Long ago and so far away.". Just as Esther asks Jack where he's from, they both receive text messages from Rex. They meet Rex and are introduced to Vera. Vera mentions she was lucky to catch a flight because most of them were full due to the Miracle Rally tonight.

Back at the makeshift Torchwood "hub", Vera tells off Rex for any assumptions he is making and explains she flew across the country to support her patients who are now being held against their will in the overflow camps. They smile and kiss anyway.

Reconvening with Jack and Esther, Vera asks "Am I Torchwood now?". Jack replies "Welcome aboard". The group, including Gwen via video conference, clarify how the categories of life work. Category one is for anyone without brain function or anyone who would have ordinarily died; category three is for people with no injuries; category two is for everyone in between - people alive and functioning with an illness/injury that will persist, but won't kill. Rex notices the categories are arbitrary - he himself was a category "one", but has become a "two".

Some theories are discussed about who is behind PhiCorp. Rex thinks there is more going on behind the pharmaceutical company and Esther points out the consistent presence of modules at every overflow camp based on building specs she collected from Jilly Kitzinger's desktop. These modules are buildings seen in all the camp plans, but they are sealed off and hidden from view - only revealed in undoctored satellite photographs. Esther lets Gwen know that these modules also exist overseas in the overflow camp in Wales.

Gwen and Vera wonder if these modules are for vivisections: what if category "one" patients are being cultivated for making diseases to make more pharmaceutical customers? Esther thinks this theory would explain the rush to strip category one's of their human rights. Jack and the team agree that they need to infiltrate the camps and find out what the modules are for. Gwen will go on a night shift at Cowbridge as "Nurse Pallister". Esther will join the clerical staff and do paperwork on the module at San Pedro. Vera will join Esther at San Pedro as a medical inspector. Rex warns Vera that infiltration is not a game. Rex argues he will get to the heart of the module due to his sustained injury from a pole running through his chest, which allows him to be taken to San Pedro as a patient. Jack, called a fragile mortal man by Esther, is left behind. Jack decides to go to the Miracle Rally in Los Angeles.

[To be continued.]

Cast

 * Captain Jack Harkness - John Barrowman
 * Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
 * Rex Matheson - Mekhi Phifer
 * Esther Drummond - Alexa Havins
 * Rhys Williams - Kai Owen
 * Oswald Danes - Bill Pullman
 * Dr. Vera Juarez - Arlene Tur
 * Jilly Kitzinger - Lauren Ambrose
 * Andy Davidson - Tom Price
 * Geraint Cooper - William Thomas
 * Mary Cooper - Sharon Morgan
 * Ralph - Fred Koehler
 * Blue Eyed Man - Teddy Sears
 * Colin Maloney - Marc Vann
 * Guard - Daniel Adegboyega
 * Nurse Chris - Brad Bell
 * News Reports - Charles Carpenter
 * Man - Jim Conway
 * Handsome Man - Jonathan Dane
 * Spanish Newscaster - Teresa Garza
 * Pidgeon - Brendan Hughes
 * Excited Teenager - Joelle Elizabeth Jacoby
 * Rachel - Liz Jenkins
 * Pushy Woman - Ria Jones
 * Japanese Newscaster - Masami Kosaka
 * Maria Santos - Eve Mauro
 * Stressed Woman - Francine Morgan
 * Thomason - Stuart Nurse
 * Pale Woman - Tracy Pfau
 * Paramedic - Caroline Whitney Smith
 * Angry Man - Vito Viscuso
 * Candice - Randa Walker

Story notes
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Ratings
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Myths
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Filming locations
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Production errors
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Continuity

 * Owens's Theme is heard at the very beginning of the episode.

DVD releases
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Blu-ray releases
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