Night of the Fendahl (audio story)

Night of the Fendahl was the twenty-fifth story in the Torchwood - Monthly Range by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Tim Foley and featured Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper.

It saw Big Finish's first use of the Fendahl, as well as Torchwood's first association with them.

Publisher's summary
Torchwood vs Monsters!

Marco makes films. You wouldn't like them. The lighting's shoddy, the sets are cheap and the sound's appalling. But there's an audience for them. Because they're films in which bad things happen to women.

Marco's latest venture is based on real events. Events which took place in Fetch Priory many years ago. It's an anthology piece, and Marco needs one final victim. But the last victim is not who anyone is expecting.

Death has returned to Fetch Priory. And Death is no-one's victim.

Plot
Gwen arrives at Fetch Priory to play the role of the final victim in a horror film about the Fendahl produced by Marco and directed by Derek. She is introduced to the two of them, as well as actor Phil and technician Ged, before the generator goes out and she goes with Phil to get dressed for her scene in which she will be sacrificed on an altar. The crew note that she seems "out of it" and she exhibits strange behaviour like ignoring a call from Rhys before acting as though she is on the telephone with him. Meanwhile, Ged is killed by a Fendahleen as he looks into the sabotaged generator.

Derek tells Gwen and Phil how a private security firm's reports on the Fetch Priory incident upon which the film is based were sent to the production company's website and about how twelve Fendahleen and a core are required to feed the Fendahl, although the film reimagines the real-life story as one in which the Fendahl succeeds. Phil tries to warn Gwen away twice before filming upon learning about Anwen, but she chooses to remain and Marco takes Phil outside to remind him not to get attached to the victims. On Phil's third attempt to warn her, she again refuses to leave and he calls her a terrible mother for not realising what is happening.

Gwen improvises a speech about the opening of the void as the cameras roll and lies on the altar to be sacrificed by Phil, who has killed several other women but is unable to kill Gwen. The supposed mannequins standing in for cultists are revealed to be Fendahleen and Marco locks Gwen, Derek and Phil in with them as he lets in two further Fendahleen: Ged and Colby. Derek is unable to move after looking in Gwen's eyes and learns that the Fendahl moved down Gwen's family tree to take control of her and has been watching him as he and Marco made their films about rape and violence. He becomes a Fendahleen.

Marco asks the Fendahl Core to abandon Gwen's body for his through sex as he sees women as the weaker sex and believes that he has earnt the power of the Core because of his efforts, but it removes his eyes and transforms him into a Fendahleen. It follows Phil into his car and Gwen takes control of her body back by refusing to be a victim, revealing that she had been using the Fendahl to shut down Marco and Derek's operations since the Fendahl used her to send Hartman's files to them and that the Fendahleen will disappear in the sunlight without the Core. She knows that he beat the mother of his son and he tries to excuse having killed multiple women, but she does not listen.

Gwen offers to take Phil back to Cardiff with her so long as he is able to move, knowing that he looked into the eyes of the Fendahl Core. As she leaves to track down everybody who bought films from Marco and Derek, the Fendahleen catch up with Phil and transform him into one of them.

Cast

 * Gwen Cooper - Eve Myles
 * Phil Patterson - Bradley Freegard
 * Derek Jennings - Gavin Swift
 * Marco Fendelman - Gerald Tyler
 * Ged Gently - Guy Adams

Worldbuilding

 * This story serves as a sequel to TV: Image of the Fendahl, and so includes many references to that story
 * The film crew have a glowing skull (although it is a fake)
 * The filming is taking place at Fetch Priory
 * The Fendahl gains full control by taking 13 people - 12 worm like servants and 1 core. This is similar to the requirement of Duroc to take 13 lives before being unstoppable
 * It is mentioned that Fetch Priory burned down - the Fendahleen have hidden in the house since then
 * Marco is descended from Dr Fendelman
 * It is mentioned that Adam Colby is the owner of the land Fetch Priory was situated upon
 * The security files on the events of TV: Image of the Fendahl were stored by John Hartman, Yvonne's father.
 * Derek mentions that they had shot a film in the house in Fetch Priory in which their lead actress wore a leather bikini. Leela, the fourth Doctor's companion, was known for wearing a leather bikini and was featured in the original Fendahl story, TV: Image of the Fendahl. (TV: Meanwhile in the TARDIS 2'' )
 * Phil takes the fake skull and recites the line from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, "Alas, poor Yorick..."
 * Derek mentions that Gwen is perfect for the part of the "scientist" in their movie because of her dark hair. Thea Ransome was a scientist and had very dark hair like Gwen's before becoming the Fendahl core.
 * Gwen ignores a call from Rhys.
 * Phil and Zara have a son, Johnny.

Continuity

 * Rhys calls Gwen and their daughter Anwen is mentioned. (TV: The New World et al.)