An Ordinary Life (audio story)

 was the fourth and final story of the first series of The Early Adventures, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Matt Fitton, narrated by Peter Purves and Jean Marsh and featured the First Doctor, Steven Taylor and Sara Kingdom.

In this adventure, the Doctor, Steven, and Sara were on the run trying to prevent Daleks from getting back the Taranium that the Doctor managed to steal in the television story The Daleks' Master Plan to prevent a catastrophe. After their ordinary life in this adventure was over, however, the Doctor knew that he would have to return to Kembel after all, leading the TARDIS crew back into the events of Master Plan.

Publisher's summary
1950s London: newcomers arrive daily on British shores seeking a fresh start, new opportunities, or simply the chance of a different life. However, some are from much further afield than India or Jamaica...

After an emergency landing, the TARDIS crew must make the best of it, and look to their new neighbours for help. But the Newman family has more than the prejudices of the time to contend with. A sinister force grows in strength amid the pubs, docks and backstreets of London...

And without the Doctor, marooned in a time and place as alien as anything they've ever encountered, Steven and Sara may well face their greatest challenge yet. To live an ordinary life.

An Ordinary Life (1)
London, 1950s, during winter. From the window of their house in the quarters of the poor, Joseph Roberts, a Jamaican immigrant, and her niece, Audrey, watch the snow falling. Audrey and her husband, Michael, have arrived in London just recently together with her new-born baby, Josetta. Audrey is worried about his husband, who seems to be much changed; Joseph tries to comfort her saying he is only having trouble to adjust to his new habitat. He himself, he said, had trouble when he arrived here years ago. They then hear a strange noise outside, which Audrey mistakes for the wind.

Instead, it is the TARDIS landing in the nearby park. Steven Taylor and Sara Kingdom come out, carrying a confused, almost delirious Doctor. The Doctor had been attacked by something while standing at the controls, and neither Sara or Steven know precisely what happened; at the same time, the life support system stark to malfuction, thus forcing all of them outside. As the door of the TARDIS close, the Doctor mutters to Steven he "must keep it safe". Sara thinks he means the taranium, and Steven checks the Doctor's coat to make sure he is still there. They then start to move towards the houses.

Joseph sees them from the window, and invites them in to shelter them from the cold. Sara is suspicious, but Steven cuts her off: they have no time, the Doctor is getting cold. They enter the house, and are welcomed by Joseph and a slightly suspicious Audrey. Steven and Sara put the Doctor on the sofa near the fire of Joseph's living room, as he still mutters about them having to stay safe. Steven thanks Joseph, and the old man invites Steven to put the Doctor sleep in his bed: they have all the floor for themselves. As Sara and Audrey introduce themselves to each other, Audrey's husband, Michael, comes home. Audrey tells him what happened, but that seems to let Michael unfazed; he hurriedly says his wife good night and goes to bed, despite her attempts of having him stay.

Joseph is angry at Michael's behaviour, and intends to talk to him soon: now he has been rude, he says. He then makes arrangement for the night: Sara and Audrey will sleep on the sofa, he and Steven on the chairs, and the Doctor will have the bed. Sara insists Joseph take the sofa, since he has a limp, but the man just laughs at his war injury, which granted him an army pension.

The Unalike (2)
to be added

The Sleeping Army (3)
to be added

The Enemy Without (4)
to be added

Cast

 * Steven Taylor/Narrator/The Doctor - Peter Purves
 * Sara Kingdom - Jean Marsh
 * Joseph Roberts - Ram John Holder
 * Michael Newman - Damian Lynch
 * Audrey Newman - Sara Powell
 * Billy Flint - Stephen Critchlow

Continuity

 * Sara mentions the death of her brother Bret Vyon. (TV: The Daleks' Master Plan)
 * The Doctor starts to sing a Venusian lullaby. (TV: The Curse of Peladon)