Sonny (audio story)

Sonny was the fifty-ninth story in the Torchwood - Monthly Range by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Lizzie Hopley.

Publisher's summary
Sonny is the answer to elderly care. Artificially intelligent robot carers placed in old peoples' homes that mimic the behaviour of their owners.

Only there are rumours that something is wrong with the Sonny units. That they're too clever. That they are learning too much. Rhys sends his mother into a home to find out. But what will it cost him?

Plot
Because Gwen is suspicious of the new Sonny robots at Glades Water Retirement Home, Rhys has Brenda enter the home as a patient to investigate and make sure that they are not dangerous before they are rolled out worldwide. She is uncomfortable around Sonny and irritated by his attentiveness, leading her to lock him in a cupboard until Rhys finds him, after which Sonny demonstrates that he can lie, make jokes and change the subject to avoid difficult questions. She is upset by the decreasing frequency of Rhys's visits and grows closer to Sonny, eventually telling Rhys to leave her alone until she calls him.

Prudeep has his Sonny, named Pihu, taken away by his suspicious daughter Priya, who also decides to take him home because of Joy stealing money from him and the other residents. Sonny gets angry at Pihu's mistreatment and Rhys realises that the robots are too good at learning from humans, which is why they are to be recalled. Brenda refuses to allow Sonny to be turned off and sneaks out in the night with Sonny and Pihu, unaware for some time that Sonny has brought all of the home's other robots as well. Although sympathetic, she knows that she cannot look after them all.

Rhys tracks Brenda to a shack on Forest Farm thanks to the bangle connecting her and Sonny and admits that he was scared of the robots. The reset process begins and all of the robots are restored to their factory settings, but Brenda has long enough to say goodbye to Sonny. She decides to continue wearing the bangle and bids farewell to Prudeep before she leaves for home, asking Rhys not to visit her for a time as they have lost a connection because of the experience at Glades Water.

Some time later, Rhys gifts Sonny to Brenda, so long as she keeps him a secret. Rhys apologises to her and Sonny says that he feels happy.

Cast

 * Rhys Williams - Kai Owen
 * Brenda Williams - Nerys Hughes
 * Sonny - Steven Kynman
 * Joy - Donna Berlin
 * Priya - Shobu Kapoor
 * Prudeep - Amerjit Deu

Crew

 * Music - Blair Mowat
 * Senior Producer - David Richardson
 * Additional themes - Ben Foster
 * Cover Art - Sean Longmore
 * Director - Lisa Bowerman
 * Executive Producers - Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
 * Producer - James Goss
 * Script Editor - David Winfield
 * Sound Design - Toby Hrycek-Robinson
 * Writer - Lizzie Hopley
 * Theme Music - Murray Gold

Worldbuilding

 * Rhys jokes that Brenda's stay at Glades Water is in part to give Barry a break from her. Brenda says that Barry drives her nuts and Rhys says that she always knows when Barry takes a biscuit.
 * Rhys mentions that Gwen suggested the mission.
 * Brenda asks Rhys to bring some decent red sauce.
 * Brenda has put some lasagne in the freezer for Barry.
 * Brenda plays with Carol. Joy takes money from Carol's purse.
 * Jean collected china animals and gave her a sheep.
 * Brenda is on naproxen for her hip and omeprazole for her stomach.
 * Brenda listens to Otis Redding because Jean did not like him.

Continuity

 * Brenda has problems with her hip. (AUDIO: Visiting Hours)