The Outlaws (audio story)

The Outlaws was the first story in the audio anthology The Outlaws. It was written by Lizbeth Myles, it introduced Stephen Noonan as the First Doctor and featured Lauren Cornelius as Dodo Chaplet, and Rufus Hound as the Monk.

This was the first release in The First Doctor Adventures not to star David Bradley, Claudia Grant, Jamie Glover and Jemma Powell.

Publisher's summary
Landing in 13th-century Lincoln, the Doctor and Dodo are soon caught up in the battle between Sheriff Nicholaa de la Haye and outlaw gangs in the nearby forest. King John requires funds for his conflict with France, and Nicholaa is determined to provide them, whatever the efforts of William of Berkshire and his gang of wolves' heads...

After taking refuge in Lincoln Castle, the Doctor and Dodo are separated. The Doctor is detained at the pleasure of the Sheriff, while Dodo indulges her adventurous spirit and plays forest outlaw with William's gang.

But William is not acting alone. The outlaws' true leader knows the Doctor and has a plan for revenge. A man with a passion for meddling. A man who wears a monk's habit...

Part one
Having recently lost Steven as a travelling companion, the Doctor and Dodo arrive in 13th century England and prepare to explore, Dodo going to dress in era-appropriate clothes in the TARDIS's wardrobe.

In Lincoln Castle, Idonea refuses to leave her grandmother, Sheriff Nicholaa de la Haye, who will not surrender the castle to Prince Louis in London. Nicholaa agrees to allow Sir Hugh to take however many men he needs to combat the troublesome outlaws to allow her to safely deliver King John's taxes. Once Sir Hugh has left, Idonea bemoans that he does not write her poetry. Later, Sir Hugh meets with Idonea on Nicholaa's orders to show her how to escape the castle, although Idonea initially believes that he wishes to enter into a tryst with her.

The Doctor and Dodo leave the TARDIS and meet William of Berkshire, the leader of the outlaws and whose man, Eustace, admits to having killed a merchant during a robbery. The outlaws flee from Sir Hugh before they can rob the Doctor and Dodo, who pretend to be escaping the war mentioned by William and are escorted to Lincoln Castle where they meet Nicholaa. At dinner, Dodo describes King Richard I as a hero and is critical of "Prince John", prompting Nicholaa to have her and the Doctor imprisoned for treason.

William and the outlaws come across the TARDIS and attempt to enter it in search of treasure. Unable to open it, they carry it back to the Monk at their camp. The Monk recognises it and is delighted to have the opportunity to get his revenge on the Doctor for leaving him stranded in 1066.

Part two
After the Monk reminds William that he helped him get to where he is, William agrees to collect the Doctor from Lincoln Castle so long as the Monk comes with him. William meets with Idonea, who gives him information on the movement of goods under the impression that they will run away together when he has enough money. She also tells him of the Doctor and Dodo's imprisonment. When he returns to his outlaws, the Monk exploits his sympathy for Dodo and reframes their venture as a mission to rescue a damsel in distress from a dungeon.

In the dungeons, Dodo is brought food and water by Sir Hugh, who promises to do the same for the Doctor and to speak with Nicholaa about their release. Nicholaa visits the Doctor and questions him; the Doctor claims that Dodo was simply confused because of the horrors of war that she has seen and demands to know what crime he is accused of. She suspects him of spying for Prince Louis, but he points out that they would have to be the most incompetent of spies and starts telling her unflattering stories about King Richard. These stories cheer her and she agrees to release Dodo in the morning, allowing Sir Hugh to take her a light and blankets.

The outlaws climb up the privy chute into the castle where the Monk uses hydrochloric acid to release Dodo, but she remembers William and refuses to go with him until the Monk says that they will come back for the Doctor. The Doctor and Sir Hugh discover Dodo's empty dungeon and find a note for Nicholaa, although Sir Hugh insists that it is for her eyes only. The Doctor soon runs into the Monk, who reveals that he has Dodo before leaving with the outlaws, escaping through the chute.

Sir Hugh shows William's note to Nicholaa and is ordered to recapture the Doctor, whom Nicholaa suspects of being in league with the outlaws and having distracted her whilst they rescued Dodo. Once the Doctor has been captured, she tells him that she will have his head.

Part three
to be added

Part four
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Stephen Noonan
 * Dodo Chaplet - Lauren Cornelius
 * The Monk - Rufus Hound
 * Nicholaa de la Haye - Glynis Barber
 * William of Berkshire / Gregory - Christian Edwards
 * Idonea de Camville - Carly Day
 * Sir Hugh de Courtney / Eustace - Sam Stafford
 * The Messenger - Barnaby Edwards

Continuity

 * Steven has only recently left the TARDIS. (TV: The Savages)
 * The Doctor was once his granddaughter's only guardian. She has now "gone". (TV: The Dalek Invasion)
 * The Doctor expresses bitterness over the events of TV: The Myth Makers and his involuntary role in creating the Trojan Horse.
 * The Doctor regales Nicholaa de la Haye with (likely fictitious) tales of Richard the Lionheart's excesses. (TV: The Crusade)
 * The Doctor mentions a dentist in Tombstone, Arizona. (TV: The Gunfighters)
 * Dodo mentions liking Russia. (AUDIO: Mother Russia)