Editing The Middle Men (TV story)

{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image                   = Middle men main.jpg
|series                  = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|season number           = Series 4 (Torchwood)
|series episode number   = 6
|main character          = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Rex Matheson|Rex]], [[Esther Drummond|Esther]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|featuring               = [[Geraint Cooper|Geraint]]
|enemy                   = [[Colin Maloney]]
|setting                 = [[Los Angeles]], [[Cowbridge Overflow Camp|Cowbridge]] and [[San Pedro Overflow Camp]]s, [[2011]]
|writer                  = John Shiban
|director                = [[Guy Ferland]]
|producer                = [[Kelly A Manners]] (US), [[Brian Minchin]] (UK)
|broadcast date          = 12 August 2011
|network                 = Starz
|prev                    = The Categories of Life (TV story)
|next                    = Immortal Sins (TV story)
|trailer                 = {{uc:Torchwood}} Miracle Day Ep 6 with {{uc:John Barrowman}} on {{uc:BBC America}}
|clip                    = 
|clip2                   = The Middle Men - Torchwood Miracle Day - Episode 6 Preview - BBC One
|bts                     = Real SFX - Torchwood Miracle Day Warehouse Explosion 2011
|format = 1x50-minute episode<br/>Part 6 of 10}}
'''''The Middle Men''''' was the sixth episode of [[Series 4 (Torchwood)|Series 4]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[John Shiban]], directed by [[Guy Ferland]] and saw the first mention of "[[the Blessing]]".

== Synopsis ==
With Gwen Cooper, Rex Matheson and Esther Drummond trapped on different sides of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], it's a race against time as Jack Harkness goes straight to the heart of the conspiracy.

== Plot ==
[[Stuart Owens]] ([[Chief Operating Officer]] of [[PhiCorp]]), working late with his [[secretary]] [[Janet Rae Tanner|Janet]] in [[Phicorp Central]], [[Los Angeles]], reviews paperwork on Phicorp acquisitions. He calls [[Zheng Yibao]] in [[Shanghai]], [[China]] to investigate a large land purchase near [[Shanghai]] centre. Zheng warns Stuart he might not like what he finds, then enters the guarded building on that site. Seven hours later, Stuart calls Zheng for a status report. Zheng reports he found nothing, then jumps from a tall building with no apparent signs of distress.

There are news reports on the existence of a [[45 Club]], people who believe that jumping forty-five floors is now the only way to lose [[consciousness]] forever, with Zheng the latest addition to that group.

[[Rex Matheson]] is still speaking into his video camera in [[San Pedro Overflow Camp|San Pedro]], reporting what he's seen (burning of [[Vera Juarez|Dr Vera Juarez]] in "the modules"). He reports that [[categories of life|Category 1]] patients are burned and suggests that "they" will burn "anyone they just don't like".

[[Esther Drummond]], from her desk at the camp, attempts to call Dr Juarez on her [[cell phone]], but the call fails to connect. She then investigates [[Colin Maloney]], who is acting suspiciously while intimidating [[Ralph Coltrane]]. Colin claims that he has just finished playing [[badminton]]. Colin plans to "drop" Dr Juarez's [[car]] at Constitution Mall to thwart investigation, then puts the camp on "lockdown". Colin tells Esther that Dr Juarez had left while saying that his camp was "very good indeed", which sounds suspicious to Esther.

At [[Cowbridge Overflow Camp|Cowbridge]], [[Gwen Cooper]] (disguised as a nurse) confronts [[Alicia Patel|Dr Alicia Patel]] about Gwen's father [[Geraint Cooper]], who has been labelled "Category 1". Dr Patel says, "There's a fine line between [[categories of life|categories 1 and 2]]" and that she was following governmental guidelines and she is too busy to revisit patients. Gwen points out that those patients are being burned, and Dr Patel replies, "It's the law." Gwen accuses Dr Patel of running a "[[concentration camp]]" and of being a coward, and tells her, "Don't call yourself a doctor," and, "Shame on you."

Gwen finds [[Rhys Williams]] working as a driver for the camp, and makes plans with him to help her father escape.

At a bar in Los Angeles, [[Jack Harkness]] finds Janet and coerces her into helping him, also revealing (through [[Torchwood (team)|Torchwood]]'s hacking) that Stuart intended to send Janet away against her desires. She was having an affair with, knowing that he's married.

Jack finds Stuart and his wife Elizabeth at a [[restaurant]], and sends Elizabeth away (by purposely revealing Stewart affair with his secretary) while he talks with Stuart. Stuart suggests that he is just a middle man in "all this", and that even Phicorp is just a pawn. Stuart suggests that "this pattern" started "maybe five years ago" based on "Market Share Projections". Stuart also says that he found an [[Italy|Italian]] document which said, "They have found [[the Blessing]]" but he doesn't know what it means.

Back in San Pedro, Rex attempts to leave the camp by knocking out a guard and putting on the guard's uniform. Rex is captured in disguise after wandering into a checkpoint. Colin interrogates a handcuffed Rex alone. Rex tells Colin his intention to go public with his videotape evidence in order to expose events at the camp, including Dr Juarez's incineration. Collin watches the video and has a break down. Rex attempts to comfort him, persisting people need to know the truth. However, Colin (having been the one to kill Vera) decides to silence Rex. He looks for a method of silencing Rex, and decides to slowly push his ballpoint pen into Rex's heart through his open wound. Rex screams in pain and points out that he can't die because of [[Miracle Day|the Miracle]]. Colin, overwhelmed by his horrific act, pulls the pen out. Rex briefly recovers, realising Colin killed Vera. Colin begins crying and proceeds to shove the pen into Rex again, who faints from the pain.

Esther finds the interrogation area, calling out. Colin discards the pen and confronts her, as Rex silently cries. Esther tells Colin, who hides his bloody hand as Esther approaches him, that she had just spoken with Dr Juarez, which Colin knows is a lie. Rex regains consciousness and recognises Esther's voice. He calls out, bellowing Colin killed Vera. Esther makes to run but Colin grabs her, initiating a fight. Eventually, Esther chokes Colin to death. Traumatised by her actions, she leaves Colin on the floor to hurry to Rex's side. Rex tells her Colin has the keys on his corpse but Esther is too scared to go back, crying. Rex convinces her to do so. As Esther returns to Colin to get the handcuff keys, the Miracle revives Colin, who grabs her and proceeds to choke her. Despite nearly killing her, [[Ralph Coltrane]] arrives and shoots Colin in the side, having grown tired of following Colin's orders. He helps Esther back up as Colin loses consciousness.

Meanwhile, Rhys steals a truck to get into Cowbridge, and meets Gwen with her father (on a gurney). Gwen overhears that sick people are arriving in [[Wales]] like "boat people". Gwen and Rhys load Geraint into the truck, then Rhys rams the truck through a gate to escape. Gwen uses the [[Eye-5]]s, then steals some explosives and blows up part of the Cowbridge Camp as a message, "This is the truth for the whole world to see, we let our governments build concentration camps. They built ovens for people in our names. Now I don't care if the whole of society bends over and takes this like a dog. I'm saying no." She sets the camp in flames. While watching in [[America]], Jack laughs and says, "That's my girl."

At San Pedro, Rex and Esther are safely in a vehicle. Esther has been crying. Rex, trying to comfort her, says, "The regular army is coming in, they'll shut it down". Esther points out that the camp was sanctioned, and she'd used her real name to gain entry. She begins to sob again, causing Rex to pull her close before driving off.

In Venice Beach, Jack congratulates the Torchwood team for getting the word out, as the [[White House]] refuses to apologise for the camp and compares the camp to a state of emergency in time of famine or pestilence. Jack says that they need to look at the bigger picture, while they search the internet for "the truth".

Gwen arrives at [[Los Angeles International Airport]] and is paged to pick up a phone-call for her that says "lenses". Gwen puts in her Torchwood contact lenses again, and receives the text, "We have your mother. We have your husband. We have your [[Anwen Williams|child]]. Bring us Jack."

== Cast ==
* [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Rex Matheson]] - [[Mekhi Phifer]]
* [[Esther Drummond]] - [[Alexa Havins]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Geraint Cooper]] - [[William Thomas]]
* [[Stuart Owens]] - [[Ernie Hudson]]
* [[Ralph Coltrane|Ralph]] - [[Fred Koehler]]
* [[Colin Maloney]] - [[Marc Vann]]
* [[Press Secretary]] - [[Jason Brooks]]
* [[Janet Rae Tanner|Janet]] - [[Ciera Payton]]
* [[Tony (The Middle Men)|Tony]] - [[Jonathan Spencer]]
* [[Zheng Yibao]] - [[Eric Steinberg]]
* [[Young guard (The Middle Men)|Young Guard]] - [[Alexis Delarosa]]
* [[Worker (The Middle Men)|Worker]] - [[Brittnee Garza]]
* [[Pidgeon]] - [[Brendan Hughes]]
* [[Rachel (The Categories of Life)|Rachel]] - [[Liz Jenkins]]
* [[Alicia Patel|Dr. Patel]] - [[Lena Kaur]]
* [[Female psychiatrist|Female Psychiatrist]] - [[Janice Kent]]
* [[Stern soldier|Stern Soldier]] - [[Isaac Stephen Montgomery]]
* [[Hat check boy|Hat Check Boy]] - [[William Patrick Riley]]
* [[Older guard|Older Guard]] - [[Marty Ryan]]
* [[Elizabeth Owens|Mrs. Owens]] - [[Inger Tudor]]

=== Uncredited ===
* [[Geraint Cooper]] - [[William Thomas]]

== Crew ==
{{wales crew
|CreatedBy=Russell T Davies
|Writer=John Shiban
|Writer2=
|Director=Guy Ferland
|Producer=Kelly A Manners
|ExecutiveProd=Russell T Davies
|ExecutiveProd2=Julie Gardner
|ExecutiveProd3=Jane Tranter
|ExecutiveProd4=
|ExecutiveProd5=
|CoExecutiveProd=John Shiban
|CoExecutiveProd2=Vlad Wolynetz
|AssociateProducer=Skip Schoolnik
|Casting=John Frank Levey, CSA
|Casting2=Melanie Burgess
|DOP=Christopher Faloona
|Editor=Michael N. Knue, A.C.E.
|ProductionDesigner=Gregory Melton
|ProductionDesigner2=
|UnitProductionManager=Robert D. Nellans
|1stAD=W. Scott Wolf
|2ndAD=Carla Bowen
|3rdAD=
|Score=Murray Gold
|AssistantComposer=Stu Kennedy
|CostumeDesigner=Shawna Trpcic
|CameraOperator=Jeff Greeley
|ChiefLightingTechnician=Don Mosley
|KeyGrip=Isaac Chee
|SetDesigner=Arthur Chadwick
|SetDecorator=Natali Pope
|LocationManager=Brad Bemis
|TransportationCoordinator=Heath Culp
|ConstructionCoordinator=Chris Forster
|KeyMake-upArtist=Todd McIntosh
|KeyHairStylist=Susan Boyd
|ScienceAdvisor=John Sotos, M.D. 
|PropertyMaster=Eric Bates
|ProductionAccountant=Vince Robinette
|ScriptSupervisor=Anne Melville
|ProductionSoundMixer=Julian Howarth
|AssistantEditor=Matt Woolley
|ProductionExec=Shelley Stevens
|SupervisingSoundEditor=Walt Newman
|Co-supervisor=Ken Young
|MusicEditor=Tom Trafalski
|Re-recordingMixer=Dan Hiland
|Re-recordingMixer2=Gary Rogers
|PostProdSupervisor=Kenny Requa
|SpecialMake-upFX=Greg Nicotero
|SpecialMake-upFX2=Howard Berger
|ComputerGraphics=Twisted Media
|VisualEffects=Lion Visual Effects, Inc.
|VisualFXSupervisor=Michael D. Leone
|HighDefPostProduction=Modern Videofilm, Inc.
|PostProductionSound=Warner Bros.
|Note=The [[Starz]] broadcast carried a final credit of "Originally Developed and Produced by [[BBC Cymru Wales]]".  The [[BBC One]] broadcast says, instead, "BBC Worldwide Productions for BBC Cymru Wales and STARZ Originals".
|Note2=
|Note3=
|Note4=
|Note5=
|Note6=<!--And so on, up to Note20-->
<!--

This is the end of the "standard" Miracle Day credit roll.  However
some episodes also had credits for UK crews.  That section begins below.
Do not fill in unless there are credits which explicitly specify a "UK Crew".
Note that Torchwood credits don't carry a "US crew" tag because it's a US show.

-->
|UKProducer=Brian Minchin
|UKLineProducer=Debbi Slater
|UKProductionExecutive=Julie Scott
|UKUnitManager=Paul Davies
|UK1stAD=George Walker
|UKGrip=John Robinson
|UKGrip2=Clive Baldwin
|UKProductionDesigner=Edward Thomas
|UKMake-UpDesigner=Claire Pritchard-Jones
|UKAssociateCostumeDesigner=Lindsay Bonaccorsi
|UKProductionAccountant=Sarah Hulls
|UKLocationManager=Gareth Skelding
|UKProductionCoordinator=Sam Baker
|UKCasting=Andy Pryor CDG
|UKSpecialEffects=Real SFX
|UKAerialUnit=Flying Pictures
|UKDOP=Nathaniel Goodman
|UKSoundRecordist=Gareth Meirion Thomas
|UKStuntCoordinator=Lee Sheward
}}

== Worldbuilding ==
* Stuart is due to chair the [[PhiCorp]] executive board.
* [[NNM]], which stands for National News Media, covers a story on the [[45 Club]].
* The 45 Club is growing in popularity. They believe that jumping from forty five floors up or higher is the only guaranteed way to lose consciousness forever. Reports of such activity have come in from [[New York City]], [[San Francisco]], [[London]] and [[Milan]].
*  In [[1999]], a large parcel of land near [[Shanghai]] centre was purchased by a division of [[PhiCorp]].
* Locations in and around [[Shanghai]] include [[Qiandengzhen]], [[Shengpuzhen]], [[Zhangpuzhen]], [[Zhengyizhen]], [[Kunshan]] and [[Tinglin Garden]]. Roads include [[Huning Expressway|Huning Expy]] and [[Suhu Expressway|Suhu Expy]]. [[Kuilei Lake]] is also shown.
* [[Zheng Yibao's uncle|Zheng's uncle]] was dying prior to [[Miracle Day|the Miracle]]. He told Zheng never to question a miracle, as you may not like what you find.
* Rex officially confirms he is part of [[Torchwood (team)|Torchwood]], rather than the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].
* Rex was prescribed painkillers by Vera that are labelled with instructions to take three pills a day.
* Rex uses the phrase "[[get the hell outta Dodge]]".
* Rachel says she has [[US dollar|$2000]] with the [[Savings Expedition]].
* [[Colin Maloney]] mentions playing [[badminton]] at the club several times as a cover story for the sweating he is doing from the stress of [[murder]]ing [[Vera Juarez]].
* Modules are supposed to be used as storage, until a [[senator]] signs paperwork stating otherwise.
* San Pedro Camp is put on lockdown. During lockdown, nobody leaves and every member of staff is logged and noted.
* In [[San Pedro Overflow Camp]], patients are processed by the camp's categorisation centre.
* Esther asks whether Maloney would like [[tea]] or [[coffee]].
* Tony mockingly refers to the day staff at San Pedro Camp as "[[immigration|illegal immigrants]]", and states that "it may make sense in [[Mexico]] but not here".
* Maloney plans on dumping Vera's car at the [[Constitution Mall]] in [[San Pedro, California|San Pedro]].
* Patel states that she is simply following [[categories of life|guidelines]] given to her by the [[British government]].
* At [[Cowbridge Overflow Camp]], movement of category one patients to the [[module]]s starts at 6am, while nurses change over at 5am.
* Janet drinks an [[Appletini]]. She is 27 years old, 5ft 9 and weighs 119lb. She's the youngest daughter of [[Gerald Tanner|Gerald]] and [[Elaine Tanner]] from [[Nantucket]], [[Massachusetts]]. She moved to [[California]] to attend college where she earned a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[art history]]. As of [[2011]], she resides in a [[Westwood]] apartment and works as an [[secretary|administrative assistant]] at [[PhiCorp]].
* Janet believes Jack to be a [[stalker]] last seen on [[America's Most Wanted]].
* Janet wished Stuart a Happy [[St Valentine's Day|Valentine's Day]] and had a sexual relationship with him.
* Stuart emailed PhiCorp Human Resources requesting Janet's transfer to [[Cincinnati]].
* Stuart wonders whether to have the [[salad]]. Jack recommends [[steak]], [[bourbon]] and [[cigarette]]s.
* Stuart is [[Chief Operating Officer]] for PhiCorp Industries.
* The [[stock market]] is threatening to collapse.
* Stuart and Maloney are both referred to as middlemen.
* [[Stuart Owens]] believes [[Jack Harkness]] thinks of him like he's "[[Satan|the Devil]] in a three-piece suit".
* [[The Blessing]] was referred to in a document from [[Italy]] from a source inside the [[Council of Ministers]].
* The [[US Army]] drive [[Humvee]]s.
* Rex incapacitates [[Billy Smith]] and steals his uniform. Billy had a habit of not listening.
* San Pedro camp is accessed by scanning a security ID card.
* Tony uses "[[blonde]]" as an insult, implying Esther lacks intelligence.
* Maloney asks a couple of soldiers to leave him with Rex, and to go and see [[Jackson (The Middle Men)|Jackson]] at the West Gate.
* Maloney is the [[manager|director]] of San Pedro Camp.
* Rex is being kept in the Generator Room of San Pedro Camp.
* Maloney [[torture]]s Rex with a [[pen]].
* A man refers to a [[cruise ship]] full of [[Great Britain|British]] Category 2s arriving in [[Cardiff]], having been expelled from [[Europe]] like [[boat people]].
* Rhys drives through the South Gate of Cowbridge Camp.
* Gwen steals a [[motorbike]] and blows up the Cowbridge [[module]]s.
* The [[White House]] stands by the [[overflow camp]]s as appropriate and as sanctioned by [[United States Congress|Congress]]. It is what would be done in times of [[famine]], [[plague]] or [[pestilence]].
* Gwen flies into [[Los Angeles International Airport]].
* Someone hacks the [[Eye-5]]s.
* The overflow camps are referred to as [[Concentration camp|death camps]].
* The hat check boy likes [[Jack Harkness' coat]].

== Story notes ==
* [[Bill Pullman]] does not appear as [[Oswald Danes]] for the first time since his introduction, nor does his name appear in the opening credits.
* [[Lauren Ambrose]] does not appear as [[Jilly Kitzinger]], nor does [[Arlene Tur]] as [[Vera Juarez]], due to her character's demise in the previous episode. The episode is the first in the series not to credit any "special guest stars."

=== Ratings ===
* UK: 4.48 million (Final BARB ratings)<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - June, 2011]</ref>
* US: 0.98 million

=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''

=== Broadcasts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Time
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|[[Thursday]] [[18 August (releases)|18 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|21:00
|[[BBC One]]
|First broadcast.
|-
|[[Monday]] [[22 August (releases)|22 August]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]]
|23:20
|[[BBC HD]] & [[BBC Two]]
|
|}

=== Production errors ===
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
* When Gwen uses the Eye-5s to hopefully contact a Torchwood member, Jack types a message in the lenses. She responds back, "Jack, is that you?" His reply, "In the flesh. You OK?" is prompted to appear onscreen too early, with a few letters typed in before actually Gwen speaks the dialogue.

== Continuity ==
* As a result of looking into [[the Blessing]], Zheng Yibao was shown his true self, and he lost the will to live, as alluded to in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Gathering (TV story)}}.
* Gwen chastises Patel for turning her back on the injustice being waged in the overflow camps, telling her, ''"Don't call yourself a doctor."'' The [[Eleventh Doctor]] had a similar reaction to the abuse of the [[Star whale (The Beast Below)|star whale]] housing ''[[Starship UK]]'' on its back, when he almost euthanised the innocent creature, bitterly stating that he wouldn't be "the Doctor" anymore once the act was carried out, as seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Beast Below (TV story)}}.

== Home video releases ==
* This episode was released worldwide in a box set containing all ten episodes of ''Torchwood: Miracle Day''. In the United Kingdom, it was released on Region 2 DVD and Region Free Blu-ray on [[14 November (releases)|14 November]] [[2011 (releases)|2011]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-Eve-Myles/dp/B005A5I9V2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314885858&sr=8-1 Amazon.co.uk listing]</ref> In Australia, it was released in Region 4 DVD and Region B Blu-Ray on [[1 December (releases)|1 December]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/torchwood-miracle-day-blu-ray/dp/6107286 EZYDVD.com.au listing]</ref> In New Zealand, the same sets were released on [[7 December (releases)|7 December]] 2011.<ref>[http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Blu-ray/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-4-Disc-Set/19261826/ Mightyape.co.nz listing]</ref> In North America, it was released on Region 1 DVD and Region Free Blu-Ray on [[3 April (releases)|3 April]] [[2012 (releases)|2012]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Torchwood-Miracle-Day-John-Barrowman/dp/B007AFS118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336194370&sr=8-1 Amazon.com listing]</ref>
* It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|3}}
{{TWTV}}
{{TitleSort}}

[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:Series 4 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in China]]
[[Category:Stories set in Wales]]
[[Category:Stories set in Los Angeles]]

[[de:The Middle Men]]
[[fr:The Middle Men]]