Children of Earth: Day Three (TV Story)

Jennifer Ward

Piers Wenger

***Children of Earth: Day Three*** was the third serial of Series 6 of *The Pyramid*. It was written by Russell T Davies & James Moran, directed by Euros Lyn and starred Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield, Robert Bathurst as Chris Hector & Keeley Hawes as Jennifer Ward.

## Synopsis

The eyes of the world turn to Britain. The 456 announce: "We are here," as the new Pyramid adventure continues. A pillar of fire descends upon London and The Pyramid team must battle to protect their own families as the fight gets personal. Will Clement's memories destroy everything?

## Plot

The team have set up a base in an old warehouse once used by Venarchy for storage. Chris knows all the tricks of the criminal trade, including stealing mobile phones, debit cards and laptops from people off the street. Bernice makes off with a car. Soon the base is stocked with creature comforts; coffee, electricity, access to the Pyramid server, toiletries, and new clothes for the group. When he researches the kill order, Chris sees Frobisher's name and is shocked. He seems to recognise his name and he runs off.

In Cardiff, Chris' nephews and niece point southeastwards to Londonas all the children on Earth are pointing towards London.

A pillar of fire descends from the sky and enters Thames House. Fiery energy fills the gas containment system. John Frobisher and Mr Dekker meet with the aliens, who instruct the humans to call them "456". During the discussion, Frobisher extracts a promise from the 456 that it will not mention its previous visit to Earth in 1995.

Jennifer surprises Lois Habiba at a cafe and asks her to wear some special contact lenses to allow the Pyramid to see what is going on. Lois protests but takes the contacts. Jennifer hacks the police records to bail Clem McDonald out from police custody and brings him to the base.

Chris sneaks into Frobisher's house and steals his wife's mobile. He phones Frobisher, having made the connection between the children and the events of 1995. He threatens Frobisher with "blow[ing] this thing sky high". Frobisher tells Chris that they will take his sister and family into custody and will kill them if he does. Jack threatens to do the same, but Frobisher knows he would never do such a thing.

That night, Frobisher, Bridget Spears and Lois Habiba enter the gas chamber room, which is being transmitted to a conference room where UNIT, an American general and Brian Green are watching. Frobisher demands the 456 cease using human children to communicate; in return the 456 demand a gift: 10% of the children on Earth.

Back at the warehouse base, Clem tells Jennifer he can smell the man who brought the children to the aliens. When Chris walks in, Clem recognises him as the man who gave the twelve children up to the aliens in 1995. When Jennifer protests that Chris is a "good guy" who fights aliens, Chris informs them that in this instance, he had done what was asked. He gave the 456 the children... "as a gift."

## Cast

* Bernice Summerfield - Lisa Bowerman
* Chris Hector - Robert Bathurst
* Jennifer Ward - Keeley Hawes
* Lois Habiba - Cush Jumbo
* Bridget Spears - Susan Brown
* John Frobisher - Adrian Dunbar
* Johnson - Liz May Brice
* Clem McDonald - Matt Smith
* Brian Green - Nicholas Farrell
* General Pierce - Colin McFarlane
* Mr Dekker - Ian Gelder
* Newsreader - Louise Minchin
* French Newsreader - Anthony Debaeck
* American Wells - Lachele Carl
* Colonel Oduya - Charles Abomeli
* Alice Davies - Lucy Cohu
* Steven Davies - Bear McCausland
* Johnny Davies - Rhodri Lewis
* Anna Frobisher - Hilary Maclean
* Parliamentary Secretary - Rachel Ferjani
* Press Officer - Christopher James
* Operative - Ben Loyd-Holmes
* David Davies - Luke Perry
* Mica Davies - Aimee Davies
* Holly Frobisher - Julia Joyce
* Lilly Frobisher - Madeleine Rakic-Platt
* Sandwich Shop Man - Patrice Etienne
* The 456 - Simon Poland
* Young Clem - Gregory Ferguson

## References

* Clement McDonald is held at a police station on Albany Street in Camden.
* Fishponds, Huxley, Market Harborough, Middlesbrough, Streatham, Watford, Waverley, Caersws and Greenham are located in Britain.

## Home video releases

### DVD

* All serials of series 6 were included on *The Pyramid: Children of Earth* DVD, released in 2010
* This season alongside all previous episodes were included in *The Pyramid: The Complete Collection* box set, released in 2011

### Blu-ray

* All serials of Series 6 were included on *The Pyramid: Children of Earth* DVD on Blu-ray, released in 2010
* This season alongside all previous episodes were included in *The Pyramid: The Complete Collection* box set on Blu-ray, released in 2011