Sleeper (Torchwood)

15 – "Sleeper"
Torchwood episode
Beth reveals her true identity under the influence of the mindprobe.
Cast
Starring John Barrowman – Captain Jack Harkness Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper Burn Gorman – Owen Harper Naoko Mori – Toshiko Sato Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones
Others Paul Kasey – Janet the Weevil Nikki Amuka-Bird – Beth Halloran Dyfed Potter – Mike Lyndon Doug Rollins – David Claire Cage – David's wife Sean Carlson – Mr. Grainger Victoria Pugh – Mrs. Grainger Luke Rutherford – Burglar 1 (Leonard Bull) Alex Harries – Burglar 2 (Gareth Hopkins) Dominic Coleman – Police officer William Hughes – Boy Millie Philippart – Girl / Young mother Matthew Arwel-Pegram – Driver Derek Lea – Paramedic
Production
Directed by	Colin Teague
Written by	James Moran
Script editor	Brian Minchin
Produced by	Richard Stokes Chris Chibnall (co-producer)
Executive producer(s)	Russell T Davies Julie Gardner
Production code	2.2
Series	Series 2
Length	50 mins
Originally broadcast	23 January 2008
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" "To the Last Man"
List of Torchwood episodes

"Sleeper" is the second episode of the second series of British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was first broadcast by BBC Two on 23 January 2008. A specially edited pre-watershed repeat was shown the following day.

Torchwood is called to investigate fatal injuries sustained by two burglars in the failed attempt to rob a flat owned by Beth Halloran and her husband. They suspect Beth is responsible, though she has no recollection of the events, but willingly goes with the team. When they return to the Hub and place Beth in one of the cells, a nearby Weevil cowers at Beth's presence. Jack suspects there is more to Beth than she lets on, and orders her to undergo a mind probe.

After numerous evaluations under the probe, they suddenly discover alien technology buried under Beth's right forearm, allowing it to transform into a bladed weapon that matches the injuries on the burglars; she herself is shocked by its presence. Jack surmises that she is an alien "sleeper agent", yet to be activated by its controller and given the belief it is human through memory transplants.

As the same time Torchwood discovers this, other sleeper agents are awakened by a signal, dropping whatever they were doing and setting off for assigned targets and killing those that got in their way. Three of them commit suicide bombings using explosives in the implants, destroying a communications center and a military pipeline, and killing the Cardiff City Council member in charge of emergency responses. Torchwood learns of these events and quickly leave the Hub to investigate, allowing Beth to escape. She goes to the hospital where her husband was taken, but soon she too is sent a signal and though tries to fight to retain her humanity, accidentally stabs her husband. Jack and Gwen apprehend her, and she agrees to try to help locate any other sleeper agents.

Extrapolating from the targets already hit and the signal that Beth has received, Torchwood deduces that the agents are likely targeting a nearby military base that stores nuclear weapons; a bomb detonated in the base would likely wipe out much of the surrounding areas. Jack rushes to stop the sleeper agent, though ends up getting stabbed by the man. The man, unable to reach his target in time, warns that there are numerous other agents around Earth, before his implant explodes harmlessly outside the base.