Barbara's protective instincts and desire to keep the group together are challenged by the dangers of future London and her distrust of Tyler, creating a struggle to ensure Susan's safety.

Barbara’s moment of quiet horror at discovering a corpse in the river is violently interrupted by gunfire, forcing her to confront the immediate danger of this ruined London. A stranger—Tyler—suddenly …

Barbara’s accidental noise—knocking into an oil drum—triggers Tyler’s escalating urgency to flee, exposing his shifting priorities. Susan and Barbara press him for answers about the Doctor and Ian’s whereabouts, but …