Khan commands immediate departure to Peking
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Despite Susan's plea to wait for Ping-Cho and Ian, the Khan insists the group accompany him to Peking and invites the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their alliance due to their shared ailments.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Frustrated and concerned—Barbara's emotional state is a mix of anger at the group's forced departure and deep worry for Ian and Ping-Cho. Her skepticism about Tegana's loyalty underscores her role as the group's moral compass, even as her protests are dismissed.
Barbara Wright protests the group's forced departure without Ian and Ping-Cho, questioning Marco Polo's assurance that Tegana will bring them to Peking. Her frustration and skepticism are palpable as she challenges the group's fractured priorities, highlighting the tension between the Doctor's alliance with the Khan and the unresolved fate of their missing companions.
- • To delay the group's departure until Ian and Ping-Cho are safely reunited (primary concern)
- • To expose Tegana's potential betrayal (challenges Marco Polo's trust in him)
- • That Tegana cannot be trusted (inferred from her skepticism)
- • That the group's unity is at risk if they leave without their missing companions (loyalty to the team)
Stern and unyielding—The Vizier's emotional state is one of rigid formality, reflecting his role as the Khan's enforcer. His silence of Susan and insistence on protocol underscore his commitment to maintaining the court's order, regardless of the group's personal concerns.
The Vizier enforces the Khan's authority with stern insistence, demanding obeisance and relaying the Khan's orders for accommodation and Tegana's summons. His role as the Khan's spokesman is rigid and unyielding, reflecting the court's formal protocols. He silences Susan for speaking out of turn, reinforcing the hierarchy and the group's subordination to the Khan's will.
- • To uphold the Khan's authority (enforces protocol and silences dissent)
- • To ensure the group's compliance with the Khan's orders (relays commands without question)
- • That the Khan's word is absolute (unquestioning loyalty)
- • That protocol must be followed at all costs (rigid adherence to tradition)
Amused yet wary—The Khan's emotional state is a mix of dark humor (at the Doctor's defiance) and underlying suspicion (of Tegana's betrayal). His invitation to the Doctor to ride in his carriage suggests a calculated alliance, but his urgency to depart to Peking reveals his broader political concerns.
Kublai Khan commands the group's immediate departure to Peking, revealing Noghai's army's encampment at Karakorum, which implicates Tegana's betrayal. His amusement at the Doctor's defiance and shared physical infirmities creates an unexpected rapport, leading him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage. The Khan's authority is absolute, but his suspicion of treachery and urgency to depart to Peking drive the scene's tension, leaving the group's priorities in conflict.
- • To secure the group's compliance with his orders (immediate departure to Peking)
- • To expose Tegana's betrayal (tests loyalties within his court)
- • That Noghai's rebellion is a direct threat to his authority (paranoia about treachery)
- • That the Doctor's defiance can be turned into an advantage (leverages shared infirmity for rapport)
Conflicteds—Marco Polo's emotional state is a mix of respect for the Khan's authority and growing concern for the group's safety. His assurance that Tegana will bring Ian and Ping-Cho to Peking is undermined by the Khan's revelations, leaving him in a state of uneasy compliance with the Khan's demands.
Marco Polo acts as an intermediary between the group and Kublai Khan, explaining the Khan's passions (hunting and falconry) and defending the Khan's greatness. However, his loyalty is tested as the Khan reveals Noghai's army's encampment at Karakorum, implicating Tegana's betrayal. Marco is forced to grapple with the group's forced departure and the uncertainty of Ian and Ping-Cho's safety, revealing his divided priorities between his own ambitions and his growing bond with the travelers.
- • To secure his passage home (prioritizes his own ambitions)
- • To protect the group from harm (growing loyalty to Susan, Barbara, and the Doctor)
- • That the Khan's authority must be respected (loyalty to the court)
- • That Tegana's betrayal is a personal failure (guilt over trusting him)
Absent but menacing—Noghai's emotional state is inferred through his actions: cold calculation and a thirst for power. His army's encampment at Karakorum serves as a constant threat, driving the Khan's paranoia and the group's desperation.
Noghai is mentioned as having his army encamped at Karakorum, directly implicating Tegana in potential betrayal. His presence looms over the scene as a military threat, forcing the Khan to act preemptively. Noghai's rebellion is a catalyst for the Khan's suspicion and the group's urgency to depart, creating a high-stakes political backdrop for their personal struggles.
- • To undermine Kublai Khan's authority (through Tegana's betrayal)
- • To seize power in the Mongol Empire (military and political domination)
- • That Tegana is a reliable agent (trust in his loyalty to Noghai's cause)
- • That the Khan's court is vulnerable to internal betrayal (exploits divisions)
Anxious and defiant—Susan's emotional state is a mix of concern for her missing companions and frustration at the Khan's dismissal of her plea. Her silence after being reprimanded by the Vizier suggests a mix of respect for authority and lingering distress.
Susan Foreman pleads with Kublai Khan to wait for Ian and Ping-Cho, expressing deep concern for their safety. She is silenced by the Vizier for speaking out of turn, but her emotional outburst underscores the group's fractured priorities. Susan's empathy and outspoken nature are on full display as she challenges the Khan's authority, albeit briefly, before deferring to his decree.
- • To ensure Ian and Ping-Cho's safe return (central to her plea to the Khan)
- • To maintain the group's cohesion amid the Khan's demands (implied by her outburst)
- • That the Khan can be reasoned with (attempts to appeal to his mercy)
- • That Tegana is untrustworthy (inferred from her fear for Ping-Cho's safety)
Absent but ominous—Tegana's presence looms over the scene as a threat, his betrayal casting a shadow of distrust over Marco Polo and the group's safety.
Tegana is mentioned as riding for Shang-Tu with Ping-Cho and a companion, but his loyalty is strongly implied to be compromised. The Khan reveals that Noghai's army is encamped at Karakorum, directly implicating Tegana in potential betrayal. His absence from the throne room and the Khan's suspicion of his allegiance create a palpable tension, as Marco Polo is forced to defend Tegana's actions while the group's fate hangs in the balance.
- • To secure the TARDIS for Noghai's forces (implied by his alliance with Noghai)
- • To undermine Marco Polo's authority and exploit the group's vulnerability (inferred from his manipulation of the caravan's dynamics)
- • That Noghai's rebellion will succeed (confidence in his faction's strength)
- • That the group and Marco Polo are expendable in his pursuit of power (cold calculation)
Amused yet pained—The Doctor's emotional state is a blend of physical discomfort (from his back) and dark humor, which masks his deeper frustration with the group's predicament. His acceptance of the Khan's carriage ride suggests a pragmatic alliance, but his silence on Ian and Ping-Cho's fate reveals his divided loyalties.
The Doctor refuses to kowtow to Kublai Khan, engaging in a defiant but humorous exchange that unexpectedly establishes rapport with the Khan. His physical pain from the journey and moral principle drive his defiance, but the Khan's shared gout creates an unexpected bond. The Doctor accepts the Khan's invitation to ride in his carriage, solidifying their alliance while leaving the group's priorities—particularly the recovery of the TARDIS and the safety of Ian and Ping-Cho—unresolved.
- • To avoid further physical strain (accepts the carriage ride)
- • To secure the Khan's favor (builds rapport through shared infirmity and defiance)
- • That the Khan's authority can be navigated through mutual understanding (not blind submission)
- • That the group's immediate safety depends on his alliance with the Khan (pragmatic calculation)
Anxiously absent—Ping-Cho's emotional state is inferred through the group's concern for her safety. Her absence highlights the group's fractured priorities and the urgency of their situation, as her fate is tied to Tegana's unreliable hands.
Ping-Cho is mentioned as riding for Shang-Tu with Tegana, but her safety and whereabouts are a source of concern for Susan and Barbara. Her absence from the throne room and the group's forced departure create tension, as her fate is left unresolved. Ping-Cho's role as a lady's companion and her arranged marriage add layers to her vulnerability, making her a symbol of the group's broader struggles.
- • To escape her arranged marriage (implied by her earlier defiance)
- • To reunite with the group safely (inferred from Susan and Barbara's pleas)
- • That Tegana may not be trustworthy (fear for her safety)
- • That the group will advocate for her (trust in Susan and Barbara's loyalty)
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Kublai Khan's carriage of state is offered to the Doctor as a means of comfortable travel to Peking, a gesture that solidifies their unexpected alliance. The Doctor, pained by his back, accepts the invitation, using the carriage as a symbol of the Khan's favor. This object becomes a tangible representation of the Doctor's strategic alignment with the Khan, even as it highlights the group's fractured priorities—particularly the unresolved fate of Ian and Ping-Cho.
The healing waters of the Summer Palace are mentioned by Kublai Khan as a remedy for his gout, which he invites the Doctor to observe. While the waters themselves are not directly interacted with in this event, their mention serves as a narrative device to humanize the Khan and create a moment of shared vulnerability with the Doctor. This object symbolizes the Khan's mortality and the Doctor's potential role as a confidant, adding a layer of complexity to their alliance.
The Summer Palace throne room gong serves as a ceremonial signal, its deep resonant boom marking the Khan's entrance and demanding obeisance. The Doctor dismisses it as 'irrelevant noise,' refusing to submit to the protocol it represents. The gong's sound underscores the tension between the Doctor's defiance and the Vizier's insistence on formalities, creating a stark contrast between individual agency and institutional power.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Summer Palace throne room serves as the primary setting for this high-stakes confrontation, where Kublai Khan's authority clashes with the Doctor's defiance and the group's personal struggles. The opulent Chinese architecture and Mongol trappings create a visually striking backdrop, emphasizing the Khan's power and the group's subordination. The throne room's ceremonial gong, rigid protocols, and the Khan's throne itself reinforce the hierarchy and the stakes of the encounter.
Peking is mentioned as the forced destination for the group, a command issued by Kublai Khan to ensure their compliance and his own security. While the group has not yet arrived, the mention of Peking sets the stage for their imminent departure and the unresolved fate of Ian and Ping-Cho. This location symbolizes the Khan's authority and the group's subordination to his will, as well as the broader political tensions in the Mongol Empire.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Noghai's Army is mentioned as encamped at Karakorum, 100 miles from Shang-Tu, directly implicating Tegana in potential betrayal. The army's presence looms over the scene as a military threat, forcing the Khan to act preemptively and creating a high-stakes political backdrop for the group's personal struggles. Noghai's rebellion is a catalyst for the Khan's suspicion and the group's urgency to depart, underscoring the broader conflict in the Mongol Empire.
Kublai Khan's Court functions as the administrative and political center of power in this scene, where the Khan's authority is absolute and his commands are enforced without question. The Vizier acts as the court's spokesman, demanding obeisance and relaying the Khan's orders for accommodation and Tegana's summons. The court's rigid protocols and hierarchical structure create a tense atmosphere, where the group's personal struggles are subjugated to the Khan's political concerns.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Doctor's refusal to kowtow prompts the Khan to enter directly and dismiss the protocol."
Doctor defies Khan’s protocol"The Doctor's refusal to kowtow prompts the Khan to enter directly and dismiss the protocol."
Barbara challenges Marco’s trust in Tegana"The Doctor's refusal to kowtow prompts the Khan to enter directly and dismiss the protocol."
Khan reveals Tegana’s treachery and commands Marco’s loyalty test"The Khan's amusement and his interaction with the Doctor due to shared ailments leads him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their ties."
Barbara challenges Marco’s trust in Tegana"The Khan's amusement and his interaction with the Doctor due to shared ailments leads him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their ties."
Doctor defies Khan’s protocol"The Khan's amusement and his interaction with the Doctor due to shared ailments leads him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their ties."
Khan reveals Tegana’s treachery and commands Marco’s loyalty test"Tegana's aggression and suspicious behavior towards the Doctor and his companions foreshadows his later revealed disloyalty and alliance with Noghai, which is highlighted by the Khan."
Ian Confesses Theft as Marco Seizes Control"Tegana's aggression and suspicious behavior towards the Doctor and his companions foreshadows his later revealed disloyalty and alliance with Noghai, which is highlighted by the Khan."
Tegana’s Abduction Attempt and Marco’s Authority"The group's apparent indifference hints at danger, and Marco's decision to send Tegana is contradicted by the later implication that Tegana is a traitor, creating suspense"
Marco Tests Ian’s Loyalty Through Tegana"The group's apparent indifference hints at danger, and Marco's decision to send Tegana is contradicted by the later implication that Tegana is a traitor, creating suspense"
Tegana Accuses Ian of Betrayal"The Doctor's refusal to kowtow prompts the Khan to enter directly and dismiss the protocol."
Doctor defies Khan’s protocol"The Doctor's refusal to kowtow prompts the Khan to enter directly and dismiss the protocol."
Khan reveals Tegana’s treachery and commands Marco’s loyalty test"The Doctor's refusal to kowtow prompts the Khan to enter directly and dismiss the protocol."
Barbara challenges Marco’s trust in Tegana"The Khan's amusement and his interaction with the Doctor due to shared ailments leads him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their ties."
Doctor defies Khan’s protocol"The Khan's amusement and his interaction with the Doctor due to shared ailments leads him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their ties."
Khan reveals Tegana’s treachery and commands Marco’s loyalty test"The Khan's amusement and his interaction with the Doctor due to shared ailments leads him to invite the Doctor to ride in his carriage, strengthening their ties."
Barbara challenges Marco’s trust in TeganaThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"SUSAN: Must we go too?"
"KHAN: No, I think it is better that you ride with us."
"DOCTOR: Oh, not another horse."
"KHAN: Then walk!"
"DOCTOR: In my present condition, sir? And what about that lump of yours, hmmm?"
"KHAN: Tomorrow you ride in state with us."
"BARBARA: Marco, we can't leave here tomorrow. Not without Ian and Ping-Cho."
"POLO: I'm afraid we have no choice, Barbara. Don't worry, Tegana will bring them to Peking."
"BARBARA: Will he?"