Narrative Web
S8E2
· Terror of the Autons Part 2

Mrs. Farrel confronts the Auton doll

Mrs. Farrel returns home visibly distressed, her concern for McDermott's death immediately met with Farrel Senior's chilling observation that both Rex and Colonel Masters showed no human reaction to the tragedy. This exchange establishes the Farrels' growing unease about the factory's unnatural atmosphere. When Farrel Senior presents the grotesque dwarf doll—an Auton prototype—Mrs. Farrel's visceral revulsion ("horrible... something evil about it") serves as a thematic and narrative turning point. Her reaction confirms the doll's sinister connection to the Autons while reinforcing the Farrels' unwitting entanglement in the Master's conspiracy. The scene deepens the foreboding atmosphere and marks a critical moment where the Farrels' complicity in the conspiracy becomes undeniable, pushing them toward confrontation. The dialogue reveals Mrs. Farrel's moral clarity and Farrel Senior's growing suspicion, both of which will drive their eventual resistance against the Master. The doll itself becomes a physical manifestation of the creeping horror in the story, its "evil" nature foreshadowing the Autons' true destructive potential. This event functions as both a setup (hinting at the Farrels' future actions) and a payoff (confirming the Master's influence has already corrupted the factory), while also serving as a thematic anchor for the story's exploration of dehumanization and alien control. The sequence_in_scene is 1, as this is the first and only event in this script span.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Senior Farrel shows Mrs. Farrel a dwarf doll, which she labels as a horrible and evil-looking thing, increasing the suspense surrounding the doll.

Disgust to fear

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

4
Mrs Farrel
primary

Distressed and horrified, with a growing sense of moral outrage.

Mrs. Farrel enters the home visibly distressed, her coat and hat still on, signaling her urgency and emotional state. She expresses immediate concern for McDermott's death and Rex's reaction, only to be met with Farrel Senior's revelation of the unnatural behavior of Rex and Colonel Masters. Her visceral reaction to the Auton doll—calling it 'horrible' and 'evil'—reveals her keen moral instincts and deep unease about the factory's transformation. She urges Farrel Senior to act against Colonel Masters, demonstrating her protective nature and moral outrage.

Goals in this moment
  • • To understand the unnatural events at the factory
  • • To protect her family from the growing threat
Active beliefs
  • • The factory is no longer a safe or natural place
  • • Colonel Masters is a corrupting influence that must be removed
Character traits
Empathetic concern Moral clarity Visceral intuition Protective instinct
Follow Mrs Farrel's journey
Rex Farrel
Factory Owner
 primary

Righteously indignant, with a simmering anger beneath his controlled demeanor.

Farrel Senior enters the scene already unsettled, his demeanor reflecting deep suspicion and moral outrage. He immediately shares his observations about Rex and Colonel Masters' unnatural lack of reaction to McDermott's death, revealing his growing unease about the factory's transformation. He physically presents the Auton doll to Mrs. Farrel, using it as a tangible example of the 'evil' now permeating their world. His actions and dialogue underscore his role as the family's moral compass, pushing back against the unnatural influence of the Master.

Goals in this moment
  • • To convince Mrs. Farrel of the unnatural threat within the factory
  • • To assert his authority over Rex and remove Colonel Masters' influence
Active beliefs
  • • The factory has been corrupted by an unnatural force
  • • Rex and Colonel Masters are no longer acting as humans should
Character traits
Moral clarity Defiant suspicion Protective instinct Disgust at inhumanity
Follow Rex Farrel's journey
Supporting 1
The Master
Renegade Time Lord
 secondary

Triumpantly manipulative, though unseen—his influence is felt through the Farrels' reactions.

The Master is referenced indirectly through Farrel Senior's description of Colonel Masters' unnatural behavior. His absence from the scene is telling—his influence is felt through the inhuman reactions of Rex and the grotesque Auton doll. The Master's hypnotic control over Rex and the factory's operations is implied, as his 'toy' (the Auton doll) serves as a symbol of his creeping corruption. His power dynamics are subtly reinforced through the Farrels' growing suspicion and disgust.

Goals in this moment
  • • To maintain control over Rex and the factory
  • • To ensure the Farrels remain unaware of the full extent of his influence
Active beliefs
  • • Humanity is weak and easily controlled
  • • The Autons will soon replace human resistance
Character traits
Manipulative Subversive Psychologically controlling Symbolically present through proxies
Follow The Master's journey
Farrel Senior

Farrel Senior mentions Rex indirectly, describing his unnatural lack of reaction to McDermott's death. Rex's absence from the scene underscores …

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Mrs. Farrel's Outerwear (Coat and Hat)

Mrs. Farrel's coat and hat are symbolic of her distressed state as she enters the home. The outerwear clings to her frame, damp or rumpled from her hurried arrival, signaling her emotional turmoil and urgency. They serve as a visual cue to her immediate concern over McDermott's death and the unnatural atmosphere at the factory. The garments remain on her throughout the confrontation with the Auton doll, reinforcing her unresolved distress and the gravity of the situation.

Before: Worn by Mrs. Farrel as she enters the …
After: Still worn by Mrs. Farrel, now symbolizing her …
Before: Worn by Mrs. Farrel as she enters the home, slightly disheveled from her hurried arrival.
After: Still worn by Mrs. Farrel, now symbolizing her lingering distress and moral outrage.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Farrel Senior's Home

Farrel Senior's home serves as a private sanctuary where the Farrels can confront the unnatural events at the factory without immediate interference. The location's domestic setting contrasts sharply with the sinister nature of the Auton doll, creating a tension between safety and creeping horror. The home becomes a space for moral clarity and resistance, where the Farrels' suspicions and disgust can be openly expressed. The kitchen, mentioned later in the scene, will later become a battleground when the Auton doll attacks, but here it remains a space of relative safety and reflection.

Atmosphere Tension-filled with whispered conversations, the air thick with moral outrage and growing unease.
Function Sanctuary for private reflection and moral confrontation.
Symbolism Represents the Farrels' last bastion of human decency and resistance against the Master's influence.
Access Restricted to family members; a private space where the Farrels can speak freely about their …
Dim lighting, casting long shadows that emphasize the sinister nature of the Auton doll. The sound of Farrel Senior's voice, low and urgent, as he shares his observations with Mrs. Farrel. The Auton doll placed on a table or in Farrel Senior's hand, its grotesque appearance standing out against the domestic surroundings.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 1
Thematic Parallel medium

"McDermott's death at the hands of the Master in Act 1 causes suspicion and distress to Mrs.Farrel, later in Act 2, the Master continues on with killing people close to the main characters in order to move closer to obtaining his final Goal."

Master reveals humanity’s fatal flaw
S8E2 · Terror of the Autons Part …

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

The Cost of Protection: Sacrifice, Trust, and Failure
4
UNIT’s mandate to protect is repeatedly tested—and found wanting. The Brigadier and Yates arrive too late, not through negligence but through the Master’s systemic infiltration, …

Key Dialogue

"MRS FARREL: Oh, poor Mister McDermott. It must have been a terrible shock for Rex."
"FARREL SR: On the contrary. When I walked in, he was just carrying on with his work as if nothing had happened."
"MRS FARREL: Oh John, no!"
"FARREL SR: And this Colonel Masters was just as unconcerned. Frankly, they both seemed to me quite inhuman."
"MRS FARREL: You will make Rex get rid of that man."
"FARREL SR: I most certainly shall. Frankly, I didn't take to the chap really, or to his repulsive toy. Now, just look at that!"
"MRS FARREL: Oh, it's a horrible looking thing. There's something evil about it."