Fabula
S20E9 · Mawdryn Undead Part 1
S20E9
· Mawdryn Undead Part 1

Turlough seizes the transmat and flees

In a desperate bid for escape from the suffocating constraints of school and fate, Turlough abandons his reluctant companion and forcibly infiltrates the abandoned transmat capsule hidden at Obelisk Hill. The moment the door seals shut behind him, he vanishes—taking with him the fractured trust between him and Ibbotson. This act of defiance breaks the fragile alliance that had momentarily bound them, and signals his fullest commitment to the Black Guardian’s bargain, propelling the Doctor and his companions into a deeper confrontation with time’s tightened grip.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Turlough enters the transmat capsule, and Ibbotson tries to stop him but fails.

urgency to loss ['obelisk hill']

The capsule vanishes with Turlough inside, leaving Ibbotson running back down the hill.

desperation to despair ['obelisk hill']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

2
Turlough
Schoolboy
 primary

Driven by a volatile mix of panic and determination, masking his deeper dread with bold action to seize control of his fate

Turlough acts with decisive urgency, overriding Ibbotson’s warning to force his way into the transmat capsule, sealing himself inside with predatory swiftness. His physical presence radiates defiance and desperation, eyes locked on escape as he abandons all caution.

Goals in this moment
  • • To escape Earth through any means necessary
  • • To sever ties with Ibbotson and his immediate constraints
Active beliefs
  • • Freedom is worth any cost, even betrayal
  • • Trust is a luxury he cannot afford
Character traits
reckless determined secretive desperate
Follow Turlough's journey
Supporting 1
Ibbotson
secondary

Overwhelmed by sudden terror and betrayal, struggling to process the unnatural disappearance unfolding before him

Ibbotson’s timidity turns to distress as he witnesses Turlough’s abrupt abandonment, shouting futile warnings from a distance. He stands paralyzed, then flees downhill in dismay, embodying helplessness against forces beyond his understanding.

Goals in this moment
  • • To prevent Turlough from reckless action
  • • To seek safety and distance from the unnatural event
Active beliefs
  • • Authority and caution are the only safe paths
  • • Disobedience leads only to disaster
Character traits
timid fearful submissive anxious
Follow Ibbotson's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

1
Mobile Transmat Capsule (Turlough's Device)

The transmat capsule serves as Turlough’s literal and symbolic escape route, its alien technology responding instantly to his forcible entry. The door seals shut behind him with authoritative finality, transporting him away in a flash of disruption that fractures the moment’s stillness on the hill.

Before: Abandoned and dormant, hidden at Obelisk Hill with …
After: Activated and empty, having transported Turlough through unknown …
Before: Abandoned and dormant, hidden at Obelisk Hill with no visible signs of activity, its purpose unknown to Ibbotson
After: Activated and empty, having transported Turlough through unknown dimensions, leaving behind only an absence and residual disturbance in the air

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Obelisk Hill Monument Site

Obelisk Hill’s isolated summit becomes the stage for a fleeting moment of dramatic rupture, its ancient stones and brooding obelisk bearing silent witness to Turlough’s reckless transit. The hill’s desolate beauty and eerie resonance amplify the unnatural nature of Turlough’s disappearance, enveloping the event in a shroud of primal unease.

Atmosphere Barely contained tension and primal unease, as the natural stillness of the hill is shattered …
Function A threshold between dimensions and fate, where earthly constraint clashes with cosmic forces
Symbolism Represents the perilous crossing from safety to chaos, where desperation seeks passage through forbidden means
Access Seemingly accessible to those desperate enough to breach its hidden secrets, yet fundamentally alien and …
The obelisk’s carved glyphs catch and distort the dying twilight light A low, resonant undertone hums through the air, synchronized with Turlough’s heartbeat as he activates the capsule

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

No narrative connections mapped yet

This event is currently isolated in the narrative graph

Part of Larger Arcs

The interpersonal tension and rivalry between Turlough and Ibbotson, driven by diverging loyalties and Turlough's manipulative behavior

Key Dialogue

"IBBOTSON: Keep back!"
"IBBOTSON: Turlough!"