Fabula
S9E24 · The Time Monster Part 4

Doctor entrusts Jo with time detection

The Doctor arrives with Jo and the Brigadier to find a bloodied Yates being tended to. With the TARDIS overturned and soldiers struggling to right it, the Doctor swiftly reorients the team toward the immediate crisis. He pulls Jo aside, seizing on her as the only one capable of tracking the Master's temporal footprint. Handing her the time detector, he assigns her a critical role in the coming pursuit, emphasizing urgency as every second counts in intercepting the Master before Kronos is unleashed. His confidence in her competence contrasts with the physical chaos around them. key_dialogue: [ DOCTOR: Right, Jo, I want you to keep a close eye on this. As soon as you see the slightest reaction, you let me know. ]

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

The Doctor, Jo, and the Brigadier arrive at the scene, assessing the damage. The Brigadier tends to the injured Yates.

concern to relief ['The Copse']

The Doctor speaks with Jo about the time detector, instructing her to monitor it closely for any reaction.

determination to anticipation

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5

Apprehensive about Yates' injury but focused on the task at hand, trusting the Doctor's judgment

Jo listens attentively to the Doctor's instructions, her professional demeanor shifting briefly as she receives the time detector. She acknowledges the task promptly, indicating her preparedness to act despite the surrounding chaos and her concern for Yates. Her stance reflects both obedience and quiet determination.

Goals in this moment
  • Track the Master's temporal footprint as assigned by the Doctor
  • Prove her capability in a high-stakes technical role
Active beliefs
  • Confident in her ability to use the time detector effectively
  • Believes the Doctor's leadership is necessary in this crisis
Character traits
obedient competent calm under pressure loyal
Follow Jo Grant's journey

Concerned but determined, masking broader anxiety about the temporal crisis with decisive action

The Doctor moves with purpose through the chaotic copse, assessing the situation with a blend of urgency and calm. Seeing Yates injured, he briefly acknowledges him with reassurance before swiftly shifting his attention to delegating a critical task to Jo, demonstrating his ability to prioritize immediate threats and leverage available resources.

Goals in this moment
  • Restore operational control by assigning Jo the task of tracking the Master's temporal footprint
  • Ensure the crisis is managed efficiently despite physical setbacks like the overturned TARDIS
Active beliefs
  • Trusts Jo's competence to handle the technical task of tracking the Master's temporal movements
  • Believes that time-sensitive actions are necessary to prevent Kronos from being unleashed
Character traits
decisive reassuring strategic focused under pressure
Follow The Third …'s journey
Supporting 3

Concerned for Yates but maintaining composure to uphold command presence

The Brigadier tends to Yates with a calm, authoritative demeanor, reassuring him of the ambulance's imminent arrival and maintaining a façade of order amid the turmoil. His presence provides a stabilizing influence, both practically with Yates and symbolically for the team.

Goals in this moment
  • Ensure Yates receives medical attention promptly
  • Maintain morale and order among the team despite injuries and setbacks
Active beliefs
  • Feels a duty to protect his officers
  • Believes in the importance of maintaining institutional protocol even in crises
Character traits
calm authoritative reassuring pragmatic
Follow Brigadier Alistair …'s journey
Tom Beresford
secondary

Focused on the physical task at hand, undeterred by the larger crisis

The farmer remains in the background, coordinating the soldiers' efforts with shouts of encouragement as they attempt to right the TARDIS using ropes and the tractor. His practical approach contrasts with the high-stakes temporal crisis, grounding the scene in tangible action.

Goals in this moment
  • Successfully right the overturned TARDIS using available resources
  • Assist in stabilizing the immediate situation
Active beliefs
  • Believes in practical solutions to immediate problems
  • Values teamwork and local knowledge in a crisis
Character traits
practical helpful coordinating utilitarian
Follow Tom Beresford's journey

Grateful for concern but slightly embarrassed by his injury and the TARDIS's damage

Yates lies bloodied but conscious, offering a brief apology for the TARDIS's state. His injury does not diminish his professionalism, as he acknowledges the Brigadier's reassurance with gratitude and focuses on his role in the unfolding crisis despite his condition.

Goals in this moment
  • Quickly recover from injury to remain operational
  • Minimize the disruption caused by the TARDIS's overturning
Active beliefs
  • Believes in duty and teamwork even when incapacitated
  • Trusts the Brigadier and the Doctor to resolve the situation
Character traits
resilient grateful apologetic professional
Follow UNIT Captain …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

4
Farmer's Tractor

The farmer's tractor is being used by soldiers to attempt righting the overturned TARDIS. Its robust mechanical strength and traction provide the necessary force to pivot the TARDIS upright, with hemp ropes securing the connections between the tractor's hitch and the TARDIS's landing legs.

Before: Stationary, diesel engine prepared for manual operation in …
After: Engine running, operators still straining to lift the …
Before: Stationary, diesel engine prepared for manual operation in the damp soil of the copse
After: Engine running, operators still straining to lift the TARDIS as the Doctor shifts focus to Jo's mission
Hemp Ropes for TARDIS Recovery

The hemp ropes are threaded through gaps in the TARDIS's landing legs to secure it to the tractor's hitch, bearing the strain as soldiers pull in unison. Their coarse texture and weathered state reflect previous field use, now repurposed to stabilize a time vessel in the midst of temporal turbulence.

Before: Stored in UNIT base, coiled and ready for …
After: Tied around the TARDIS and tractor, groaning under …
Before: Stored in UNIT base, coiled and ready for field operations like this one
After: Tied around the TARDIS and tractor, groaning under the strain of attempting to lift the TARDIS
UNIT Staff Car 'Bessie' (Super Drive Variant)

Bessie, the UNIT tactical staff car, idles nearby with its engine ready. The Doctor uses it as a mobile base to hand Jo the time detector and brief her on her mission, transforming it into a temporary command center for the pursuit of the Master amid the chaos of the copse.

Before: Stationary, engine running, canvas roof providing shade in …
After: Still idling, now serving as the locus for …
Before: Stationary, engine running, canvas roof providing shade in the open copse
After: Still idling, now serving as the locus for the Doctor's tactical briefing to Jo before she assumes her tracking role
The Doctor’s TARDIS

The time detector is a vital temporal tracking device handed by the Doctor to Jo. It will be used to monitor the Master's temporal footprint, allowing Jo to relay critical information to the Doctor for intercepting the Master before Kronos is fully unleashed.

Before: In the Doctor's possession, presumably with stable readings …
After: Transferred to Jo's possession, its readings will now …
Before: In the Doctor's possession, presumably with stable readings of the temporal energy in the area
After: Transferred to Jo's possession, its readings will now be critical to the unfolding pursuit

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Kronos Crater Clearing

The Kronos Crater copse is a contested space where physical and temporal damage intertwine. The overturned TARDIS and injured Yates ground the scene in immediate peril, while residual temporal energy from Kronos's release makes the air crackle with unseen forces. The chaos is functional, serving as both a battleground and an obstacle to the Doctor's pursuit of the Master.

Atmosphere Tense and urgent, with the scent of ozone and diesel exhaust mingling with the antiseptic …
Function Convergence point for multiple crises: physical recovery of the TARDIS, medical attention for Yates, and …
Symbolism Embodiments the instability of time itself, where nature, technology, and institutions collide under the looming …
Access Open to UNIT forces and local personnel aiding recovery efforts, but effectively restricted to those …
Overturned TARDIS casting an irregular shape against the sky Soldiers and farmer coordinating efforts under harsh midday light Occasional sounds of the tractor's engine and shouted commands

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Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Part of Larger Arcs