Doctor reveals Hashashin knowledge
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Susan inquires about the Hashashin, prompting the Doctor to recall vague details about them and their sect, setting the stage for Ping-Cho's upcoming story.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Surface: Suspicious yet intrigued, with a hint of dark humor ('You crafty old fox'). Internal: Growing frustration with the Doctor’s secrecy, but also a reluctant acknowledgment of its necessity. The mention of the Hashashin adds a layer of unease, though he doesn’t yet grasp its significance.
Ian stands facing the Doctor, his expression shifting from confusion ('Huh?') to realization as the Doctor’s deception unfolds. His body language—arms possibly crossed, leaning in—suggests skepticism mixed with reluctant admiration. When Susan mentions the Hashashin, Ian’s focus remains on the immediate threat (Polo’s authority, Tegana’s betrayal), but the Doctor’s evasion plants a seed of unease, hinting at deeper dangers he can’t yet articulate.
- • Understand the Doctor’s plan to regain control of the TARDIS and assess its risks.
- • Stay alert to any immediate threats (e.g., Polo’s reaction, Tegana’s loyalties) while the Doctor is distracted.
- • The Doctor’s deceptions, while effective, create long-term instability for the group.
- • The Hashashin are likely a minor distraction compared to their current survival challenges.
Surface: Engaged and eager, with a hint of excitement about Ping-Cho’s story. Internal: Slightly frustrated by the Doctor’s vagueness but trusting of his judgment. The Hashashin intrigue her as a potential adventure or danger, though she doesn’t yet grasp its gravity.
Susan stands near the Doctor, her posture attentive and curious as she shifts the conversation from the TARDIS key to the Hashashin. Her question about the sect is direct but laced with youthful curiosity, contrasting with the Doctor’s evasion. She confirms the Doctor’s forgery of the key ('Yes') without hesitation, showing her alignment with his tactics but also her eagerness to explore the unknown (e.g., Ping-Cho’s story). Her role as a bridge between the group’s practical concerns and the Doctor’s cryptic knowledge is evident.
- • Learn more about the Hashashin through Ping-Cho’s story to understand their relevance.
- • Support the Doctor’s deception by confirming the forged key, reinforcing group cohesion.
- • The Doctor’s knowledge, though withheld, is ultimately protective.
- • Local legends (like the Hashashin) often hold practical truths about survival in this era.
Surface: Amused, almost giddy, as if enjoying a private joke. Internal: Guarded, masking deeper knowledge about the Hashashin and the TARDIS’s vulnerabilities. His dismissive tone suggests a calculated effort to downplay threats, possibly to avoid panicking the group or revealing his own uncertainties.
The Doctor stands in the courtyard, his posture relaxed yet calculating, as he casually reveals his deception about the TARDIS key. His tone shifts from smug satisfaction ('A key, my boy') to playful evasion when Susan introduces the Hashashin, deflecting with a dismissive 'Oh, how delightful.' His physical presence—leaning slightly, hands possibly gesturing—contrasts with the tension of the moment, underscoring his intellectual detachment from the group's immediate dangers.
- • Undermine Marco Polo’s control by revealing the forged key, reasserting his independence.
- • Deflect attention from the Hashashin to avoid premature alarm or probing questions.
- • The group’s survival depends on his ability to outmaneuver Polo and maintain control of the TARDIS.
- • Some threats (like the Hashashin) are better addressed with caution and partial disclosure.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The forged duplicate TARDIS key, though not physically shown in this event, is the subject of the Doctor’s confession to Ian. Its existence is implied through the Doctor’s dialogue ('I made it') and Susan’s confirmation ('Yes'). The key serves as a narrative device to highlight the Doctor’s cunning and his commitment to maintaining independence, even at the risk of provoking Polo. Its creation at the oasis—under cover of night—adds a layer of secrecy and urgency, reinforcing the Doctor’s role as a strategist who operates outside the group’s immediate concerns.
The TARDIS repair circuit is mentioned by the Doctor as a distraction ('Repairing the circuit, young man') to deflect Ian’s initial question about the key. Its role here is purely functional: a pretext to mask the Doctor’s true activities (forging the key). The circuit symbolizes the Doctor’s constant vigilance over the TARDIS’s maintenance, but in this context, it serves as a red herring, underscoring his habit of misdirection when convenient. Its repair is likely a low-priority task, overshadowed by the immediate crisis of Polo’s confiscation.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The courtyard at Kublai Khan’s way-station serves as a neutral ground where the Doctor’s deception and Susan’s inquiry about the Hashashin unfold. Its open, exposed nature—likely under the watchful eyes of Mongol soldiers—adds tension to the exchange, as the group’s whispered conversations risk being overheard. The courtyard’s role as a temporary sanctuary is undermined by its proximity to Polo’s authority, making it a liminal space where rebellion and foreshadowing collide. The Doctor’s casual revelation of the forged key and Susan’s mention of the Hashashin transform the courtyard from a place of rest into a stage for hidden conflicts and looming dangers.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Hashashin, though only mentioned indirectly through Susan’s reference to Ping-Cho’s story, cast a shadow over this event. Their introduction as a 'sect' by the Doctor—dismissed with feigned nonchalance—hints at their deeper significance as a looming threat. The organization’s presence is felt through the Doctor’s evasive language and Susan’s curiosity, foreshadowing their role as antagonists. Their mention disrupts the group’s focus on immediate survival (e.g., Polo’s authority, water scarcity), introducing a layer of abstract danger that contrasts with the tangible conflicts of the desert.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Because the Doctor declares his superior intellect, he resolves to do something, and because Polo confiscated the key, the doctor creates a duplicate key."
Tegana’s Inconsistent Alibi and Polo’s Blind Trust"Because the Doctor declares his superior intellect, he resolves to do something, and because Polo confiscated the key, the doctor creates a duplicate key."
Tegana’s Lies and Polo’s Blind Authority"Because the Doctor declares his superior intellect, he resolves to do something, and because Polo confiscated the key, the doctor creates a duplicate key."
Polo Confiscates the TARDIS Key"Susan making the first mention of the Hashashin makes it so that Ping-Cho can follow up with her story."
Barbara’s Unheeded Warning to Ian"Susan making the first mention of the Hashashin makes it so that Ping-Cho can follow up with her story."
Ping-Cho’s Hashashin tale reveals hidden threatsThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"SUSAN: Grandfather? What do you know about the Hashashin?"
"DOCTOR: Well, now, let me think, let me think. Yes, they were some kind of sect. Why?"
"SUSAN: Well, Ping-Cho knows a story and she's going to tell us about it."