Nanina spares Exorse despite Tor’s vengeance
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Chal agrees to show Steven and Dodo a dangerous way into the city, leading them to depart. Tor attempts to kill Exorse while Steven and Dodo are gone, but Nanina stops him, asserting Chal's authority and preventing the act.
Nanina tends to Exorse's wounds, revealing she stopped Tor from killing him because it would be futile. Exorse expresses gratitude and promises to remember her name, fostering a connection between them.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Absent but deeply felt—his suffering is the emotional core of the scene, fueling both vengeance and mercy.
The First Doctor is not physically present in this event but serves as the catalyst for the actions unfolding. His captivity in the Elder city drives Steven and Dodo’s urgency to infiltrate the city, and his fate looms over the Savages’ moral dilemma regarding Exorse. The Doctor’s absence is a driving force, shaping the tension and urgency of the scene.
- • To be rescued by Steven and Dodo
- • To expose the Elders' cruelty
- • That the Savages and TARDIS crew can work together to defy oppression
- • That even in captivity, his presence inspires resistance
Determined and urgent, with a steely resolve to rescue the Doctor, but also aware of the moral complexities at play.
Steven argues passionately for sparing Exorse, framing him as a potential asset for leverage or information. He urges Chal to guide him and Dodo into the Elder city to rescue the Doctor, demonstrating his tactical mindset and urgency. Steven’s focus remains on the mission, prioritizing the Doctor’s safety over immediate vengeance, and he prepares to handle guards with the light gun, embodying a pragmatic leader.
- • To rescue the Doctor from the Elders' captivity
- • To use Exorse as leverage or gather intelligence
- • That the Doctor’s rescue is the top priority, even at the cost of immediate vengeance
- • That the Savages and TARDIS crew can collaborate effectively despite their differences
Angry and frustrated, with a deep-seated desire for vengeance that is tempered by his inability to act on it.
Tor demands Exorse’s execution as retribution for the Elders’ oppression, raising his club in a fit of vengeful rage. When Nanina intervenes, he throws down the club and sulks, his frustration and anger palpable. Tor’s actions reflect the Savages’ deep-seated desire for vengeance, but his inability to act highlights the internal conflict within the tribe. His withdrawal underscores the tension between vengeance and restraint, leaving the moral dilemma unresolved.
- • To exact revenge on the Elders for their oppression
- • To assert his authority within the tribe
- • That the Elders must pay for their crimes against the Savages
- • That violence is the only way to achieve justice
Calm and authoritative, but with an underlying tension as he navigates the moral and strategic complexities of the situation.
Chal mediates between Tor and Steven, ultimately agreeing to guide Steven and Dodo into the Elder city despite the danger. He asserts his authority to spare Exorse, demonstrating his role as a pragmatic leader who balances the needs of his people with the urgency of the Doctor’s rescue. Chal’s actions reflect his commitment to protecting his tribe while also challenging the Elders’ oppression.
- • To protect his people from further harm
- • To support Steven and Dodo in rescuing the Doctor
- • That collaboration with outsiders like Steven and Dodo can help challenge the Elders’ power
- • That mercy and pragmatism are necessary to survive and resist oppression
Vulnerable and reflective, with a growing sense of gratitude and moral ambiguity as he engages with Nanina.
Exorse, wounded and captured, is initially a symbol of the Elders’ oppression but becomes a reluctant participant in a moment of human connection. He recognizes Nanina as the girl he once captured, and her compassion strikes him, leading him to promise to remember her name. This exchange foreshadows a potential shift in his allegiance and the rigid hierarchy between the Savages and Elders. Exorse’s vulnerability and reflection highlight the moral ambiguity of their conflict.
- • To survive and return to the Elders’ city
- • To understand the humanity of the Savages
- • That the Savages are not just primitives but people with their own moral codes
- • That his actions as an Elder guard may have consequences he hasn’t fully considered
Worried but determined, with a strong sense of loyalty to the Doctor and the mission.
Dodo supports Steven’s plan to rescue the Doctor, mentioning the intended meeting point (guest apartments) and preparing to accompany him into the Elder city. Her loyalty to the Doctor and the TARDIS crew is evident, and she shares their urgency to act. Dodo’s presence reinforces the team’s determination and highlights the stakes of their mission.
- • To rescue the Doctor from the Elders’ captivity
- • To support Steven in his plan
- • That the Doctor’s safety is the top priority
- • That the TARDIS crew can overcome the challenges they face
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Tor’s crude club is raised in a moment of vengeful rage as he attempts to execute Exorse. Nanina’s intervention halts the attack, and Tor throws the club down in frustration. The club serves as a symbol of the Savages’ primitive but potent desire for vengeance, and its abandonment marks a moment of moral restraint. Its presence in the scene highlights the tension between violence and mercy, as well as the internal conflict within the tribe.
Exorse’s light gun is referenced as a tool Steven intends to use to handle guards in the Elder city. Though not physically present in this event, its mention underscores the Elders’ technological advantage and the Savages’ vulnerability. The gun symbolizes the oppressive power of the Elders, and its potential use by Steven represents a tactical advantage that could shift the balance of power in the impending infiltration.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Savages’ hidden valley serves as the setting for this morally charged confrontation. Its claustrophobic rock walls and damp atmosphere amplify the tension and emotional weight of the scene, creating a sense of isolation and urgency. The cave functions as both a refuge and a battleground for the Savages’ internal conflicts, as well as a space where fragile alliances and moral dilemmas unfold. The valley’s hidden nature underscores the Savages’ exile and the secrecy of their resistance.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Elders are represented indirectly through Exorse, their captive guard, and the broader context of their oppression of the Savages. Exorse’s vulnerability and reflection in this scene foreshadow a potential shift in the rigid hierarchy between the Elders and Savages. His recognition of Nanina’s compassion and his promise to remember her name hint at the possibility of moral ambiguity and change within the Elders’ ranks. The organization’s oppressive power is felt through the Savages’ fear and the Doctor’s captivity, but this moment suggests a crack in their dominance.
The Savages are represented through the actions and conflicts of their members—Tor, Nanina, and Chal. Their internal divisions over vengeance and mercy reflect broader organizational tensions, as the tribe grapples with how to respond to the Elders’ oppression. Nanina’s compassion and Chal’s pragmatism contrast with Tor’s vengeful impulses, highlighting the Savages’ struggle to define their identity and resistance strategy. The organization’s survival and moral integrity are at stake in this moment.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Tor's failed attempt to kill Exorse creates the opportunity for Nanina to tend to Exorse's wounds, fostering a connection between them."
Steven asserts leadership to rescue the Doctor"Tor advocates for killing their prisoner, Exorse, while Steven offers a more measured approach, showing their difference in character/morality/temperament."
Steven asserts leadership to rescue the Doctor"Tor's desire to kill reinforces the Savage's inclination to violence when provoked, while Nanina's mercy and restraint highlight an alternative response."
Steven asserts leadership to rescue the Doctor"Steven redirects the group's focus to rescuing the Doctor, appealing to Chal for guidance to enter the city, so they will now move toward the location of the entrance."
Steven and Dodo breach the city entrance"Steven redirects the group's focus to rescuing the Doctor, appealing to Chal for guidance to enter the city, so they will now move toward the location of the entrance."
Steven and Dodo breach the city"Tor's failed attempt to kill Exorse creates the opportunity for Nanina to tend to Exorse's wounds, fostering a connection between them."
Steven asserts leadership to rescue the Doctor"Tor advocates for killing their prisoner, Exorse, while Steven offers a more measured approach, showing their difference in character/morality/temperament."
Steven asserts leadership to rescue the Doctor"Tor's desire to kill reinforces the Savage's inclination to violence when provoked, while Nanina's mercy and restraint highlight an alternative response."
Steven asserts leadership to rescue the DoctorThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"TOR: We should kill him while we have the chance."
"NANINA: Leave him."
"TOR: Why do you pity him, Nanina? This is the guard that took you. Think what they do even now to the old man."
"NANINA: It would do no good to kill you."
"EXORSE: What is your name?"
"NANINA: Nanina."
"EXORSE: I shall remember."