Doctor defies Polo to seek Cave
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Despite Chenchu's warnings about the cave being haunted, the Doctor decides to go there, and Susan and Ping-Cho insist on accompanying him, defying Marco's orders.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Absent but central; her disappearance fuels the group’s desperation and defiance, creating a sense of urgency and moral imperative to act.
Barbara is mentioned as the missing companion whose suspected location (the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes) drives the Doctor’s urgency to leave. Her absence is the catalyst for the group’s defiance of Polo’s orders, as Susan and the Doctor prioritize her safety over obedience to authority. Barbara’s historical curiosity and independent nature are implied as motivators for her potential visit to the cave, framing her as both vulnerable and resourceful.
- • Seek historical knowledge or evidence, even at personal risk.
- • Prove her capabilities as an explorer and historian by investigating the cave independently.
- • The Cave of Five Hundred Eyes holds historical or cultural significance worth exploring.
- • Polo’s warnings are overcautious and can be disregarded in pursuit of knowledge.
Hesitant and fearful, but ultimately resolute; her internal conflict between duty and friendship drives her to act against her instincts, showcasing her growth and vulnerability.
Ping-Cho reveals the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes as a possible location for Barbara, mentioning Polo’s warnings about the cave. She hesitates to accompany the Doctor, torn between her loyalty to Polo and her concern for Barbara. Her fear of the cave’s haunting and the Hashashin spirits is palpable, yet she ultimately agrees to go, demonstrating her bravery and conflicted allegiance. Ping-Cho’s role as a bridge between the Doctor’s group and Polo’s caravan is highlighted by her insider knowledge and reluctance.
- • Stay loyal to Polo while also helping to find Barbara, balancing her dual allegiances.
- • Prove her bravery by facing her fears of the cave and its supernatural legends.
- • The Cave of Five Hundred Eyes is a place of real supernatural danger, as warned by Polo and Chenchu.
- • Loyalty to Polo is important, but the safety of her friends (especially Barbara) takes precedence in this moment.
Concerned but resolute; her emotional state is a mix of worry for Barbara and determination to support the Doctor, tempered by a hint of frustration at the obstacles (Polo’s orders and Chenchu’s warnings) they face.
Susan reassures the Doctor about Ping-Cho’s trustworthiness and shares the suspicion that Barbara may have gone to the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes. She insists on accompanying the Doctor, defying Polo’s orders and Chenchu’s warnings. Susan’s loyalty to the Doctor and her concern for Barbara drive her actions, and she plays a key role in convincing the Doctor to allow her and Ping-Cho to join him. Her determination and protective instincts are evident, as she refuses to let the Doctor go alone into potential danger.
- • Ensure the Doctor’s safety by accompanying him to the cave, refusing to let him go alone.
- • Find Barbara and bring her back, prioritizing the group’s unity and well-being over Polo’s commands.
- • The Doctor’s judgment is sound, and his urgency to find Barbara is justified, even if it means defying Polo.
- • Ping-Cho is trustworthy and can be relied upon to help, despite her initial hesitation.
Urgent and defiant, with a hint of irritation at the obstacles (Polo’s orders and Chenchu’s warnings) standing between him and his goal. His emotional state is a mix of determination, protectiveness, and a touch of arrogance in his dismissal of local beliefs.
The Doctor sneaks across the courtyard at night, interrogates Chenchu for the location of the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes, and dismisses warnings about its haunting. He insists on leaving immediately to find Barbara, defying Polo’s orders and Chenchu’s superstitions. His urgency and defiance are palpable, driven by his protective instincts toward Barbara and his distrust of Polo’s authority. The Doctor’s scientific mindset clashes with the local superstitions, and his decision to take Susan and Ping-Cho with him reflects his need for companionship and support, even as he downplays the dangers.
- • Find Barbara as quickly as possible, prioritizing her safety over Polo’s commands.
- • Challenge Polo’s authority by acting independently, asserting his own judgment and leadership.
- • Polo’s warnings are overly cautious and rooted in superstition rather than real danger.
- • Barbara’s safety is his responsibility, and he must act decisively to ensure it, regardless of the risks or authority figures.
Nervous and pleading; his fear of the supernatural and the cave’s dangers is genuine, and his attempts to warn the Doctor are met with dismissal, leaving him frustrated and powerless.
Chenchu emerges from hiding after being spotted by the Doctor and reluctantly reveals the location of the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes. He warns the Doctor not to go at night, invoking the spirits of the Hashashins and the danger of the cave. His fear is evident, and he pleads with the Doctor to stay, but his warnings are ignored. Chenchu’s role as a local spy and his deep-seated superstitions make him a reluctant but crucial source of information, bridging the gap between the Doctor’s group and the local legends.
- • Warn the Doctor of the dangers of the cave to prevent him from going, fulfilling his role as a cautious informant.
- • Avoid being blamed for any misfortune that befalls the Doctor or his companions if they ignore his warnings.
- • The Cave of Five Hundred Eyes is haunted by the spirits of the Hashashins, and entering it at night is a death sentence.
- • The Doctor’s defiance of local warnings and authority (Polo’s orders) will lead to disaster.
Indirectly authoritative but undermined; his presence is felt through the tension his orders create, though his physical absence allows the Doctor to act with impunity.
Marco Polo is referenced indirectly as the authority figure whose orders (to stay in the courtyard) the Doctor and companions are defying. His warnings about the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes are invoked by Ping-Cho, framing his leadership as a barrier to the group’s immediate concerns. Polo’s absence in the scene underscores the Doctor’s disregard for his commands, while his influence looms as a source of potential conflict upon their return.
- • Maintain control over the caravan and its members through adherence to his directives.
- • Prevent the group from venturing into dangerous or forbidden territories like the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes.
- • The Cave of Five Hundred Eyes is a place of real danger, either physically or supernaturally.
- • His authority as leader must be respected to maintain order and safety within the caravan.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The TARDIS is referenced indirectly as a symbolic artifact central to Polo’s mission and Tegana’s plot, though it does not appear physically in this scene. Its presence looms as a point of contention and control, with Polo having confiscated its key earlier. The TARDIS represents the Doctor’s ultimate refuge and resource, but its inaccessibility in this moment underscores the group’s reliance on local knowledge (Chenchu’s directions) and their vulnerability to the dangers of the desert and the cave. The Doctor’s defiance of Polo’s authority is partly a reaction to this loss of control over his own sanctuary.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Cave of Five Hundred Eyes is the destination of this event, mentioned as a place of danger and superstition. Ping-Cho and Chenchu describe it as a location set back against the foothills on the road to Su-Chow, haunted by the spirits of the Hashashins. The cave’s eerie reputation and its role as a potential hiding place for Barbara drive the Doctor’s urgency to leave immediately. Its mention in the scene creates a sense of foreboding and danger, framing the journey ahead as a race against both time and supernatural threats.
The road to Su-Chow is the pathway to the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes, identified by Chenchu as the route the Doctor must take at night. This road serves as the physical link between the courtyard and the cave, symbolizing the journey from relative safety to danger. The mention of the road in the scene sets the stage for the group’s imminent departure and the perils they will face along the way, including the Hashashin spirits and the warring factions lurking in the desert.
The courtyard serves as the starting point and decision hub for this event, where the Doctor, Susan, and Ping-Cho gather under the cover of night. It is a space of tension and secrecy, as the Doctor sneaks across to interrogate Chenchu and plan their departure. The courtyard’s role as a neutral ground within Polo’s caravan territory is subverted here, as the group prepares to defy his orders. The open yet confined space amplifies the urgency and conflict, with shadows and whispered conversations creating an atmosphere of conspiracy and impending danger.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Hashashin organization is invoked through Chenchu’s warnings about the spirits haunting the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes. Though not physically present, their legacy looms large over the group’s decision to venture into the cave. The Hashashin’s reputation as a shadowy sect tied to local lore and superstition creates a sense of supernatural danger, reinforcing Polo’s warnings and Chenchu’s pleas for the Doctor to stay. The organization’s influence is felt indirectly, shaping the group’s fears and the Doctor’s defiance of those fears.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Barbara's disappearance prompts those who were concerned (Susan & Ping-Cho) to go and find it out by themselves."
Polo’s fractured leadership and search party"Barbara's disappearance prompts those who were concerned (Susan & Ping-Cho) to go and find it out by themselves."
Doctor quietly defies Polo’s order"Susan and Ping-Cho's theory about Barbara's location prompts the Doctor to seek information from Chenchu."
Doctor learns cave location from spy"Susan and Ping-Cho's theory about Barbara's location prompts the Doctor to seek information from Chenchu."
Doctor learns cave location from spyThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"SUSAN: "We think we might know where Barbara is.""
"DOCTOR: "Never mind about him. Which road?""
"CHENCHU: "Do not go, my lord. Not at night. You will not come back alive!""