Morton’s Unwitting Witness to Time Travel
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Morton, a tourist, observes the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize, sparking his curiosity and disbelief.
Barbara and Vicki question Morton to ascertain the year while attempting to blend in, revealing their time-traveling nature and creating immediate suspicion.
The Doctor and Ian appear, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people, reinforcing the ethical dimension of their time travels.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Urgent and slightly disoriented, balancing her need to escape with a protective instinct toward Morton and the other tourists.
Barbara emerges from the TARDIS and immediately engages Morton, her questions about the year (1963) revealing her temporal displacement. She participates in the brief but revealing dialogue with Morton, confirming the anachronism of their presence. Her urgency to re-embark the TARDIS, driven by the Dalek threat, contrasts with Morton’s grounded skepticism, creating a tension between their worlds. Barbara’s pragmatic concern for Morton’s safety ('A lot of innocent people could get hurt') underscores the moral dilemma of their evasion.
- • To confirm their temporal location and the immediate danger posed by the Daleks.
- • To ensure the group re-embarks the TARDIS before the Daleks arrive, minimizing collateral damage.
- • That Morton and the tourists are in grave danger if the Daleks materialize.
- • That the Doctor’s urgency to depart is justified, despite Morton’s skepticism.
Concerned and slightly frustrated, torn between the need to escape and the ethical responsibility to avoid harming bystanders.
Ian exits the TARDIS alongside the Doctor and immediately voices concern for the potential danger to innocent people like Morton. His dialogue with the Doctor highlights his preference for direct confrontation over evasion, reflecting his protective instincts. Ian’s brief interaction with Morton—where he acknowledges the tourist’s confusion but urges the group to depart—underscores his role as the group’s moral compass, ensuring they do not leave chaos in their wake.
- • To ensure the group does not endanger Morton or the tourists by lingering.
- • To support the Doctor’s plan to re-embark, despite his personal inclination toward confrontation.
- • That the Daleks’ arrival would result in civilian casualties if the group remains.
- • That the Doctor’s evasion tactics, while necessary, are ethically fraught.
Frustrated urgency, balancing the need to escape with the ethical weight of leaving Morton exposed to danger.
The Doctor emerges from the TARDIS with Ian and immediately urges the group to re-embark, citing the Dalek threat. His frustration with Morton’s persistent questioning—dismissing the idea that they are 'movie people'—reveals his urgency. The Doctor’s focus on preparing the TARDIS for escape, despite Morton’s attempts to document the events, underscores the high stakes of their situation and the Doctor’s responsibility to protect both his companions and innocent bystanders like Morton.
- • To ensure the group re-embarks the TARDIS before the Daleks arrive.
- • To minimize Morton’s exposure to the Daleks, despite his inability to grasp the danger.
- • That Morton’s safety is at risk if the group lingers.
- • That the Daleks will arrive imminently, necessitating an immediate departure.
Bemused curiosity shifting to frustrated confusion, then to physical alarm as the Dalek interacts with him, but ultimately reverting to stubborn disbelief ('It's gotta be around here somewhere').
Morton, a tourist from Alabama, initially dismisses the TARDIS's materialization as a 'quirky New York oddity' but quickly becomes entangled in the time travelers' urgency. He engages in a series of bewildered but persistent conversations with Barbara and Vicki, confirming the year (1963) and revealing his anachronistic perspective ('Ancient New York'). His attempts to rationalize the events—mistaking the Doctor’s group for Hollywood filmmakers—culminate in a physical confrontation with a Dalek, where he grabs its ray gun and is violently pushed against the wire mesh. His final actions—stamping the floor and probing the air—reflect his stubborn refusal to accept the supernatural, even as the TARDIS and Dalek ship vanish, leaving him as the sole witness to forces beyond his comprehension.
- • To rationalize the inexplicable events unfolding around him (e.g., the TARDIS, the Daleks).
- • To document the 'trick' with his camera, treating it as a Hollywood stunt.
- • That there must be a logical explanation for the disappearing boxes (TARDIS and Dalek ship).
- • That the time travelers are part of a movie production, despite their denials.
None (as a Dalek, it operates purely on its extermination protocol), but its actions radiate menace and impatience.
A Dalek materializes on the observation deck after the TARDIS departs, immediately confronting Morton. The Dalek’s hostile interrogation—demanding information about the 'movie people'—escalates when Morton grabs its ray gun, resulting in the Dalek violently shoving him against the wire mesh. The Dalek’s abrupt departure mirrors its ruthless efficiency, leaving Morton physically and emotionally shaken. This brief but intense interaction underscores the Daleks’ lethal precision and Morton’s unwitting role as a pawn in their pursuit.
- • To locate and eliminate the time travelers (the 'movie people').
- • To extract information from Morton about their whereabouts or methods of escape.
- • That Morton is an obstacle or potential source of intelligence.
- • That the time travelers must be eradicated to fulfill its mission.
Mild curiosity, with no emotional investment in the events.
The Observation Deck Tourists serve as background characters, reacting to the Guide’s commentary and Morton’s behavior but not directly interacting with the time travelers or Daleks. Their neutral presence underscores the mundane world’s obliviousness to the extraordinary events unfolding, creating a stark contrast between Morton’s bewildered engagement and their detached curiosity.
- • To follow the tour and absorb the Guide’s commentary.
- • To observe Morton’s behavior as a source of mild amusement or concern.
- • That Morton’s actions are unusual but not worthy of deeper engagement.
- • That the tour’s purpose is to enjoy the view, not investigate anomalies.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Dalek’s ray gun is a sleek, menacing weapon mounted on its manipulator arm. Morton, in his naive attempt to interact with the Dalek, grabs the gun, only to be violently pushed against the wire mesh. The ray gun symbolizes the Daleks’ lethal capability and Morton’s foolhardy bravado in the face of an incomprehensible threat. Its presence amplifies the Daleks’ hostility and the immediate danger Morton faces, serving as a tangible manifestation of their extermination protocol.
The Dalek ship materializes silently on the observation deck immediately after the TARDIS departs, its sudden appearance heightening the tension. A single Dalek emerges, confronting Morton and demanding information about the 'movie people.' The ship’s abrupt dematerialization after the interrogation underscores the Daleks’ ruthless efficiency and their role as relentless pursuers, leaving Morton physically and emotionally shaken. The Dalek ship functions as a harbinger of doom, its presence a stark reminder of the stakes in the time travelers’ evasion.
The TARDIS materializes on the observation deck, baffling Morton, who initially dismisses it as a 'quirky New York oddity.' Barbara and Vicki emerge, their dialogue revealing the time travelers’ displacement. The Doctor and Ian’s urgency to depart highlights the TARDIS as their sole means of escape, its dematerialization leaving Morton stunned. The TARDIS’s role here is twofold: as a vessel of hope for the time travelers and as an inexplicable phenomenon that disrupts Morton’s rational worldview, symbolizing the collision between the mundane and the extraordinary.
The wire mesh barrier on the observation deck serves as a physical boundary, preventing falls but also symbolizing the limits of Morton’s rational world. When the Dalek shoves Morton against the mesh, it becomes a stark reminder of the violence lurking beneath the mundane. The mesh’s flexing under the impact underscores the fragility of human safety in the face of the Daleks’ aggression, while also grounding the scene in the tangible reality of the observation deck.
Morton’s camera is a critical tool in his attempts to rationalize the events unfolding around him. He repeatedly tries to photograph the TARDIS and Dalek ship, but both vanish before he can capture them on film. The camera represents Morton’s stubborn insistence on documenting the 'trick,' treating the supernatural as a Hollywood stunt. Its failure to record the events underscores the fragility of human logic in the face of the unknown, leaving Morton with no tangible proof of what he witnessed.
Morton’s cowboy hat is a defining characteristic of his identity as a tourist from Alabama. It remains on his head throughout the event, symbolizing his outsider status in the urban landscape of 1963 New York. The hat contrasts with the high-tech threats (TARDIS, Daleks) and the mundane reactions of the tourists, reinforcing Morton’s role as a bewildered bystander caught between two worlds.
Morton’s telescope is used to scan the New York skyline before the TARDIS materializes, framing his initial role as a wide-eyed tourist. While not directly involved in the core event, the telescope symbolizes Morton’s grounded perspective—his attempt to make sense of the world through observation. Its presence contrasts with the inexplicable events that follow, underscoring the gap between his rational expectations and the supernatural intrusion.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Empire State Building observation deck serves as the neutral ground where Morton’s mundane tourist experience collides with the extraordinary. The deck’s panoramic views of 1963 New York contrast sharply with the temporal displacement of the time travelers and the Daleks’ sudden materialization. The open, bustling environment of the deck—filled with tourists and the Guide’s narration—creates a tension between the ordinary and the supernatural, with Morton as the unwitting bridge between the two. The deck’s height and exposure amplify the stakes, making it a precarious stage for the unfolding events.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Daleks are represented in this event through a single unit that materializes on the observation deck, interrogates Morton, and departs abruptly. Their presence is a harbinger of doom, reflecting their hierarchical, hive-mind structure and ruthless efficiency. The Dalek’s interaction with Morton—demanding information about the 'movie people' and shoving him against the wire mesh—exemplifies their disdain for human life and their single-minded pursuit of the time travelers. The Daleks’ power dynamics in this event are overwhelmingly dominant, as they exert control through sheer menace and the threat of extermination.
The Empire State Building Tour Group is represented through the Guide and the passive tourists, who react to Morton’s behavior and the Guide’s directives. The group’s role in this event is to maintain the illusion of normalcy, dismissing Morton’s claims as the delusions of a 'nutter.' Their collective skepticism contrasts with Morton’s bewildered persistence, reinforcing the mundane world’s inability to grasp the extraordinary. The tour group’s power dynamics are passive, as they defer to the Guide’s authority and remain oblivious to the true nature of the events unfolding.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The TARDIS landing imminently due to the Daleks' pursuit directly causes the TARDIS to materialize on the Empire State Building observation deck, where Morton witnesses it."
Companions debate survival strategy under Dalek threat"The TARDIS landing imminently due to the Daleks' pursuit directly causes the TARDIS to materialize on the Empire State Building observation deck, where Morton witnesses it."
Doctor admits escape plan is impossible"The TARDIS landing imminently due to the Daleks' pursuit directly causes the TARDIS to materialize on the Empire State Building observation deck, where Morton witnesses it."
TARDIS Landing Imminent—Barbara Demands Clarity"Morton observing the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize leads Barbara and Vicki to question him to ascertain the year, creating immediate suspicion."
Doctor exploits Morton’s delusion to escape"Morton observing the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize leads Barbara and Vicki to question him to ascertain the year, creating immediate suspicion."
Morton provokes the Daleks"Morton observing the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize leads Barbara and Vicki to question him to ascertain the year, creating immediate suspicion."
Morton’s Obsession Undermines His Credibility"Barbara and Vicki questioning Morton leads to the Doctor and Ian appearing, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people."
Morton’s Obsession Undermines His Credibility"Barbara and Vicki questioning Morton leads to the Doctor and Ian appearing, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people."
Doctor exploits Morton’s delusion to escape"Barbara and Vicki questioning Morton leads to the Doctor and Ian appearing, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people."
Morton provokes the Daleks"Both the TARDIS crew and the Daleks appear suddenly to Morton, who initially interprets both as part of a movie production, highlighting his inability to comprehend time travel and the alien nature of the Daleks."
Doctor exploits Morton’s delusion to escape"Both the TARDIS crew and the Daleks appear suddenly to Morton, who initially interprets both as part of a movie production, highlighting his inability to comprehend time travel and the alien nature of the Daleks."
Morton provokes the Daleks"Both the TARDIS crew and the Daleks appear suddenly to Morton, who initially interprets both as part of a movie production, highlighting his inability to comprehend time travel and the alien nature of the Daleks."
Morton’s Obsession Undermines His Credibility"Morton observing the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize leads Barbara and Vicki to question him to ascertain the year, creating immediate suspicion."
Doctor exploits Morton’s delusion to escape"Morton observing the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize leads Barbara and Vicki to question him to ascertain the year, creating immediate suspicion."
Morton provokes the Daleks"Morton observing the TARDIS materialize and dematerialize leads Barbara and Vicki to question him to ascertain the year, creating immediate suspicion."
Morton’s Obsession Undermines His Credibility"The Daleks searching for the Doctor after encountering Morton and failing directly leads to the Doctor seeking to fight back, asking Vicki for a screwdriver."
Doctor scrambles for a counterattack"Barbara and Vicki questioning Morton leads to the Doctor and Ian appearing, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people."
Doctor exploits Morton’s delusion to escape"Barbara and Vicki questioning Morton leads to the Doctor and Ian appearing, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people."
Morton provokes the Daleks"Barbara and Vicki questioning Morton leads to the Doctor and Ian appearing, emphasizing the urgency to leave due to the potential danger to innocent people."
Morton’s Obsession Undermines His Credibility"Both the TARDIS crew and the Daleks appear suddenly to Morton, who initially interprets both as part of a movie production, highlighting his inability to comprehend time travel and the alien nature of the Daleks."
Morton provokes the Daleks"Both the TARDIS crew and the Daleks appear suddenly to Morton, who initially interprets both as part of a movie production, highlighting his inability to comprehend time travel and the alien nature of the Daleks."
Morton’s Obsession Undermines His Credibility"Both the TARDIS crew and the Daleks appear suddenly to Morton, who initially interprets both as part of a movie production, highlighting his inability to comprehend time travel and the alien nature of the Daleks."
Doctor exploits Morton’s delusion to escapeThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"BARBARA: You're from Earth. MORTON: No, no, Ma'am. No, I'm from Alabama. BARBARA: What time is it? MORTON: Three after twelve, Ma'am. BARBARA: I really meant what year is it?"
"MORTON: Wait, how many more of you are there in that thing? DOCTOR: Oh, just the four of us, young man. MORTON: Must be a kind of tight squeeze. They can't all have come out of there. IAN: Doctor? This is no place to meet the Daleks. A lot of innocent people could get hurt."
"MORTON: Hey, you goin' back in? BARBARA: Yes, that's right. MORTON: Oh now, come on, wait a minute. I just bet you folks are from Hollywood. You're making some kind of motion picture. Now that's it, ain't it? DOCTOR: No, it ain't! I mean, it isn't."