Benton Challenges Hawthorne’s Authority
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Benton voices his concern over the Doctor, Captain, and Miss Grant's absence, while Miss Hawthorne suggests they wait.
Benton announces his intent to search for them in the cavern, but Hawthorne insists on going herself and prevents him from leaving.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Authoritative and confident, embodying the Master’s influence over the villagers. His actions are calculated to assert control and disrupt UNIT’s plans.
Bert leads the Morris Dancers in a tattered coat, approaching the Cloven Hoof Bar. His arrival is tied to the Master’s manipulation of the villagers and the May Day revels, which Benton perceives as ominous. The music and the dancers’ rhythmic advance interrupt the argument inside the bar, signaling the start of the village’s ritualistic activities—activities that Benton dismisses as 'round the twist.' Bert’s presence is a visual and auditory cue of the Master’s growing influence.
- • To enforce the Master’s will through the May Day revels
- • To distract or intimidate UNIT (Benton and Hawthorne) with the villagers’ ritualistic behavior
- • The villagers are under his (and the Master’s) complete control
- • Tradition can be weaponized to serve the Master’s purposes
Frustrated and impatient, bordering on defiant. His emotional state is a mix of concern for his missing teammates and skepticism toward the villagers’ behavior, which he sees as irrational.
Sergeant Benton expresses growing unease over Yates and Jo Grant’s prolonged absence and the Doctor’s disappearance. He insists on leaving the Cloven Hoof Bar to search for them, defying Miss Hawthorne’s authority. His frustration with the villagers’ behavior—calling it 'round the twist'—underscores the cultural divide between UNIT’s urgency and the village’s supernatural threat. His observation of the Doctor outside shifts the dynamic entirely, turning the argument into a moment of narrative urgency.
- • To locate Yates and Jo Grant and ensure their safety
- • To assert his authority and defy Hawthorne’s orders, driven by urgency
- • The villagers are not to be trusted (their behavior is 'round the twist')
- • Time is critical, and waiting is no longer an option
Not directly observable (off-screen), but her absence implies she is in potential danger, given the Master’s influence over the village.
Jo Grant is referenced as missing or overdue in returning to the Cloven Hoof Bar, contributing to Benton’s growing urgency. Her absence is a key factor in the tension between Benton and Hawthorne, as Benton insists on leaving to search for her and Yates.
- • To be found and brought to safety (implied by Benton’s urgency)
- • To aid the Doctor in countering the Master’s plans (inferred from her role in the story)
- • The villagers are not to be trusted (implied by her disappearance)
- • The Master’s influence is spreading (inferred from the context)
Defensively composed, masking unease beneath her insistence on tradition. Her authority is challenged, but she remains steadfast in her role as the village’s protector.
Miss Olive Hawthorne asserts her local authority by commanding Benton to stay and wait, defending the villagers’ May Day traditions as normal and expected. She reacts to the music outside, signaling the arrival of the Morris Dancers, and engages in a power struggle with Benton over who should search for Yates, Jo Grant, and the Doctor. Her composed demeanor masks her deep-rooted belief in the village’s customs, even as the supernatural threat looms.
- • To maintain order and tradition in the village (even amid chaos)
- • To prevent Benton from acting rashly and potentially escalating tensions
- • The villagers’ behavior is explainable through tradition, not supernatural influence (despite growing evidence to the contrary)
- • Her role as the village’s white witch requires her to mediate between outsiders (UNIT) and locals
Not directly observable (off-screen), but his reappearance implies a state of heightened tension or peril, given the context of the Master’s manipulation.
The Doctor is referenced as missing or absent earlier in the scene, but his sudden appearance outside the Cloven Hoof Bar—spotted by Benton—marks a critical narrative shift. His reappearance signals the escalation of the Master’s influence and the urgency of the situation, interrupting the power struggle between Benton and Hawthorne.
- • To disrupt the Master’s plans (implied by his sudden reappearance)
- • To serve as a catalyst for action (his presence shifts the dynamic from argument to urgency)
- • The villagers are under the Master’s control (implied by the need to intervene)
- • Time is of the essence (his disappearance and reappearance underscore the urgency)
Not directly observable (off-screen), but his absence implies he is likely in danger, given the Master’s control over the village.
Captain Mike Yates is referenced as missing or overdue in returning to the Cloven Hoof Bar, adding to Benton’s frustration and sense of urgency. His absence is a driving force behind Benton’s insistence on leaving to search for him and Jo Grant, creating a direct conflict with Hawthorne’s authority.
- • To be located and rescued (implied by Benton’s urgency)
- • To support the Doctor in stopping the Master (inferred from his role in the story)
- • The villagers are under the Master’s spell (implied by his disappearance)
- • The situation is dire and requires immediate action (inferred from Benton’s reaction)
Fearful and compliant, acting under the Master’s influence. Their emotional state is a mix of tradition-driven enthusiasm and underlying unease, as they retreat indoors at Bert’s lead.
The Devil’s End villagers engage in May Day traditions, such as Morris Dancing and ribbon-taking at the Maypole, led by Bert. They react to his leadership by closing windows and retreating indoors, suggesting fear or compliance. Their behavior is framed as irrational by Benton but defended as traditional by Hawthorne. The villagers’ actions serve as a visual and auditory cue of the Master’s growing influence, interrupting the argument inside the Cloven Hoof Bar and signaling the start of the ritualistic activities.
- • To participate in the May Day revels (as directed by Bert and the Master)
- • To avoid drawing attention to themselves (retreating indoors)
- • The rituals are normal and expected (as Hawthorne defends)
- • They are under the Master’s control (implied by their compliance)
Protective and wary, acting on instinct to shield her child from the unknown. Her emotional state is one of cautious fear, driven by the arrival of the Morris Dancers.
A housewife takes her little girl indoors as the Morris Dancers approach, indicating a sense of danger or unease. Her protective instincts are heightened by the arrival of the dancers, and she acts swiftly to shield her child from potential harm. This moment highlights the villagers’ fear and the tension between tradition and the supernatural threat.
- • To keep her daughter safe from the villagers’ ritualistic behavior
- • To avoid drawing attention to herself or her child
- • The Morris Dancers pose a threat (implied by her actions)
- • Tradition can be dangerous in this context
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Bert’s tattered coat hangs loosely on his frame as he leads the Morris Dancers past the Cloven Hoof Bar. The coat’s frayed, dirt-streaked condition marks his possession by the Master, serving as a visual symbol of his corruption and the Master’s influence over the villagers. Benton, Hawthorne, Yates, Jo Grant, and the Doctor spot the procession outside, and the coat’s appearance amplifies the tension and unease in the scene. It is a stark reminder of the Master’s control and the villagers’ compliance.
The Morris Dancers’ Maypole ribbons are detached from the pole as the dancers stream into view outside the Cloven Hoof Bar. The fluttering ribbons, combined with the rhythmic advance of the dancers, create a visually striking and ominous interruption to Benton’s standoff with Hawthorne. The ribbons symbolize the villagers’ participation in the May Day revels, which Benton perceives as a sign of their irrational behavior ('round the twist'). Their involvement in the ritual underscores the Master’s growing control over the village.
The Morris Dancers’ sticks are gripped by the dancers as they approach the Cloven Hoof Bar, led by Bert. The sticks, traditionally part of Morris Dancing, take on a more ominous tone in this context, as Benton eyes them warily. Their rhythmic clashing amplifies the cultural friction between UNIT’s urgency and the village’s ritualistic behavior. The sticks serve as both a symbol of tradition and a potential weapon, reflecting the duality of the villagers’ actions—participating in a festival while under the Master’s influence.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Cloven Hoof Bar serves as the tense meeting point for Benton and Hawthorne, where their power struggle unfolds. The wooden counters and tables host their raised voices, creating a nerve center for UNIT’s response to the supernatural crisis. The bar’s warm glow and clinking glasses contrast with the growing tension, turning this village gathering spot into a battleground of clashing authorities. The arrival of the Morris Dancers outside interrupts their argument, shifting the dynamic and signaling the escalation of the Master’s influence.
Villagers’ Homes in Devil’s End serve as temporary safe havens as the Morris Dancers approach. A housewife takes her little girl indoors, and windows darken as the procession passes. These clustered cottages along the lanes become hasty shelters, where villagers huddle amid fear or the Master’s compelled obedience. The homes contrast with the ritualistic activities outside, highlighting the tension between tradition and the supernatural threat. Benton and Hawthorne observe from the Cloven Hoof Bar, noting the villagers’ retreat as a sign of their unease.
The Village Green is the ritual ground where the Morris Dancers gather, led by Bert in his tattered coat. Villagers retreat to their homes as the dancers approach, and the green becomes the stage for the May Day revels. The Maypole stands prominently, and the dancers’ rhythmic advance with fluttering ribbons and clashing sticks creates a visually striking and ominous display. Benton watches from the Cloven Hoof Bar, his frustration mounting as the villagers’ behavior signals their compliance with the Master’s influence. The green transitions from a peaceful village space to a battleground of cultural and supernatural conflict.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Master’s Cult is represented in this event through Bert’s leadership of the Morris Dancers and the villagers’ participation in the May Day revels. The cult’s influence is subtly exerted through tradition, as the dancers’ rhythmic advance and the taking of ribbons from the Maypole serve as a front for the Master’s control. Benton’s skepticism of the villagers’ behavior (‘round the twist’) contrasts with Hawthorne’s defense of tradition, exposing the cult’s manipulation of local customs. The arrival of the dancers interrupts the argument inside the Cloven Hoof Bar, shifting the dynamic and signaling the escalation of the Master’s influence.
UNIT is represented in this event through Sergeant Benton, who acts as the voice of urgency and military discipline. His insistence on leaving to search for Yates and Jo Grant reflects UNIT’s mission to protect its members and counter the Master’s threat. The organization’s urgency contrasts with Hawthorne’s defense of tradition, creating a power struggle that highlights the cultural divide between UNIT’s objectives and the village’s customs. Benton’s defiance of Hawthorne’s authority underscores UNIT’s operational independence and its focus on the supernatural threat.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
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Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"BENTON: That's it then."
"HAWTHORNE: More waiting, Sergeant."
"BENTON: Yes, well, the Captain and Miss Grant should have been back ages ago, and the Doctor seems to have disappeared completely. Look, I'm going to go and have a nose around out there."
"HAWTHORNE: You stay where you are. I'll go and look for them."
"BENTON: I'm sorry, ma'am. Would you please do as you're told."
"HAWTHORNE: Anyone in sight?"
"BENTON: No, just a few villagers. Could you tell the Doctor I've gone to the cavern."
"HAWTHORNE: (Music starts up outside.) Wait. Listen."
"BENTON: (A Maypole is on the village green, and Morris Dancers with sticks lead by Bert in a 'tattered' coat are approaching. A housewife takes her little girl indoors and others close their windows. Villagers go to the pole and take the ribbons.) Well, what do they think they're doing?"
"HAWTHORNE: Charming."
"BENTON: Yeah, they're round the twist, if you ask me."
"HAWTHORNE: But it's May day. We always have the Morris Dancers on May day. It's traditional."
"BENTON: Hey, look, there's the Doctor!"