The Doctor reveals Altos’s mission and Eprin’s disappearance
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
As the city burns, Barbara and Ian are eager to leave, fearing the wrath of the freed citizens; however, the Doctor insists they wait for Susan, Altos, and Sabetha.
The Doctor reveals that Altos is Arbitan's courier and intends to accompany them. He also reveals that Arbitan has lost contact with his other courier, Eprin, who was investigating the fourth key, and shows off the Morpho's travel dials he grabbed, shifting the group's focus to the next phase of their mission.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Mission-driven but subtly anxious—his concern for Eprin's fate is tempered by his commitment to the task, though he suppresses personal emotions to focus on the group's objectives.
Altos stands beside Sabetha, his demeanor cooperative and mission-focused as he reveals his role as Arbitan's courier. He explains the plan to retrieve the Keys of Marinus with Eprin, his tone factual but tinged with concern for his missing partner. He offers to join the group, his posture open and his dialogue direct ('I wish to join you, too.'). His interaction with the Doctor is professional, though his underlying loyalty to Arbitan's cause is evident in his willingness to follow the Doctor's lead.
- • Retrieve the Keys of Marinus as part of Arbitan's mission
- • Support the Doctor's plan to locate Eprin and secure the fourth key
- • The group's success is tied to Arbitan's objectives and Eprin's safety
- • Cooperation with the Doctor is the most efficient path to completing the mission
Concerned and pragmatic—her focus on logistics (meeting times, safety) masks deeper anxiety about Susan's impulsive departure and the group's fractured state.
Barbara, now in her familiar jumper and slacks, stands near Ian, her expression a mix of concern and pragmatism. She suggests coordinating a meeting time with the Doctor, her voice steady but laced with worry ('I was wondering if we should fix a time to meet.'). When Susan disappears, her reaction is immediate and alarmed ('Susan! She should have waited for us.'), revealing her role as the group's emotional anchor. She engages with Altos and Sabetha but remains vigilant, her keen perceptions honed by prior experiences with deception.
- • Ensure the group remains coordinated and safe despite the split
- • Protect Susan from potential dangers, especially after her disappearance
- • The Doctor's plan is necessary but risky, requiring careful coordination
- • Susan's safety is paramount, and her impulsive actions need to be checked
Urgent and wary—his focus on escape is overshadowed by distrust of Altos and concern for the group's safety, though he suppresses these feelings to avoid conflict.
Ian stands with arms crossed, his posture rigid as he advocates for immediate departure. He questions the Doctor's plan to split the group, his skepticism palpable in his terse responses ('What? You mean go two jumps ahead and try and find the fourth key?'). Though he reluctantly agrees, his distrust of Altos lingers unspoken, evident in his silence and the way he avoids direct engagement with the courier. His farewell to the Doctor is brief but laced with unspoken concern.
- • Ensure the group's immediate safety by leaving Morphoton
- • Minimize reliance on Altos and his unknown motives
- • Altos cannot be fully trusted, despite the Doctor's confidence
- • The group's survival depends on unity and caution, not division
Frustrated and determined—her desire to stay with the Doctor overrides his orders, revealing a mix of loyalty and burgeoning independence. Her secret departure is a calculated risk, driven by emotion but executed with precision.
Susan stands near the Doctor, her body language tense with frustration as she pleads to accompany him. She listens intently to his explanation of the travel dials, then secretly adjusts hers to follow him—her first act of defiance. Her dialogue is insistent ('But I want to go with you!') but laced with youthful vulnerability ('Won't be for long though, will it?'). Her disappearance is abrupt, leaving Barbara to exclaim in concern, marking Susan's transition from obedient companion to independent actor.
- • Accompany the Doctor to Millenius despite his orders
- • Prove her capability and independence to the group
- • The Doctor needs her support, even if he doesn't admit it
- • She can handle the dangers of the mission as well as the others
Determined but subtly conflicted—his strategic urgency masks a flicker of concern for Susan's safety, though he suppresses it to maintain focus on the mission.
The Doctor stands at the center of the group's tension, his posture authoritative yet weary as he reveals Altos's mission and Eprin's disappearance. He methodically explains his plan to split the group, adjusting his travel dial with practiced precision while deflecting Susan's pleas to accompany him. His dialogue is measured, balancing strategic urgency with paternal concern, though his insistence on Susan staying behind hints at unspoken risks. The Doctor's focus remains on the mission, but his final instruction to 'follow her' reveals a flicker of vulnerability—acknowledging the danger of Susan's impulsive departure.
- • Secure the fourth Key of Marinus by locating Eprin in Millenius
- • Split the group to maximize efficiency and minimize risk, despite personal attachments
- • The mission's success depends on decisive action and division of labor
- • Susan's safety is best ensured by keeping her with the main group, despite her protests
Detached yet compliant—her emotions are suppressed by her mind-controlled state, but her actions reflect a willingness to follow the group's lead.
Sabetha stands silently beside Altos, her presence quiet but supportive. She expresses her willingness to continue the search for the Keys of Marinus with the group, her dialogue minimal but purposeful ('So am I. I wish you well, Doctor.'). Her demeanor is mechanical, reflecting her mind-controlled state, though her actions align with the group's goals. She bids farewell to the Doctor with a nod, her role in the scene serving as a bridge between the group and the Morphos' influence.
- • Assist in retrieving the Keys of Marinus as part of the group's mission
- • Support Altos and the Doctor's plan to locate Eprin
- • The group's objectives align with her programmed directives
- • Her role is to facilitate the mission without question
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Barbara's jumper and slacks serve as a visual anchor, symbolizing her return to her 'everyday self' after the ordeal in Morphoton. The comfortable, familiar clothing contrasts with the alien strangeness of the city, reinforcing her role as the group's pragmatic and grounded member. While the outfit itself is not functionally critical to the event, it underscores Barbara's resilience and her ability to adapt to chaos while maintaining her identity. The Doctor, Ian, Susan, and Altos see her in this attire during the tense discussions about the Keys and the group's plan, reinforcing her as a stable presence amid uncertainty.
The travel dials are central to the Doctor's plan, serving as both a tool for time travel and a symbol of the group's fractured mission. The Doctor reveals he has learned to adjust his dial from Altos, while Susan secretly adjusts hers to follow him—an act of defiance that hinges on her understanding of the device's operation. The dials represent the group's division: the Doctor's solo journey to Millenius, Susan's impulsive pursuit, and the others' delayed departure. Their functionality is critical, but their symbolic role as catalysts for the group's split is equally significant.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Morphoton Guest Quarters serve as the group's temporary refuge and the stage for their strategic split. The room, though comfortable with its urns of lush plants and sumptuous food, is now overshadowed by the chaos of Morphoton's burning outside. The contrast between the room's opulent illusion and the reality of the city's collapse creates a tense atmosphere, where the group's discussions about the Keys and their mission feel urgent and precarious. The location functions as a liminal space—neither fully safe nor entirely exposed—where the Doctor's plan is hatched and Susan's rebellion unfolds. The room's decaying grandeur mirrors the group's fractured state.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Morphos' influence looms over the event, though they are not physically present. Their control of Morphoton and its inhabitants is evident in the city's burning—a revenge fueled by the group's interference with the Morphos' illusions. The Morphos' absence is palpable, their power manifesting through the chaos outside and the mind-controlled state of Sabetha. The group's discussions about the Keys and their mission are indirectly shaped by the Morphos' threat, as the Doctor's urgency to split the group and locate Eprin is driven by the need to counter their influence. The Morphos' institutional impact is felt in the group's fractured state and the high stakes of their mission.
Arbitan's couriers (Altos and Eprin) are the active representation of his organization in this event, though Arbitan himself is absent. Altos reveals his role as a courier and outlines the plan to retrieve the Keys of Marinus, while Eprin's disappearance frames the mission as both a retrieval and a rescue operation. The Doctor's decision to split the group and adopt Eprin's plan is directly influenced by Arbitan's objectives, as the couriers' mission aligns with the group's goals. The organization's goals are pursued through Altos' cooperation and the Doctor's strategic adaptation, though the risks (e.g., Eprin's fate) highlight the challenges ahead.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Doctor stating that he will travel ahead (beat_70c9b34b52364907) leads to him departing, but Susan defies his wishes and secretly readjusts her dial to follow him (beat_46b2f1d0fcd1894c)."
Susan secretly defies the Doctor"Ian regaining his senses after the destruction of the Morphos (beat_70aba18bc3bf031c) influences his eagerness to leave the city as it burns (beat_013803f9097cd277)."
Barbara confronts Ian’s possession"Ian regaining his senses after the destruction of the Morphos (beat_70aba18bc3bf031c) influences his eagerness to leave the city as it burns (beat_013803f9097cd277)."
Barbara destroys the Morphos' control"Susan's desire to travel with The Doctor is consistent with her character (beat_70c9b34b52364907); she defies The Doctor's wish and secretly attempts to follow him (beat_46b2f1d0fcd1894c)."
Susan secretly defies the Doctor"Sabetha mentions Arbitan's name, who sent her to Morphoton (beat_6a0d1a211ba23017) foreshadowing Altos's revelation as Arbitan's courier (beat_12ff7594bfde683e)."
Barbara probes Sabetha’s fragmented memories"After the city burns and the group regroups, the narrative shifts focus from escaping Morphoton to continuing their quest, as the Doctor reveals Altos' identity and shifts the focus to the next key (beat_12ff7594bfde683e)."
Susan secretly defies the Doctor"The Doctor stating that he will travel ahead (beat_70c9b34b52364907) leads to him departing, but Susan defies his wishes and secretly readjusts her dial to follow him (beat_46b2f1d0fcd1894c)."
Susan secretly defies the Doctor"Susan's desire to travel with The Doctor is consistent with her character (beat_70c9b34b52364907); she defies The Doctor's wish and secretly attempts to follow him (beat_46b2f1d0fcd1894c)."
Susan secretly defies the Doctor"After the city burns and the group regroups, the narrative shifts focus from escaping Morphoton to continuing their quest, as the Doctor reveals Altos' identity and shifts the focus to the next key (beat_12ff7594bfde683e)."
Susan secretly defies the DoctorPart of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"DOCTOR: "I questioned him and there's no doubt about it. He's one of Arbitan's couriers.""
"ALTOS: "I was sent by Arbitan. I and a friend called Eprin. Our plan was as follows. He would go ahead in search of key four, and I would come here for the first.""
"DOCTOR: "I shall try and find out what's happened to your friend Eprin. If he's alive, make contact, then we can all meet again.""
"SUSAN: "But I want to go with you!""
"DOCTOR: "No. I think it better if you travel with the main party, child.""