Master reveals Thunderbolt missile hijack plan
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Master reveals his plan to hijack Thunderbolt, a gas missile, under the guise that the British government is planning to dump it at sea and aim it at the peace conference in London.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Frustrated and desperate initially, shifting to cautious intrigue as the Master’s plan unfolds, culminating in reluctant but determined agreement.
Mailer enters the office with a mix of frustration and urgency, demanding an escape plan as the prison situation grows untenable. His skepticism is palpable as the Master dismisses the idea of fleeing, but his demeanor shifts from defiant to intrigued as the Master unveils the Thunderbolt missile hijacking scheme. Mailer’s body language—leaning in to examine the slides, questioning the feasibility—reveals his internal conflict between caution and the allure of the Master’s promises. His final agreement, though hesitant, signals his commitment to the plan, driven by the prospect of freedom and riches.
- • Secure an immediate escape from the prison to avoid capture or death.
- • Evaluate the Master’s hijacking plan for feasibility and personal gain, ultimately committing to it as a means to freedom.
- • The Master’s initial plan of roaming the countryside is suicidal given the overwhelming response from police and military.
- • The Thunderbolt missile hijacking, though audacious, offers a realistic path to freedom, wealth, and escape—if executed correctly.
Feigned exhaustion masking intense focus; calculated confidence bordering on arrogance as he senses Mailer’s desperation and exploits it.
The Master, physically drained and mopping sweat from his brow, pivots from a defensive posture to a calculated offensive strategy. He sets up a slide projector in the dimly lit prison governor’s office, turning the space into a tactical war room. His voice shifts from weary reassurance to sharp, persuasive rhetoric as he unveils the Thunderbolt missile hijacking plan, using the projector’s beam to emphasize the missile’s route and the ambush site. His body language—leaning forward, advancing slides with deliberate precision—contrasts with his earlier exhaustion, revealing his ability to manipulate both individuals and systems under pressure.
- • Convince Mailer to abandon the prison escape plan and commit to hijacking the Thunderbolt missile.
- • Redirect the Doctor’s attention from the prison to a global threat, ensuring his interference is divided and less effective.
- • Mailer’s desperation makes him vulnerable to grand promises of freedom and wealth.
- • The Thunderbolt missile’s illegality and proximity to the prison create a unique opportunity to escalate his plan from localized chaos to global terrorism.
Not directly observable, but implied to be a mix of conditioned obedience and latent curiosity, with the potential for unrest if not tightly controlled.
The Master references the Stangmoor Inmates (Master-Controlled) as a collective force under Mailer’s command, emphasizing their role in executing the hijacking plan. While not physically present in the office, their presence is implied as the Master addresses Mailer’s concerns about their potential morbid curiosity regarding the Keller Machine. Their involvement is framed as essential to the success of the ambush, with the Master’s promises of pardons and wealth extending to them as well. Their collective obedience and discipline are critical to the plan’s execution.
- • Execute the ambush on the Thunderbolt missile convoy as ordered by Mailer and the Master.
- • Avoid succumbing to morbid curiosity about the Keller Machine, which could disrupt their conditioning.
- • Their obedience to Mailer and the Master is absolute, reinforced by the promise of freedom and rewards.
- • The Keller Machine’s influence is a latent threat that must be suppressed to maintain focus on the hijacking.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Experimental Thunderbolt Nerve Gas Missile is the focal point of the Master’s hijacking plan, serving as both the object of the heist and the weapon of mass destruction intended for the London peace conference. Though not physically present in the prison governor’s office, its existence and specifications are central to the Master’s presentation. The missile’s nuclear-powered capabilities, illegal status under international law, and the British government’s plan to dump it at sea are all highlighted as key selling points for the hijacking. The Master frames the missile as a tool for achieving global chaos, redirecting its payload to strike a symbolic target and force the Doctor’s hand. Its role in the event is purely conceptual but deeply influential, driving the entire conversation and plan.
The Keller Machine is referenced indirectly by the Master as a potential distraction for the inmates, highlighting its psychological influence over those exposed to it. Though not physically present in the prison governor’s office, its presence looms as a hazardous artifact that could disrupt the Master’s carefully laid plans. The Master’s warning to Mailer about 'morbid curiosity' underscores the machine’s ability to destabilize even the most disciplined individuals, making its containment a priority. The machine’s parasitic nature and detached entity are implied to be a lingering threat, capable of independent action if not properly managed.
The Master’s map slides are the visual backbone of his presentation to Mailer, detailing the Thunderbolt missile’s route, the prison’s location, and the planned ambush site. Each slide is advanced with deliberate precision, revealing critical information in a structured manner that reinforces the Master’s authority and the plan’s viability. The slides’ content—maps, missile specifications, and the proximity of the convoy to the prison—serves to demystify the hijacking, making it seem like a calculated, high-stakes but achievable operation. The slides’ role is to persuade Mailer by providing tangible evidence of the plan’s logic and feasibility, turning skepticism into commitment.
The Master’s slide projector is the central tool used to visualize and sell the Thunderbolt missile hijacking plan to Mailer. By setting up the projector and dimming the lights, the Master transforms the prison governor’s office into a tactical briefing room, using the beam to cast detailed maps and missile specifications onto the screen. The projector’s mechanical whir and the advance of each slide create a rhythmic, almost hypnotic effect, reinforcing the Master’s persuasive rhetoric. The object serves as both a visual aid and a psychological weapon, making the abstract concept of hijacking a nuclear-powered missile feel tangible and achievable.
The projection screen in the prison governor’s office serves as the canvas for the Master’s slide presentation, displaying the Thunderbolt missile’s route, the ambush site, and other critical details. The screen’s blank surface is illuminated by the projector’s beam, creating a focal point for Mailer’s attention as the Master advances each slide. The visuals—maps, missile specs, and the prison’s location—are crucial in convincing Mailer of the plan’s feasibility, turning abstract ideas into a concrete strategy. The screen’s role is both functional and symbolic, representing the Master’s ability to manipulate information and perception to achieve his goals.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The prison governor’s office serves as the strategic command center for the Master’s hijacking plan, its stone walls and dim lighting creating an atmosphere of secrecy and urgency. The Master repurposes the space, setting up a slide projector and screen to present the Thunderbolt missile hijacking scheme to Mailer. The office’s administrative authority is subverted, becoming a den of villainy where grand schemes are hatched. The dimly lit room, with its projector beam cutting through the darkness, symbolizes the Master’s ability to manipulate information and perception, turning a mundane bureaucratic space into a hub for global terror. The office’s isolation from the chaos of the prison riots allows the Master to focus on the bigger picture, unencumbered by immediate threats.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The World Peace Conference is the ultimate target of the Master’s hijacking plan, serving as the symbolic and strategic focal point for his act of global terrorism. Though not physically present in the prison governor’s office, the conference’s existence and significance are central to the Master’s rhetoric, as he frames the hijacking as a means to strike a devastating blow to international diplomacy. The conference represents the fragile hope for global stability, making it an ideal target for the Master’s desire to sow chaos and divert the Doctor’s attention. The organization’s vulnerability is highlighted by its reliance on UNIT’s security, which the Master seeks to exploit by repurposing the Thunderbolt missile’s payload.
The Armed Convicts (Mailer’s Group) are represented in this event as the collective force that will execute the Thunderbolt missile hijacking plan. Though not physically present in the prison governor’s office, their role is central to the Master’s strategy, as their obedience and discipline are essential for the ambush’s success. The Master’s promises of pardons, unlimited money, and freedom extend to the convicts, framing them as both tools and beneficiaries of the plan. Their involvement is implied through Mailer’s authority as their leader, with the Master’s rhetoric targeting Mailer’s ability to command their loyalty. The convicts’ collective action will determine whether the hijacking succeeds or fails, making them a critical organizational force in the Master’s scheme.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Master's trouble controlling the alien entity and his subsequent abandonment informs his decision to move onto the Thunderbolt plan. This shift in focus is due to the increasingly difficult position the Master finds himself in the prison."
Master’s Control Over the Parasite Collapses"The Master decides to hijack the Thunderbolt missile, leading him to promise Mailer and the convicts freedom and riches in exchange for their participation in the heist."
Master secures Mailer’s allegiance for missile heist"The Master decides to hijack the Thunderbolt missile, leading him to promise Mailer and the convicts freedom and riches in exchange for their participation in the heist."
Doctor and Jo escape prison courtyardPart of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"MAILER: All right, fixed that. Here, you all right? MASTER: Yes, yes, of course, of course. MAILER: You don't look any too good to me."
"MAILER: Yeah, all right. So, you've got a better idea? MASTER: I think so, yes. How would you like a free pardon, unlimited money and a ticket to anywhere in the world?"
"MASTER: I'm going to aim that at the peace conference in London. MAILER: You've got to be joking. MASTER: I am not joking. You look at this map. Now, here's the prison, and this is where you will ambush the convoy."