Susan triggers the pyramid’s trap
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Ian and Barbara observe the pyramid's construction, marveling at its precision. The Doctor interrupts their archaeological appreciation, urging them to focus on finding Susan.
The Doctor directs Ian and Barbara to search for Susan by splitting up and reconvening at the pyramid's far corner. As Susan leans against a wall, it opens, causing her to fall inside with a scream.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Initially engaged and fascinated, but rapidly shifting to concerned and determined. Her emotional state is marked by a strong sense of urgency and protective instinct, with a growing realization that the group is facing an unseen and immediate threat.
Barbara engages in an archaeological discussion with Ian, admiring the pyramid’s construction and drawing parallels to Earth’s ancient civilizations. Her focus shifts abruptly when she hears Susan’s scream, and she reacts with certainty that it is Susan in distress. She urges Ian to act, demonstrating her empathetic and decisive nature. Her observation of the Doctor’s unexplained absence adds to the group’s growing sense of unease and the realization that the pyramid is far more dangerous than it initially appeared.
- • Confirm Susan’s safety and locate her quickly
- • Understand the pyramid’s dangers to prevent further harm
- • Susan’s scream is a clear indication of danger and requires immediate action
- • The pyramid’s traps are designed to ensnare intruders, and caution is essential
Initially fascinated and engaged, but rapidly shifting to concerned and urgent. His emotional state is a mix of analytical focus and protective instinct, with a growing sense of unease as the situation escalates beyond his control.
Ian is initially captivated by the pyramid’s architectural precision, engaging in a scholarly discussion with Barbara about its construction. His practical nature surfaces as he suggests a methodical search for Susan, proposing they 'make a circuit of this place.' However, his focus shifts abruptly when he hears Susan’s scream. He reacts with urgency, confirming the source of the sound and rushing toward it, only to arrive too late. His analytical mind grapples with the Doctor’s unexplained absence, hinting at his growing unease about the situation’s unpredictability.
- • Locate Susan safely and efficiently
- • Understand the pyramid’s structure and potential dangers
- • The pyramid’s construction holds clues to its purpose and dangers
- • Susan’s scream indicates immediate peril, requiring swift action
Startled and frightened as she falls into the unknown, her scream reflecting her sudden realization of danger. Her emotional state is one of panic and disorientation, with a underlying sense of helplessness as she is pulled into the pyramid’s trap.
Susan, unseen by the others, leans against the pyramid’s wall, accidentally triggering a hidden pressure mechanism. The slab beneath her feet swings open, and she vanishes into the pyramid’s dark interior with a terrified scream. Her disappearance is sudden and unexplained, leaving the group in a state of shock and urgency. Susan’s action, though unintentional, sets off a chain of events that disrupts the group’s cohesion and introduces a new, immediate threat.
- • Avoid danger and stay with the group
- • Explore the pyramid’s mysteries (though unintentionally triggering the trap)
- • The pyramid’s walls are solid and safe to lean against
- • The group will find her quickly if she encounters trouble
Urgent and focused, driven by the need to locate Susan quickly. His emotional state is one of protective instinct and impatience, with a underlying tension that the situation may be more dangerous than initially perceived.
The Doctor interrupts Ian and Barbara’s academic discussion to refocus the group on finding Susan, demonstrating his impatience and prioritization of the mission. Unseen by the others, he rushes toward Susan’s scream, only to be pulled into the pyramid’s trap himself. His disappearance leaves Ian and Barbara stranded outside, with no explanation for his absence. The Doctor’s actions reflect his protective instincts and urgency, but his impulsiveness contributes to the group’s sudden fragmentation.
- • Find Susan before she encounters danger
- • Ensure the group remains united and safe
- • Susan’s scream indicates she is in immediate danger and needs assistance
- • The pyramid’s mechanisms are unpredictable and potentially lethal
Unseen and unheard, his emotional state is not explicitly depicted, but his actions reflect ruthless efficiency and a lack of concern for the intruders’ safety.
The Would-Be Assassin is briefly referenced as falling into the pyramid through a hidden mechanism in the wall just before Susan rounds the corner. His presence hints at the Voord’s surveillance and hostility, though his role in this specific event is peripheral. His disappearance underscores the pyramid’s lethal mechanisms and the Voord’s reliance on automated traps to repel intruders.
- • Monitor and eliminate intruders on Voord territory
- • Ensure the pyramid’s traps function as intended
- • Intruders pose a threat to Voord interests and must be neutralized
- • The pyramid’s mechanisms are effective tools for repelling outsiders
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The pyramid’s stone blocks are the subject of Ian and Barbara’s initial archaeological discussion, highlighting their precision and the absence of mortar. Their flawless construction serves as a distraction, momentarily shifting the group’s focus from the mission to academic curiosity. While the blocks themselves do not directly cause the trap’s activation, their discussion sets the stage for the group’s split-up and the subsequent events. The blocks symbolize the pyramid’s ancient, advanced engineering and the Voord’s (or its builders’) sophisticated understanding of structural integrity.
The pyramid wall slab trap is a seamless, pressure-activated mechanism disguised as part of the pyramid’s exterior. Susan’s leaning against it triggers the slab to swing open beneath her feet, causing her to vanish into the pyramid’s interior with a scream. Moments later, the Doctor is also pulled into the trap by the same mechanism, demonstrating its lethal efficiency. The slab’s sudden activation underscores the pyramid’s hidden dangers and the Voord’s reliance on automated defenses to repel intruders. Its role in this event is pivotal, as it disrupts the group’s cohesion and introduces an immediate, unexplained threat.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The pyramid’s interior is a dark, unknown void into which Susan and the Doctor vanish after triggering the wall slab trap. This location represents the immediate, unexplained threat that disrupts the group’s cohesion and introduces a new layer of danger to their mission. The interior’s hidden mechanisms and unknown dangers force Ian and Barbara to confront the reality that their companions are trapped within a lethal, unfamiliar environment. The location’s role is symbolic, representing the consequences of curiosity and the high stakes of the TARDIS crew’s quest.
The exterior of the pyramid serves as the primary setting for this event, where Ian, Barbara, and the Doctor initially stand before the towering structure. This location is the starting point for the group’s exploration and the site where Susan and the Doctor vanish into the pyramid’s hidden depths. The exterior’s seamless stone walls and precise construction create a deceptive sense of safety, lulling the group into a false sense of security before the trap is sprung. The location’s role is pivotal, as it sets the stage for the sudden shift from academic curiosity to personal crisis.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Voord’s influence is subtly but critically present in this event through the pyramid’s traps and the Would-Be Assassin’s brief appearance. The Voord’s reliance on automated defenses—such as the pressure-activated slab—underscores their hostile control over the island and their determination to repel intruders. The traps serve as a manifestation of the Voord’s power, ensuring that anyone who ventures too close to the pyramid is swiftly neutralized. While the Voord themselves are not physically present, their presence is felt through the pyramid’s mechanisms and the Would-Be Assassin’s actions, which hint at their surveillance and hostility.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Susan enters the pyramid, screaming, followed by the Doctor. They both disappear, leaving Ian and Barbara to react and raise concern."
Doctor and Susan vanish into pyramid"Susan enters the pyramid, screaming, followed by the Doctor. They both disappear, leaving Ian and Barbara to react and raise concern."
Doctor and Susan vanish into pyramid"Ian and Barbara express concern regarding the Doctor's and Susan's disappearance; in next scene, Susan reports what happened to her after disappearing. This moves the plot along as it begins to reveal what is actually happening inside the pyramid."
Susan’s attack and Barbara’s fear of capture"Ian and Barbara express concern regarding the Doctor's and Susan's disappearance; in next scene, Susan reports what happened to her after disappearing. This moves the plot along as it begins to reveal what is actually happening inside the pyramid."
Ian rescues Arbitan from Voord attackThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"IAN: Oh, it's enormous!"
"DOCTOR: Yes, now before you two get carried away, I think we'd better go and find Susan, hmm?"
"BARBARA: Did you hear that?"
"IAN: Yes, it was Susan. Come on!"