Fabula
S10E20 · Planet of the Daleks Part 6

Doctor’s team flees plummeting Daleks to lifts

Cornered by Dalek pursuit through Spiridon’s sterile corridors, the Doctor and his allies make a final desperate sprint for safety. The Daleks open fire, searing shots striking Codal’s already-burnt casing and blasting the walls to smoldering ruin. With no time to lose, the group piles into the lifts just as the Daleks unleash a devastating volley that slams shut a second too late. The Doctor’s quick thinking and Rebec’s prompt action seal their narrow escape, but the close call underscores the brutal efficiency of the Dalek hunt and the fragility of survival in their crosshairs. key_dialogue: [ DOCTOR: Out, quick! DOCTOR: Come on, in you get. Come on, Taron, quick. ]

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

The Doctor and his companions are spotted by Daleks and make a hasty retreat, with the Daleks firing and hitting the casing, causing smoke.

urgency to relief ['corridor', 'T junction']

The Doctor and his companions reach the lifts, with the Doctor urging Rebec and Taron to enter quickly.

relief to determination ['corridor']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

6

Urgency masking underlying intensity, focused on securing escape

The Doctor moves urgently, barking orders to his companions while sprinting through the corridor. He reaches the lifts first and immediately shepherds the others inside, his voice firm and commanding.

Goals in this moment
  • Ensure the group reaches the lifts before the Daleks corner them
  • Direct the squad to safety with efficient, rapid commands
Active beliefs
  • Speed and decisiveness are the only ways to survive Dalek pursuit
  • Trusting the group’s ability to follow instructions is essential under fire
Character traits
decision-making under pressure quick thinking assertive leadership concise communication
Follow The Fourth …'s journey
Supporting 5

Stressed and physically taxed, but driven by survival instinct

Codal sprints with the Doctor but is hit by Dalek fire, which strikes his damaged casing and causes it to smoke. He runs despite the damage, clutching the broken fragments as he reaches the lifts and barely escapes inside.

Goals in this moment
  • Keep pace with the group to avoid being left behind or caught
  • Preserve the damaged casing’s integrity long enough to reach the lift
Active beliefs
  • Losing the casing means losing their only advantage over the Daleks
  • Staying with the group is safer than acting alone
Character traits
physical endurance despite equipment failure persistence through adversity moments of vulnerability
Follow Codal's journey

Relief tempered by the lingering shock of the attack

Rebec runs alongside the group as they flee, arriving at the lifts without pausing. She shares a brief, grim exchange with the Doctor upon entering, emphasizing their near-miss with death.

Goals in this moment
  • Reach the lifts safely alongside the Doctor’s group
  • Avoid being caught by Dalek fire and ensure no one is left behind
Active beliefs
  • The Daleks will not hesitate to kill them if given the chance
  • The lifts represent their only immediate chance for survival
Character traits
resilience under pressure prompt action grim awareness of danger
Follow Rebec of …'s journey
Taron Vex
secondary

Tense concentration masking underlying apprehension

Taron runs closely alongside the Doctor and Codal, reacting instinctively to the Doctor’s commands. He enters the lift quickly but deliberately, doing his part to secure the group’s escape.

Goals in this moment
  • Follow the Doctor’s lead to reach safety as quickly as possible
  • Ensure no one falters while navigating the danger
Active beliefs
  • The Doctor’s instructions are the best chance of survival
  • Lagging behind means giving the Daleks an opening
Character traits
pragmatic leadership under duress instinctive obedience to critical commands physical urgency
Follow Taron Vex's journey

Detached aggression, strictly adhering to operational protocol

The Dalek Tactical Liaison (Designation 3) supports Dalek 2 in the pursuit, firing on the group and contributing to the corridor’s devastation. It does not enter the lift but ensures continuous pressure on the escaping targets.

Goals in this moment
  • Maintain pursuit and reduce the group’s lead
  • Coordinate with superior units to maximize extermination efficiency
Active beliefs
  • Every volley brings victory closer according to Dalek protocols
  • The group must not be allowed to regroup or escape
Character traits
procedural aggression coordinated pursuit relentless operational pace
Follow Dalek Tactical …'s journey

Aggression rooted in procedural compliance, no personal emotion

Dalek 2 detects the Doctor’s group at a T-junction and opens fire, striking Codal’s casing and scorching the corridor walls with energy blasts. It does not pursue into the lifts but maintains aggressive pursuit behavior.

Goals in this moment
  • Eliminate or capture the Doctor and his companions
  • Maintain pursuit and apply pressure to force the group into a kill zone
Active beliefs
  • All intruders must be exterminated as per Dalek doctrine
  • Continuous aggressive action will lead to mission success
Character traits
aggressive tactical response precision targeting cold procedural execution relentless pursuit
Follow Spiridon Tactical …'s journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Salvaged Dalek Weapon Fragments

Codal’s damaged casings, salvaged from a Dalek weapon, are struck by Dalek fire while he runs. The blasts scorch the casings further, but they remain in Codal’s possession as he stumbles into the lift, symbolic of both their loss and fragile resistance against the Daleks.

Before: Clutched by Codal’s side as he ran, still …
After: Smoldering and heavily damaged, barely functional, still clutched …
Before: Clutched by Codal’s side as he ran, still emitting intermittent flickers of power despite prior damage
After: Smoldering and heavily damaged, barely functional, still clutched by Codal inside the lift
The Sterile Corridor Lifts

The lifts serve as the group’s only viable escape route in the sterile corridor network. The Doctor commands the group to pile inside, utilizing the lifts’ sealed environment to deny the Daleks immediate access and finalize their escape from the firing corridor.

Before: Unoccupied and stationary near the T-junction where the …
After: Sealed and ascending, carrying the group to relative …
Before: Unoccupied and stationary near the T-junction where the Daleks first spotted the group
After: Sealed and ascending, carrying the group to relative safety above the Dalek-controlled corridors

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Spiridon Jungle Facility Holding Corridor

The corridor funnels the group toward the lifts under relentless assault. Dalek energy fire scours the walls, the air thick with ozone and scorched metal. Alcoves and angles force single-file movement, amplifying the tension as the Daleks corral the Doctor’s team into a kill zone before escape is achieved.

Atmosphere Intensely tense and claustrophobic with palpable danger, panic, and a sense of being herded
Function Congested choke point designed to trap and eliminate intruders through containment and sustained fire
Symbolism Represents the oppressive reach of Dalek control and the fragility of survival under their dominance
Access Guarded and sealed by Dalek forces, with sections collapsing under weapon fire
Blackened scorch marks covering the walls from Dalek energy discharges Flickering emergency lighting casting uneven shadows over wet, rough stone

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Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning