Susan abandons the TARDIS key
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The TARDIS dematerializes, leaving Susan behind, who is only wearing one shoe, to walk to where it had stood.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A complex blend of grief for what she is leaving behind and quiet hope for what she is choosing. There is a sense of liberation in her act, but also the ache of loss—her grandfather’s absence looms large, and her whispered words to David reveal the depth of her conflict.
Susan stands alone in the empty space where the TARDIS dematerialized, her posture tense yet resolute. She holds the TARDIS key in her palm, staring at it as if it were a relic of a life she is burying. Her bare foot—missing a shoe—grounds her physically in the present, a stark contrast to the infinite possibilities she is abandoning. When she drops the key, the action is deliberate, almost ritualistic, her fingers uncurling slowly as if releasing a burden. She then turns to David, her expression a mix of sorrow and determination, and takes his hand, signaling her commitment to their shared future.
- • To symbolically and physically sever her ties to her Time Lord past by discarding the TARDIS key.
- • To embrace her future with David, signaling her choice to live a human life on Earth.
- • That her grandfather understood and accepted her choice, even if it pained him.
- • That her love for David and her desire for stability outweigh the call of time travel and her grandfather’s world.
Deeply empathetic and quietly resolute. He carries a sense of solemnity, recognizing the magnitude of Susan’s sacrifice and the finality of her act. There is also a subtle undercurrent of hope—this moment is the foundation of their future together, and he is fully present to honor it.
David approaches Susan with a quiet, supportive presence, his body language open and reassuring. He does not speak, allowing the weight of the moment to unfold without interruption. His hand reaches for hers, not with urgency but with a steady, grounding certainty. His silence is eloquent—it speaks of his respect for her decision and his commitment to standing beside her, whatever the cost. The hand-in-hand walk away from the discarded key is a wordless vow, a promise of a life built on shared choices and mutual understanding.
- • To offer Susan unwavering support as she makes her irreversible choice.
- • To symbolically and physically affirm their shared future by walking away with her hand in hand.
- • That Susan’s choice to stay is as much about her love for him as it is about her desire for a stable, human life.
- • That their relationship is strong enough to weather the loss of her past and the uncertainties of their future.
A mix of resignation and quiet pride. Though he is not there to witness Susan’s choice, his understanding of her heart—his knowledge that she could never truly leave him—suggests a deep, almost bittersweet acceptance. There is also a sense of loss, but it is tempered by the recognition that her path, while different from his, is one she must walk.
The Doctor is not physically present in this moment, but his influence looms large. Susan’s dialogue—'He knew. He knew you could never leave him.'—reveals his prescient understanding of her conflict and his quiet acceptance of her choice. His absence is palpable; the empty space where the TARDIS stood is a void that echoes with his paternal authority and the unspoken bond between grandfather and granddaughter. Though gone, his presence is felt in Susan’s hesitation and the finality of her act.
- • To have Susan embrace a life that brings her happiness, even if it means letting her go.
- • To ensure that his departure does not leave her with regret, but with a sense of closure and purpose.
- • That Susan’s love for David and her desire for stability are valid and worthy of pursuit.
- • That his role as her grandfather is to guide her, not to constrain her, even if it means sacrificing his own desires.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The TARDIS key is the physical and symbolic centerpiece of this event. In Susan’s hand, it represents her last tangible connection to her Time Lord heritage and the infinite possibilities of time travel. When she drops it, the key becomes a discarded relic, its metallic clink against the concrete a stark auditory cue of her irreversible choice. The key’s abandonment is not just an act of letting go—it is a declaration. Its final resting place on the ground, glinting in the dim light, serves as a silent testament to the life she has chosen to leave behind and the one she is stepping into.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Riverside Bridge Underpass serves as a liminal space—a threshold between Susan’s past and her future. The cracked concrete, strewn with war debris, reflects the scars of the Dalek invasion and the broader chaos of the world she is choosing to inhabit. The riverside’s quiet atmosphere, with the lap of water and faint echoes of ruin, amplifies the emotional weight of the moment. This is a place of transition, where the old is left behind and the new is tentatively embraced. The empty space where the TARDIS stood is a void that Susan must fill with her choice, and the location’s neutral ground allows her to make that choice freely, without the distractions of her past.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Doctor states that her future lies with David in INT. TARDIS (beat_0f0d514bd0111648), which resolves when David finds Susan and she walks away with David in EXT. RIVERSIDE (beat_a8f8a5d73e933727)."
Doctor’s final blessing to Susan"The Doctor's final instructions to Susan foreshadows."
Doctor’s final blessing to SusanThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"DAVID: Susan? Susan? He knew. He knew you could never leave him."