Fabula
Object
Object

Dortmun's Belongings (Including Bomb Formula Notebook)

Dortmun's personal belongings—tools, bomb formula notebook (packed with bomb formulas and detailed scientific notes on dalekenium-based explosives), and other equipment essential for bomb research and survival—packed before departing for the Civic Transport Museum. These items underscore his commitment to weapon development despite physical limits and group fractures. Key components include: - Bomb formula notebook: Contains research on dalekenium-based explosives to pierce Dalek armor, later entrusted to Barbara Wright for delivery to the Doctor. - Tools and equipment: General items for bomb development, reflecting his solitary resolve amid the resistance's retreat. The belongings are gathered amid heated debates over the failed raid, symbolizing Dortmun's defiance and the group's diverging strategies. The notebook is positioned on a mug in the hideout, emphasizing its importance as his 'final instruction' to the Doctor.
5 appearances

Purpose

Support bomb research and ensure survival during high-risk missions

Significance

Embody Dortmun's resolve to press the resistance's offensive against Daleks, even as unity crumbles after the saucer raid failure; they anchor his departure, heightening stakes for Barbara's choice to join the museum run

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

5 moments
S2E6 · Day of Reckoning
Tyler abandons the resistance after raid failure

Dortmun’s belongings—tools, notes, and equipment essential for his bomb research—are packed in preparation for the move to the Civic Transport Museum. Their gathering symbolizes his commitment to his work despite the group’s fracture and the physical limitations imposed by his wheelchair. The belongings represent the resistance’s last scientific hope, even as the group’s unity collapses around him.

Before: Scattered around the underground HQ, with Dortmun preparing to gather them for the move.
After: Packed and ready for transport, with Dortmun determined to continue his research at the museum.
View full event
S2E6 · Day of Reckoning
Barbara chooses the mission over Susan

Dortmun’s belongings—tools, notes, and equipment essential for his bomb research—are packed with determination as he prepares to leave for the Civic Transport Museum. These objects symbolize his intellectual defiance and the resistance’s last technological hope. Their mention in the dialogue underscores Dortmun’s commitment to his work, even as the group fractures around him. The belongings represent the resistance’s refusal to accept defeat, as Dortmun clings to the belief that his bomb is the answer. Their packing serves as a metaphor for the group’s desperate grasp at survival, as they prepare to embark on a perilous journey.

Before: Scattered around the Underground HQ, the belongings are a tangible reminder of Dortmun’s research and the resistance’s scientific defiance. They are in a state of disarray, reflecting the group’s chaos.
After: The belongings are gathered and packed, symbolizing Dortmun’s resolve to continue his work. Their condition is now organized and ready for transport, representing the group’s shift toward a new, high-risk strategy.
View full event
S2E6 · Day of Reckoning
Dortmun’s final gambit and retreat debate

Dortmun’s notebook, containing his scientific research on the anti-Dalek bomb and dalekenium, is left behind on a mug in the museum. Barbara discovers it after his departure, realizing it holds the key to his work. The notebook becomes a symbolic and practical link to his legacy, representing the resistance’s remaining knowledge and the Doctor’s potential to build on it. Its presence underscores the transfer of knowledge and the fragility of their intellectual resources.

Before: Placed on a mug in the museum, containing detailed formulas and notes on the bomb’s construction. It is Dortmun’s final instruction to Barbara.
After: Clutched by Barbara as she and Jenny flee. The notebook survives, becoming a tangible connection to Dortmun’s work and a potential resource for the Doctor.
View full event
S2E6 · Day of Reckoning
Dortmun’s final gambit and Barbara’s forced departure

Dortmun’s scientific notes are a critical object in this event, representing the culmination of his research and the resistance’s collective knowledge. He entrusts them to Barbara, ensuring that his work is not lost even if he does not survive. The notes contain detailed formulas and observations about dalekenium and potential anti-Dalek weapons, making them a valuable resource for the Doctor and the remaining resistance. Their transfer to Barbara symbolizes the passing of knowledge and the continuity of the fight, even in the face of defeat.

Before: Placed on a mug in the museum hideout, where Dortmun leaves them for Barbara to find. They are the product of his obsessive research and the resistance’s efforts to develop a weapon against the Daleks.
After: Barbara retrieves the notes after realizing Dortmun’s fate, ensuring they are preserved. Their transfer to her sets up a future plot point where the Doctor can use Dortmun’s research to develop a more effective strategy against the Daleks.
View full event
S2E6 · Day of Reckoning
Dortmun’s Final Stand and the Bomb’s Failure

Dortmun’s scientific notes are left behind on a mug in the museum hideout as a final instruction for the Doctor. These notes contain his research on dalekenium-based explosives and resistance tactics, representing his legacy and the potential for future scientific solutions. Barbara discovers the notes after Dortmun’s departure, realizing their significance and the urgency of delivering them to the Doctor. The notes serve as a bridge between Dortmun’s sacrifice and the Doctor’s potential role in the resistance’s survival.

Before: Placed on a mug in the museum hideout, neatly organized and ready for transfer. The notes are Dortmun’s most valuable possession, containing his life’s work on countering the Daleks.
After: Discovered by Barbara after Dortmun’s death, now in her possession. The notes are intact and ready to be delivered to the Doctor, symbolizing Dortmun’s final contribution to the resistance.
View full event