Paul Barrass's Requested Wine

A beverage prop used exclusively in the dialogue-driven exchange between Barbara (disguised as a server) and Paul Barrass, serving as a pretext for probing his knowledge of an incoming guest. Remains unserved but is central to the tension and undercover reconnaissance in the scene.

1 appearances

Purpose

Pretext for covert interrogation

Significance

Enables Barbara to test Barrass's awareness of the Doctor's companions and conspiracy without breaking cover, heightening stakes as British agents intersect with TARDIS plans in revolutionary Paris.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

1 moments

S1E42 · Prisoners of Conciergerie

Barbara Probes Barrass Undercover

The wine requested by Paul Barrass serves as a critical prop in this scene, functioning as both a pretext for Barbara’s interaction with him and a symbol of the deceptive nature of their exchange. While the wine itself is never actually served, its mention creates the illusion of a mundane transaction, allowing Barbara to probe Barrass under the guise of taking his order. The object’s unserved status underscores the tension and ambiguity of the moment, as the real purpose of the interaction remains hidden beneath the surface.

Before: Available for service in The Sinking Ship, likely stored in a cellar or behind the bar, ready to be poured for patrons.

After: Unserved and forgotten, as the focus of the interaction shifts from the wine to the intelligence Barbara seeks to gather.

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