Story 3: "The Edge of Destruction" Quiz

Answer: A bright flash knocks everyone unconscious.

In a scene that is also seen in the last episode of Serial 2, The Doctor and his companions have left Skaro and are ostensibly attempting to return to England at the correct time. While making adjustments at the TARDIS console, an explosion occurs that knocks everyone out. From this point on, everyone starts acting strangely, and the mystery begins.

The Doctor's companions were played by Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman), William Russell (Ian Chesterton), and Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright).

Answer: Barbara Wright

Barbara is the first of the four time travellers to awaken after they are all rendered unconscious. Looking dazed and confused, she shuffles past the prone figure of The Doctor over to where Ian is sprawled in a chair. She attempts to awaken him, but he doesn't respond.

The next to awaken is Susan, who experiences excruciating pain in her head and neck while seeming to barely recognize Barbara.

Answer: The Doctor

The Doctor is cut on the head when he falls. When Susan first sees him lying on the ground with blood on his head she nearly falls into hysterics. When Ian and Barbara examine him for further injury, he stirs and speaks, showing that his injury is not too severe.

Answer: The TARDIS doors open and close by themselves.

Susan is adamant that it is impossible for the doors to the TARDIS to open by themselves, yet it happens again as Ian approaches them. When Susan tries to approach the console to try and address the problem, she suddenly spasms in pain and then falls unconscious.

Answer: Scissors

Susan experiences what can only be described as a psychotic episode. She slashes the scissors towards Ian before stabbing the bed (where she had been placed after fainting) repeatedly and then fainting again. After awakening again, she threatens Barbara with the scissors as well, although this time she gives up the scissors to her without incident.

Answer: True

The irrational paranoia that seems to be affecting everyone on the ship takes hold of The Doctor, and he accuses the two of sabotage. Barbara responds by vehemently reminding The Doctor that they saved his life on two occasions already - in the cave of skulls (in Serial 1: "An Unearthly Child") and on Skaro (in Serial 2: "The Daleks"). I love her words, "Accuse us! You ought to go down on your hands and knees and thank us! Gratitude is the last thing you will ever have, or any sort of common sense, either!" After the argument, Ian demands that The Doctor apologize, but he doesn't. Rather, it is Susan that tells them 'sorry' on behalf of The Doctor.

Answer: Ian

Ian attacks The Doctor, attempting to strangle him, but in the process he ventures too close to the control consol. Just like Susan earlier, touching the console knocks Ian out. With this action, The Doctor feels justified in his earlier accusation.

Answer: Put them off the ship

Even though the lines have been drawn between Ian and Barbara against The Doctor and his granddaughter Susan, Susan still argues against The Doctor's threat, claiming that it would be certain death. Before The Doctor can carry out his threat, though, the TARDIS chimes a warning, leading them all to understand that it is actually the TARDIS that is warning them of impending danger (its defense mechanism).

Answer: The 'fast return' switch

Ian questions The Doctor about the sequence of events leading up to the explosion. The Doctor explains that when they were leaving Skaro (at the end of Serial 2: "The Daleks"), he knew that they must return to the past to return to England, so he flicked the 'fast return' switch. Upon examining the console they find that it is stuck.

They had been hurtling to the beginning of time, and the TARDIS had been trying to warn them of the problem. It had been the only part of the console that was safe to touch.

Answer: Yes

In the first three serials, The Doctor is presented as being very opinionated, and very sure of himself and his obviously superior knowledge and understanding of things that Ian and Barbara cannot possibly conceive of. It is therefore a huge concession for The Doctor to apologize to Barbara and to concede that she had rightly figured out the problem before he had.

Reconciled, the four travellers exit the TARDIS into a snowy location, leading into Serial 4 as Susan discovers a giant footprint in the snow.