Doctor Who (TV Series)

The Brink of Disaster (1964)

Carole Ann Ford: Susan Foreman

Quotes 

• Barbara Wright : Oh, Doctor, don't you see? Something terrible is happening to all of us.

  Dr. Who : Not to me. Nothing's happened to me. This is a plot between the two of you, to get control of my ship.

  Barbara Wright : Oh, that isn't true.

  Dr. Who : Can't you see I've found you out? Why won't you admit it, hmm?

  Susan Foreman : Yes. Why don't you?

  Barbara Wright : Susan!

  Susan Foreman : You've been behaving very strangely. Both of you.

  Barbara Wright : But...

  Susan Foreman : I think you're right, Grandfather.

  Barbara Wright : But you're wrong. I swear, we haven't done anything.

  Dr. Who : I told you I'd treat you as enemies.

  [looks at Susan] 

  Susan Foreman : No!

  Dr. Who : There's no other way.

  Barbara Wright : Well, what are you going to do?

  Dr. Who : That is my business.

• Susan Foreman : Grandfather, they couldn't have done all the things that happened.

  Dr. Who : Oh, yes, I admit they were very smart.

  Susan Foreman : No, it's not a question of being smart.

  Dr. Who : Don't you see I wouldn't allow them to hurt you, child? They're very resourceful and cunning. And it only leaves me one recourse. They must be put off the ship.

  Susan Foreman : No, you can't do that!

  Dr. Who : I can and I must.

  Barbara Wright : But you can't open the doors.

  Dr. Who : Don't underestimate my powers, young lady.

  Susan Foreman : Look, Grandfather, you've no means of telling what's out there. There may be no air, it may be freezing, it may be too hot to exist.

  Dr. Who : Yes, or it might be the Earth in the twentieth century. Hadn't it occured to you? My ship is very valuable, remember?

  Barbara Wright : Why are you so suspicious of us?

  Dr. Who : Put yourself in my place, young lady, and you'd do precisely the same thing, wouldn't you? Hmm?

• Susan Foreman : The column!

  Dr. Who : But... It's impossible!

  Ian Chesterton : Doctor... I thought it only moved when the power was on.

  Dr. Who : Yes. The heart of the machine is under the column.

  Ian Chesterton : Well, what made it move?

  Dr. Who : The source of power. You see, when the column rises, it proves the extent of the power thrust.

  Barbara Wright : Then, what would have happened if the column had come out completely?

  Susan Foreman : [Quavering]  Well, the power would be... free to escape.

  Dr. Who : Can it be possible then... that this is the end.

  Ian Chesterton : The end? What are you talking about?

  Dr. Who : We have ten minutes to survive.

  Barbara Wright : Ten minutes? As little as that?

  Dr. Who : Maybe less.

• Dr. Who : [finding the Fast Return Switch]  Yes, I see. Here it is. Here, you see? Now, look. There's the switch. You see?

  Ian Chesterton : Yes, well, how does it work?

  Dr. Who : Well, you merely press it down, and... It's stuck. It hasn't released itself. What?

  Ian Chesterton : You mean, it's been on all this time?

  Dr. Who : Yes, it must have been.

  Ian Chesterton : Well, come on, Doctor. Let's get it unstuck.

  Dr. Who : Hold that. Yes, just a minute now.

  [releases the switch] 

  Dr. Who : Yes. There you are. You see?

  Ian Chesterton : What's wrong?

  Dr. Who : The spring's not connecting. It's come off the base.

  Ian Chesterton : Hurry, Doctor, hurry!

  Dr. Who : There we are. Take it out. Now... luckily we can turn it over, and now it should work. There. Ah, that's right!

  [the low humming noise of the TARDIS begins, and increases in pitch] 

  Susan Foreman : [relieved]  We're safe now.

• Susan Foreman : Grandfather?

  Dr. Who : Yes, my child?

  Susan Foreman : What happened?

  Dr. Who : What happened? It was the switch, it was still in place. You see, there's a little spring inside it and it was stuck. It hadn't released itself.

  Susan Foreman : But why didn't the fault locator tell us?

  Dr. Who : Well, the switch hadn't broken down, therefore, the fault locator couldn't give us any recognition. You see, let me give you a demonstration. Now, look, when I put my thumb on there

  [put his thumb on a torch switch] 

  Dr. Who : the light comes on. And it only stays on, so long as my thumb is pressing that switch. As soon as I take it off, a little spring inside releases the switch here and out goes the light.

  Susan Foreman : Oh, I see. So, if the spring were broken, it would be as if your finger were pressing it down all the time.

  Dr. Who : Precisely. As simple as that.

  [Susan sighs] 

  Dr. Who : You know, my dear child, I think your old grandfather is going a tiny little bit round the bend.

  [they both laugh] 

• Susan Foreman : Grandfather? Look. Look at this huge footprint. It must have been made by a giant.