The False Dawn: Davros’s Victory and the Thals’ Blind Optimism
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Councillor announces the end of the war and plans for a victory parade and prisoner release, signaling a transition to peace, while unaware of the doom Davros is about to unleash.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Guilt-ridden and determined, grappling with the moral weight of his failure to stop the Daleks and the loss of his companions. His emotional state is a mix of despair and resolve as he vows to continue his mission.
The Doctor, restrained in the Thal control room, reveals the horrifying truth to Bettan: Davros deliberately orchestrated the destruction of his own people to accelerate the Dalek project. He expresses guilt over the loss of his companions and vows to continue his mission to stop the Daleks. His emotional state is one of guilt, determination, and moral conflict as he grapples with the weight of his failure.
- • To reveal the truth about Davros's betrayal and the creation of the Daleks to Bettan.
- • To convince Bettan and the Thals of the impending threat posed by the Daleks.
- • Davros's creation of the Daleks will lead to the annihilation of both the Thals and the Kaleds.
- • It is his moral duty to stop the Daleks, despite the personal cost and the seeming inevitability of their rise.
Conflict and moral distress, torn between his loyalty to Davros and his deep-seated moral objections to the Daleks' creation. His emotional state is one of reluctant resignation as he prepares to carry out Davros's orders.
Gharman, in the Kaled bunker, objects to Davros's orders to introduce chromosomal mutations in the Daleks, arguing that it will create creatures without conscience, emotion, or pity. Despite his moral objections, he reluctantly leaves to carry out Davros's commands, torn between his loyalty to Davros and his moral convictions.
- • To convince Davros of the moral implications of stripping the Daleks of conscience and emotion.
- • To carry out Davros's orders, despite his moral objections, due to his loyalty and fear of repercussions.
- • The Daleks, as currently designed, will be monstrous and devoid of morality.
- • It is his duty to follow Davros's orders, despite his personal misgivings.
Ruthless and triumphant, reveling in the fulfillment of his vision and the impending doom of his enemies. His emotional state is one of cold, calculated satisfaction as he ensures the Daleks' creation and obedience.
Davros, in the Kaled bunker, finalizes the chromosomal mutations that will strip the Daleks of conscience, emotion, and pity. He orders Gharman to implement these mutations immediately, ensuring the Daleks' absolute obedience to his vision of conquest. His demeanor is ruthless and triumphant as he prepares to unleash the Daleks, marking the end of the Kaleds and the beginning of the Daleks' reign.
- • To finalize the chromosomal mutations that will strip the Daleks of conscience, emotion, and pity.
- • To ensure the Daleks' absolute obedience to his vision of conquest and the annihilation of his enemies.
- • The Daleks are the ultimate weapon and the key to his vision of universal supremacy.
- • The ends justify the means, and the annihilation of the Kaleds and Thals is necessary for the Daleks' creation and dominance.
Triumphant and relieved, yet tragically unaware of the impending catastrophe and Davros's betrayal.
The Councillor stands triumphantly in the Thal control room, declaring the end of the war with the Kaleds and ordering a victory parade and amnesty for prisoners. His demeanor is one of authority and relief, unaware of Davros's true intentions and the impending doom of his own people. He leaves the room with his entourage, symbolizing the Thals' premature celebration of victory.
- • To declare the end of the war and celebrate the Thals' victory over the Kaleds.
- • To issue a general amnesty for prisoners, demonstrating the Thals' generosity in victory.
- • The war with the Kaleds is truly over, and peace has been achieved.
- • Davros is a hero who helped the Thals achieve victory and is committed to peace.
Initially skeptical and defensive, but subtly unsettled by the Doctor's revelations about Davros's true nature and the impending threat of the Daleks.
Bettan approaches the Doctor in the Thal control room, initially skeptical of his claims about Davros and the Daleks. She questions the Doctor about his ties to the Kaled city and defends Davros as a hero, but her skepticism begins to waver as the Doctor reveals the truth about Davros's betrayal. She acknowledges the Doctor's freedom under the amnesty and departs, leaving the Doctor to grapple with his failure.
- • To defend Davros's reputation and challenge the Doctor's claims about the Daleks.
- • To understand the Doctor's connection to the Kaled city and his motivations.
- • Davros is a hero who seeks peace and helped the Thals achieve victory.
- • The Doctor's warnings about the Daleks are unfounded or exaggerated.
Loyal and obedient, fully committed to Davros's vision and the Dalek project. His emotional state is one of cold efficiency and readiness to act on Davros's command.
Nyder reports to Davros that the Daleks are in position and ready to act on his command. His demeanor is one of loyalty and obedience, reflecting his unwavering commitment to Davros's vision and the Dalek project. He stands ready to execute Davros's orders without question.
- • To report the Daleks' readiness to Davros and await his command.
- • To ensure the Daleks' deployment and obedience to Davros's vision of conquest.
- • The Daleks are the ultimate weapon and the key to Davros's vision of supremacy.
- • It is his duty to follow Davros's orders without question, regardless of the moral implications.
Curious and subtly open to the Doctor's perspective, standing apart from the collective jubilation of her people. Her emotional state is one of quiet observation and potential receptiveness.
A young Thal woman approaches the Doctor in the control room, showing curiosity about the outsider amid the Thals' optimistic plans for victory. Her brief interaction hints at a potential openness to the Doctor's warnings, contrasting with the collective jubilation of her people.
- • To understand the Doctor's connection to the Kaled city and his warnings about the Daleks.
- • To subtly challenge the Thals' collective celebration and premature sense of victory.
- • There may be more to the Doctor's warnings than the Thals are willing to acknowledge.
- • The Thals' celebration of victory may be premature and misguided.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Davros hands Gharman a piece of paper outlining the chromosomal variations to be introduced into the embryo Daleks. This document is pivotal in the creation of the Daleks, as it specifies the deletions of genes governing conscience, emotion, and pity. Its implementation ensures the Daleks' absolute obedience to Davros's vision of conquest, marking a critical step in their genesis as monstrous, emotionless weapons.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Kaled bunker is the antagonist stronghold where Davros directs the final stages of the Dalek project. Harsh lights beat down on experimental gear and desks holding key artifacts, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Gharman's moral objections to the chromosomal mutations are met with Davros's ruthless commands, setting the stage for the Daleks' creation. The bunker symbolizes the dark heart of Davros's vision and the moral decay that accompanies the Daleks' genesis.
The Thal control room serves as the central hub for the Thals' celebration of their apparent victory over the Kaleds. It is a sterile, high-tech environment filled with glowing consoles and wall monitors displaying the Kaled dome's collapse. The room is abuzz with the Thals' jubilation, creating a stark contrast to the Doctor's warnings and the moral weight of the Daleks' creation unfolding elsewhere. The atmosphere is one of triumph and relief, masking the impending doom.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Daleks, though not yet fully deployed, are represented by Davros's commands and the chromosomal mutations that will strip them of conscience, emotion, and pity. Their creation is a direct result of Davros's ruthless vision and the betrayal of the Kaleds. The Daleks' impending rise marks the end of the Kaled-Thal war and the beginning of a new era of genocidal threat, ensuring their dominance over Skaro and beyond.
The Thals, represented by the Councillor and his entourage, celebrate their apparent victory over the Kaleds in the control room. Their collective jubilation and premature sense of peace contrast sharply with the Doctor's warnings about the Daleks. The Thals' celebration is a manifestation of their institutional blind spots and moral failures, as they are unaware of Davros's true intentions and the impending doom of their people.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The Councillor's announcement drives the Doctor to reveal Davros's treachery to Bettan, attempting to shatter the illusion of peace."
"The Councillor's announcement drives the Doctor to reveal Davros's treachery to Bettan, attempting to shatter the illusion of peace."
"Davros's order to remove morality from the Daleks is followed by Nyder confirming the Daleks' readiness, leading to their deployment; building cause and effect progression."
"Davros's order to remove morality from the Daleks is followed by Nyder confirming the Daleks' readiness, leading to their deployment; building cause and effect progression."
"The Doctor's warning to Bettan about Davros's ruthlessness thematically parallels Davros's instruction to remove morality from the Daleks; both emphasize Davros's lack of conscience."
"While Davros declares the Daleks' rise, the Councillor celebrates a false peace, creating dramatic irony and highlighting the thematic contrast between Davros's destructive ambition and the Thals' naive hope."
"While Davros declares the Daleks' rise, the Councillor celebrates a false peace, creating dramatic irony and highlighting the thematic contrast between Davros's destructive ambition and the Thals' naive hope."
"The Doctor's warning to Bettan about Davros's ruthlessness thematically parallels Davros's instruction to remove morality from the Daleks; both emphasize Davros's lack of conscience."
"The Councillor's announcement drives the Doctor to reveal Davros's treachery to Bettan, attempting to shatter the illusion of peace."
"The Councillor's announcement drives the Doctor to reveal Davros's treachery to Bettan, attempting to shatter the illusion of peace."
"The Daleks' readiness leads directly to their attack on the celebrating Thals, shattering the illusion of peace."
"The Daleks' readiness leads directly to their attack on the celebrating Thals, shattering the illusion of peace."
"Davros's order to remove morality from the Daleks is followed by Nyder confirming the Daleks' readiness, leading to their deployment; building cause and effect progression."
"Davros's order to remove morality from the Daleks is followed by Nyder confirming the Daleks' readiness, leading to their deployment; building cause and effect progression."
"The Doctor's warning to Bettan about Davros's ruthlessness thematically parallels Davros's instruction to remove morality from the Daleks; both emphasize Davros's lack of conscience."
"The Doctor's warning to Bettan about Davros's ruthlessness thematically parallels Davros's instruction to remove morality from the Daleks; both emphasize Davros's lack of conscience."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"COUNCILLOR: *A thousand years of war, and now it’s ended. Listen, the people—they know already.* *(Cheers off.)* *Gentlemen, there’s a great deal to be done. I must speak to the people. There must be a victory parade. And as for him, he must be punished. No, let us now show that whilst we were ruthless in war, we are generous in victory. Let all prisoners be freed, charges against them dropped. Issue that statement at once.*"
"DOCTOR: *The Kaled government was on the point of stopping Davros’ experiments, and rather than let that happen, he helped you to destroy his own race.* BETTAN: *You’ll never convince my people of that. Davros is a hero.* DOCTOR: *Yes, for how long, I wonder.*"
"DAVROS: *Not defects, improvements.* GHARMAN: *It’ll mean creatures without conscience, no sense of right or wrong, no pity. They’ll be without feeling or emotion.* DAVROS: *Correct.*"