I’d decided to revisit some of darker, less traveled corners of Doctor Who as we near the 63rd anniversary of our favorite show. The first of these to spring to mind was season three’s The Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Eve.

This story provided a few firsts, with Paddy Russell being Who’s first female director, and William Hartnell assuming a duel role as the villainous Abbot of Amboise as well as the Doctor. All four episodes are missing, but the audio is very clear, with Peter Purves’ linking narration making it a very good, smooth listen. It was written by John Lucarotti and Donald Tosh.

At the original time of transmission, the ratings numbers slipped week to week on this one, despite critical praise of the story. And as usual, it wasn’t the fact that it was a pure historical, but more likely that the kids watching had no monsters to hide from. A story set in 1572 leading up to the Huguenot slaughter, well, watching a religious, political drama probably wasn’t their favorite. I’m thinking it might be far more appreciated today.

The Orders

The Massacre came directly after The Dalek Masterplan and before The Ark, and it was as unusual as it was gripping. First, this was one of those situations where the TARDIS lands the crew in another calm before the storm, history-wise. The Doctor and Steven have no idea of the date, they simply visit a tavern and have a pint in 16th century France, minding their own business. Until the Doctor realizes there’s a man in this day and age, another scientist he simply *must* visit. So, for once, instead of the companion wandering off, it’s the Doctor.

This of course turns into a thing, Steven ends up alone and in danger because of course the Doctor gets sidetracked and disappears from the story altogether.

When we see the aforementioned Abbot of Amboise, he’s the Doctor pretending to be him. Or is he? Steven thinks so, since the Doctor is missing and seemingly is there in place of the Abbot. Steven unfortunately can’t get a private word with the Abbot to talk to him, so he, and we, don’t really know what’s happening. 

The Huguenots, making plans and arrangements at the same local tavern talk with Steven, sound him out, but didn’t know whether they could trust him, especially when he tells them his friend might actually be the Abbot in disguise—or so he assumes. Meanwhile, at the Abbot’s apartments, young serving girl Anne Chaplet overhears sensitive rumblings about an assassination attempt. She abandons her duties, and runs straight to the same, (and obviously only?) tavern in town to evade perusing guards, and eventually befriends Steven. 

But then, the Abbot is *killed* by King Charles’ nefarious underlings! His body is dumped in the gutter, his death blamed on the Huguenots to stir the crowds into a frenzy. Seeing the apparent corpse of the Doctor in person, Steven’s beside himself, realizing that he’s now *truly* stranded in 1572 France. 

Lost In France

As traumatizing as this would have been for Steven, just imagine the kids watching at home! Eps 2 and 3 only had a few short scenes with Hartnell playing the Abbott, as Bill was on holiday, so the mystery was very thick in the air here. No one knew what was going on, especially with no sign of the Doctor midway after episode 1. Most of the story was Steven, and us, second guessing everything about who the Abbot actually is.

The fourth and final episode sees the Doctor return, to everyone’s relief. It’s only then the Doctor takes an interest in the date, and realizes the bloodbath that’s about to happen. He tells Anne to go home and stay indoors the following day, and then he and Steven bolt.

Only after taking off in the safety of the TARDIS, does Steven realize that he’s had enough. He declares that wherever the ship lands, he is OUT. They did just come off the devastating Dalek adventure, and now this. The Doctor even sent Anne home to likely die, in Steven’s mind. They land, open doors, and he storms off. 

And it’s a pivotal scene. The Doctor is all alone now. He has no regrets, as he knows he can’t mess with the timeline. But he also realizes that Steven can’t fully understand he situation, as he’s too close to it. The Doctor thinks back to those who’ve left him. Susan, Ian, Barbara, Vicki, and now Steven. It’s a melancholy, quiet moment in the console room.

Which is then disrupted by a young woman bounding into the ship thinking it’s an actual police box, as she wants to report an accident. The Doctor is about to show her the door when Steven comes running back in alerting him that two policemen are headed their way, also thinking it’s a real police box, because it’s actually 1966 London out there.

A New Phase

The Doctor instinctively takes off with his companions, now including Dorothea (Dodo) Chaplet, who’s most likely descended from Anne, and she doesn’t seem phased in the slightest that the room they’re in is traveling through time and space. 

Interesting side note: even though the Doctor and especially Steven interact with many people who drive events during the course of the story, their actions don’t seem to have any effect on historical events, except possibly saving Anne’s life by telling her to go home and stay inside. There’s even an assassination attempt Steven tries to warn people about, but to no avail. All happens as it was supposed to happen.

The Massacre is, in my opinion, a story that, if it’s ever found again, will be a real treat, not too far off from when The Enemy of the World was returned to us. I think it’s a story that will be appreciated much more now than it was then. In the meantime, the audio is indeed clear and sharp, awaiting the pleasure of your minds’ eye.