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Doctor Who story number 6
The Aztecs is another story written by John Lucarotti, who this time draws on his fascination with the Aztec culture (He used to live in Mexico). He uses two charcters, Autloc, High Priest of Knowledge, and Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice, to illustrate different aspects of the society, turning out another excellent story.
Writer
John Lucarotti
Episodes
This story has 4 episodes with individual titles:
- The Temple of Evil
- The Warriors of Death
- The Bride of Sacrifice
- The Day of Darkness
Plot Overview
The TARDIS materialises in inside the tomb of Yetaxa, a former high priestess of the Aztec people (Sometime around 1450). The tomb locks itself as they leave, cutting them off from the TARDIS once again. Babara is hailed as the reincarnation of Yetaxa, as she is wearing the high priests bracelet from the tomb.
Barbara wants to use her new position to end the practise of human sacrifice, putting her at odds with Tlotoxl, who keeps a strong power base in the city, and The Doctor, who dissaproves of meddling in hostory. Ian in the meantime is at odds with Ixta, the head warrior, and Susan refuses marriage to the Perfect Victim, winding up in jail for two episodes.
As events move to a head, the Doctor courts the eldery lady Cameca, trying to learn of another way into the tomb. He then carves a pulley to use to open the other, counterweighted, door. Autloc approves of the end of human sacrifice, and Tlotoxl has him killed so he can continue the practise.
The Day of Darkness occurs, and the sun is swallowed to await the sacrifice that will return it. The travellers flee the soliders of Tlotoxl, and as they work to open the door at the summit of the ziggurat Ian fights Ixta, who falls to his death. As they flee the Doctor makes sure to take the pulley, which the Aztecs never invented, and snatches up the brooch belonging to Cameca. The story ends with Tlotoxl sacrificing the perfect victim as the travellers leave.
Main Cast
Cast
Keith Pyott - Autloc
John Ringham - Tlotoxl
Ian Cullen- Ixta
Mergot van der Burgh - Cameca
Tom Booth - Victim
David Anderson - Captain
Walter Randall - Tonila
Andre Boulay - Perfect Victim
Notes
- Susan spends two episodes in jail mainly because Carol Ann Ford was due for two weeks off during the filming
- The costumes are reasonably accurate, even for the BBC of the 60's, though one writer says they would be too hot for Mexico and another claim is that they were correct and NOT made more covering than they should be for decencys sake. They still look good though
I made some cocoa and got engaged... - The Doctor