TEXT: Broadcast: 23 May, 1964 Duration: 23 minutes 56 seconds [SCENE_BREAK] 1: EXT. ISLAND (The TARDIS dematerialises from the island and from Marinus itself.) [SCENE_BREAK] 2: INT. TOMB (The TARDIS rests in its next landing place - a dark tomb. A mummified corpse, dressed in elaborate robes and wearing an ornate mask lies on top of a flat stone slab. The body is surrounded by pieces of pottery and jewellery. The door of the ship opens and BARBARA is first out, followed by SUSAN. BARBARA sees the body and walks over to inspect it.) BARBARA: (Excited.) Look at that! SUSAN: I am. BARBARA: It's an Aztec mask. He must have been a priest. SUSAN: Well, the Aztecs were Mexicans. We must be on Earth again. (BARBARA picks up one of the necklaces to inspect it.) SUSAN: I wonder what year it is? BARBARA: Oh, he must have died around 1430, I should think. SUSAN: How'd you know that? BARBARA: All these things belong to the Aztecs' early period. SUSAN: That's what I call really knowing your subject. (BARBARA has put down the necklace and now tries on a bracelet in the shape of a coiled serpent.) BARBARA: Ah well, that was one of my specialties, Susan. (SUSAN picks up a sharp knife.) SUSAN: Well, what little I know about them doesn't impress me. Cutting up people's hearts. BARBARA: Oh, that's only one side to their nature. The other side was highly civilised. SUSAN: Well, the Spanish didn't think so. BARBARA: Oh, they only saw the acts of sacrifice. (She continues to look through the relics.) That was the tragedy of the Aztecs. Their whole civilisation was completely destroyed, the good as well as the evil. (SUSAN walks over to one of the walls which is covered in a mural.)
SUMMARY:
The arrival of the TARDIS in 15th century Mexico leads the crew to the doomed Aztec people, a mixture of high culture and brutal savagery. Matters are further complicated when Barbara is mistaken for a god and the Doctor becomes engaged to be married.