The TARDIS arrives in England, 1925, near to where a mysterious, gurgling man has escaped his bonds and started strangling servants. The Doctor is "expected" and taken (along with Tegan, Nyssa, and Adric) to the Cranleighs' country estate where The Doctor participates in a cricket match and Nyssa turns out to be the near spitting image of Ann, fiancée of Charles Cranleigh. They all stay for an afternoon costume ball. Tegan teaches others how to do the Charleston while Adric eats, but The Doctor finds himself searching through secret passageways in his bathrobe after the gurgling man steals his clothing and party costume to attend the ball and deal with one of the guests.