The Monster in the Woods (short story)

The Monster in the Woods was the third short story in Tales of Terror, featuring the Third Doctor and Jo Grant

Summary
On Halloween, 1973, Ange Barnes is finishing up her little brother, Terry's David Bowie face paint, much to the chagrin of her youngest brother, Ian, who is dressed up as Frankenstein's monster. Ange herself is dressed as a vampire lady and has promised her mother that she would let them show off their costumes. As Mrs. Barnes prepares dinner for her husband, she tells her children not to bang on anyone else's doors.

Later, the children go down to the woods to meet their secret friend, a Dalek that they have called "Starman". Starman invites the kids into his den where he informs them that a signal has been sent. Terry introduces Ian to Starman, and Ian calls him the "Monster in the Woods". Ange assures Starman that it's just a story that her mother told them to try and keep them out of the woods. Starman tells the kids that soon there will no longer be a monster in the woods and instructs them to bring one more item to him to make sure that the message repeats. When Ange tells him that they can bring him the item after school, Starman holds Ian hostage until they bring him what he needs.

Characters

 * Third Doctor
 * Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
 * Jo Grant
 * Dalek
 * Ange Barnes
 * Terry Barnes
 * Ian Barnes
 * Mrs Barnes
 * Mr Barnes

Continuity

 * The Doctor suspects that the Dalek may have escaped from "all the mischief" the Daleks caused in the 22nd century. (TV: Day of the Daleks)
 * UNIT are using Doc Dantalion's manor house as their headquarters (TV: The Three Doctors, PROSE: Where the Heart Is).
 * The Dalek is able to self-destruct. (TV: Dalek)