I Felt I was Within My Power to Do It

Dubious Legality of the Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln :

Go Make Peace; 

Thunder forth, God of War. 

We'll commence our assault on Wilmington from the sea. 

Why is this burnt? Was the boy playing with it? 

It got took by a breeze several nights back. 

This is an official War Department map. 

And the entire Cabinet's waiting to hear what it portends. 

A bombardment. From the largest fleet the Navy has ever assembled. 

Lincoln :

Old Neptune, shake thy hoary locks. 

Fifty-eight ships are under way, 

of every tonnage and firing range. 

We'll keep up a steady barrage. 

Our first target is Fort Fisher. 

It defends Wilmington Port. 

A steady barrage? 

A hundred shells a minute. 

Till they surrender. 

Dear God. Wilmington's their 

last open seaport, therefore... 

Wilmington falls, 

Richmond falls after. 

And The War is done. 

Hear, hear. 

Then why, if I might ask are we not concentrating 

The Nation's attention on Wilmington? 

Why, instead, are we reading in The Herald 

that the anti-slavery amendment is being precipitated 

onto the House floor for debate? 

Because your eagerness, in what seems an unwarranted intrusion of the executive into legislative prerogatives, 

is compelling it to what's... 

To what's likely to be its premature demise. 

Hear, hear. 

You signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 

You've done all that could be done. 

The Emancipation Proclamation's 

merely A War Measure. 

After The War, The Courts... 

When Edward Bates was Attorney General, 

he felt confident enough to let you sign it. 

Different lawyers, different opinions. 

It frees slaves as a military exigent. Not... 

Lincoln :

I don't recall Edward Bates being any too certain a

bout the legality of my proclamation. 

Just it wasn't downright criminal. 

Somewhere in between. 

Back when I rode the legal circuit in Illinois, 

I defended a woman from Metamora named Melissa Goings. 

Seventy-seven years old. 

They said she'd murdered her husband. He was 83. 

He was choking her and she grabbed a hold 

of a stick of firewood and fractured his skull and he died. 

In His Will, he wrote, I expect she has killed me. 

If I get over it, I will have revenge. 

No one was keen to see her convicted, 

he was that kind of husband. 

I asked the prosecuting attorney if I might have 

a short conference with my client. 

She and I went into a room in the courthouse, 

but I alone emerged. The window in the room 

was found to be wide open. 

It was believed the old lady may have climbed out of it. 

I told the bailiff, right before I left her in the room 

she asked me where she could get a good drink of water, 

and I told her, 'Tennessee.' 

Mrs Goings was seen no more in Metamora. 

Enough Justice had been done. 

They even forgave the bondsman her bail. 

I'm afraid I don't see... 

Lincoln :

I decided that The Constitution gives me War Powers 

but no one knows just exactly what those powers are. 

Some say They Don't Exist. 

I Don't Know. 

I decided I needed them to exist to uphold 

My Oath to Protect The Constitution. 

Which I decided meant I could take 

The Rebels' slaves from them 

as Property confiscated in War. 

That might recommend to suspicion 

that I agree with The Rebs 

that their slaves are property 

in the first place. Of course, 

I don't. Never have. 

I'm glad to see any Man free, 

and if calling A Man 

'property' or 'war contraband' 

Does The Trick, why I caught 

at The Opportunity. 

Now here's where it gets truly slippery : 

I use The Law allowing for the seizure 

of property in a war

 knowing it applies only to 

the property of governments 

and citizens of belligerent nations. 

Well, The South ain't a nation. 

That's why I can't negotiate with Them. 

So if, in fact, the Negroes are property, 

according to The Law, have I the right 

to take the Rebels' property from them, if 

I insist they're rebels only and not citizens 

of a belligerent country? 

And slipperier still, I maintain it ain't 

our actual Southern states in rebellion 

but only The Rebels living in those states, 

The Laws of which states remain in force. 

The Laws of which states remain in force. 

That means that since it's States' Laws that determine 

whether Negroes can be sold as slaves, as property, 

The federal government doesn't have a say in that --

At least not yet. Then Negroes in those states are slaves, 

hence property, hence my war powers allow me 

to confiscate them as such, 

so I confiscate them. 

But if I'm a respecter of States' Laws, 

How then can I legally free them 

with my Proclamation as I done? 

Unless I'm cancelling States' Laws? 

I felt The War demanded it.

My Oath demanded it. 

I felt right with myself, and 

I hoped it was legal to do it. 

I'm hoping still. 

Two years ago, I proclaimed these people emancipated.

 Then, thenceforward and forever free. 

Now, let's say The Courts decide 

I had no authority to do it. 

They might well decide that. 

Say there's no amendment abolishing slavery, 

say it's after The War and I can no longer 

use My War Powers to just 

ignore The Courts' decisions 

like I sometimes felt I had to do -- 

Might those people I freed 

be ordered back into slavery? 

That's why I'd like to get 

The 13th Amendment through 

The House, on its way to 

ratification by the states. 

Wrap the whole slavery thing up, forever and aye, 

as soon as I'm able. Now. End of this month. 

And I'd like you to stand behind me 

like My Cabinet's most always done. 

As The Preacher said, I could write shorter sermons, 

but once I start, I get too lazy to stop. 

"It seems to me, sir, you're describing precisely the sort of 

dictator the Democrats have been howling about."

"Dictators aren't susceptible to law."

"Neither is he. He just said as much. 

Ignoring the courts? Twisting meanings? 

What reins him in from... From... "

Lincoln :

Well, The People do that, I suppose. 

I signed The Emancipation Proclamation, what, 

a year and a half before my second election? 

I felt I was within My Power to Do It, however, 

I also felt that I might be wrong about that. 

I knew The People would tell me. 

I gave them a year and a half to think about it, 

and They re-elected me. 

And come February the first, 

I intend to sign the 13th Amendment. 

Well, Mr Representative Ashley. 

Tell us the news from the Hill. 

Ah, well, the news... 

Why, for instance, is this thus, and what is 

the reason for this thusness? 

James, we want you to bring the anti-slavery amendment 

to the floor for debate, immediately. 

Excuse me, what? 

You are the amendment's manager, are you not? 

I am, of course, but... 

Lincoln :

Then we're counting on robust radical support so 

tell Mr Stevens we expect him to put his back into it.

It's not going to be easy, but... 

It's impossible. No. I am sorry, no. 

We can't organise anything immediately in the House. 

I have been canvassing the Democrats since the election, 

in case any of them have softened after they got walloped, 

but they have stiffened, if anything, Mr Secretary. 

There aren't nearly enough votes. 

Lincoln :

We're whalers, Mr Ashley. 

Whalers? 

As in... Whales? 

Lincoln :

We've been chasing this whale for a long time. 

And we finally placed a harpoon in the monster's back. 

It's in, James. It's in. We finish the deed now. We can't wait. 

Or with one flop of his tail, he'll smash the boat 

and send us all to eternity. 

On the 31 St of this month, of this year, 

put The Amendment up for a vote. 

Whalers? 

That's what he said. 

The man's never been near a whale ship in his life. 

Withdraw radical support. 

Force him to abandon this scheme, whatever he's up to. 

He drags his feet about everything, Lincoln... 

Why this urgency? 

We got it through The Senate without difficulty 

because we had the numbers. Come December, 

you'll have the same in the House. 

The amendment will be the easy work of 10 minutes. 

He's using the threat of The Amendment 

to frighten The Rebels into an immediate surrender. 

I imagine we'd rejoice to see that. 

Will you rejoice when The Southern States  have 

rejoined The Union pell-mell, as Lincoln intends them to,

 and one by one, each refuses to ratify the amendment? 

If we pass it, which we won't. 

Why are we cooperating with him? 

We all know What He's Doing and 

We all know What He'll Do. 

We can't offer up abolition's best legal prayer 

to his games and tricks. 

He said he'd welcome the South back 

with all its slaves in chains. 

Rep. Thaddeus Stevens :

Three years ago he said that, to calm the border states. 

I don't. You said 'We all know what he'll do.' 

I don't know. 

You know he isn't to be trusted. 

Rep. Thaddeus Stevens :

Trust? Oh. I'm sorry, I was under the misapprehension 

that your chosen profession was Politics. 

I never trusted The President, 

never trusted anyone, 

but hasn't he surprised you? 

No, Mr Stevens, he hasn't. 

Rep. Thaddeus Stevens :

Nothing surprises you, Asa, therefore 

nothing about you is surprising -- 

Perhaps that is why your constituents 

did not re-elect you to the coming term. 

It's late. I'm old. I'm going home. 

Lincoln, The Inveterate Dawdler. 

Lincoln, The Southerner. 

Lincoln, The Capitulating Compromiser, Our Adversary, 

and Leader of the godforsaken Republican party. Our party.

Abraham Lincoln has asked us to work with him to

 accomplish The Death of Slavery in America -- 

Retain, even in opposition

Your Capacity for Astonishment. 

Lincoln reviewed by Mark Kermode

No -- What I Said Was, 

for Me, with My Baggage,

that's what I found a way into.

Lincoln reviewed by Mark Kermode

"There is something Monumental about it, but 'monumental' in the sense of a statue, or in the sense of The Lincoln Memorial."

For Me, the key to what makes the film accessible is Tommy Lee Jones, the Thaddeus [Stevens] character, because  --

-- and I think it is important to understand this, people always talk about the biographical stuff that anyone brings to a film, and, in order for a film to work, you do have to find something with which you personally engage --

-- and of course, for Me, the thing with which I personally engage is The Story about the guy who's a hardline, belligerent radical, who discovers during the course of the drama, during the course of the historical story, that in order to get something done, he has to compromise in a way that will cause the people with whom he is surrounded to tell him that he is selling-out.

I think Tommy Lee Jones' performance is the centre of the film -- for Me, that's the character that you are interested in.

Now, clearly, I understand, as someone who has an interest in -- as you know, I have a ludicrous, student politic background, you know.... like everybody else....

No -- that's NOT like everybody else.

No, what I mean, is -- like any 50-Year Old old-leftie, I went through a period where it was like "No!, THESE are The Ideals, and This is...."-- so obviously, as you grow up, you realise that there is such as thing as Compromise --

I am Abraham Lincoln

“Where Men are forbidden to honour A King

they honour millionaires, athletes, or film-stars instead :

even famous prostitutes or gangsters. 

 

For Spiritual Nature, like Bodily Nature, will be served;

Deny it Food and it will Gobble Poison.”

 

— C.S. Lewis, 

Present Concerns

 

 

LINCOLN 

[on viewscreen] : 

Captain Kirk, I believe. 

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir. 

 

KIRK: 

Uhura 

 

LINCOLN 

[on viewscreen] : 

No need to check your voice telegraph device. 

Do I gather that you recognise me?

 

KIRK: 

I recognise what you appear to be.

 

LINCOLN 

[on viewscreen]: 

And appearances can be most deceiving, 

but not in this case, James Kirk. 

 

I am Abraham Lincoln.

 

KIRK: 

Spock.

 

SPOCK: 

Fascinating. 

 

LINCOLN

[on viewscreen]: 

I have been described in many ways, Mister Spock, 

but never with that word. 

 

KIRK: 

I was requesting your analysis, Spock. 

 

SPOCK: 

They did scan us and our vessel, Captain, 

and doubtless obtained sufficient information to present this illusion. 

 

LINCOLN

[on viewscreen]: 

Illusion? Captain, will you permit me to come aboard your vessel?

 

No doubt you have devices which can check my reality. 

 

KIRK: 

We'd be honoured to have you aboard, Mister President. 

 

LINCOLN

[on viewscreen]: 

Do you still measure time in minutes? 

 

KIRK: 

[smiling]

We can convert to it, sir. 

 

LINCOLN : 

Then you should be directly over my position in. 

There. Exactly twelve and one half minutes. 

Until then, Captain. 

 

(And the orange planet is back in view) 

 

 

KIRK: 

Security, send a detachment to the transporter room immediately,

phaser side arms, and be prepared to give

Presidential Honours. 

 

MCCOY: 

Jim, do you really believe he's Abraham Lincoln? 

 

KIRK: 

It's obvious he believes it. 

 

Doctor McCoy, Mister Spock,

Full dress uniforms.

 

[Transporter room]

 

(Scott is in kilt and plaid, the three security guards look smart)

 

SCOTT :

Full Dress? Presidential Honours? 

What is this nonsense, Mister Dickerson? 

 

DICKERSON: 

I understand President Lincoln's coming aboard, sir. 

 

SCOTT: 

Ha! You're daft, man. 

 

DICKERSON: 

All I know is what The Captain tells me, 

and he says he'll have the hide of the first man that so much as smiles. 

 

(McCoy enters) 

 

SCOTT: 

I'd have expected sanity from the ship's surgeon, at least.

 

President Lincoln, indeed.

No doubt to be followed by Louis of France and Robert the Bruce. 

 

(Kirk and Spock enter) 

 

KIRK: 

If so, we'll execute appropriate honours to each, Mister Scott. 

 

SCOTT: 

Aye, sir. 

 

KIRK: 

Gentlemen, I don't for a moment believe that President Lincoln is actually coming aboard,

but we're dealing with an unknown

and apparently highly advanced life-form. 

 

Until we know, when in Rome,

we'll do as the Romans do. 

 

CHEKOV [OC]: 

Bridge to Transporter room.

One minute to overhead position. 

 

SCOTT: 

Locked on to something. 

Does that appear human to you, Mister Spock? 

 

SPOCK: 

Fascinating. For a moment, it appeared almost mineral. 

Like living rock with heavy fore claws. 

It's settling down now to completely human readings. 

 

SCOTT: 

We can beam it aboard anytime now, sir. 

 

KIRK: 

Doctor McCoy, take tricorder readings and see if it is human. 

Appropriate ruffles and flourishes, Mister Spock. 

Security, stand ready. 

 

DICKERSON: 

Phaser team, set ready for a heavy stun. 

 

SPOCK: 

Band honours ready, Captain. 

 

KIRK: 

Energise. 

 

(A tall, lean figure in a black frock coat is beamed aboard to drum beat and a bosun's whistle) 

 

KIRK : 

The USS Enterprise is honoured to have you aboard, Mister President. 

 

LINCOLN: 

Strange.

Where are the musicians? 

 

KIRK: 

That's taped music, sir. 

A Starship on active duty never carries an honour detachment.

 

LINCOLN: 

Taped music, you say. 

Well, perhaps Mister Spock will be good enough to explain that to me later. 

 

A most interesting way to come aboard, Captain. 

What was the device used? 

 

KIRK: 

An energy-matter scrambler, sir. 

The molecules in your body are converted into energy,

then beamed into this chamber and reconverted back into their original pattern. 

 

LINCOLN: 

Well, since I'm obviously here, and quite whole,

whatever you mean apparently works very well indeed. 

Gentlemen, if those are weapons, please lower them. 

At my age, I'm afraid I'm not very dangerous. 

 

MCCOY: 

Human, Jim. 

 

LINCOLN: 

All too human, Doctor McCoy. 

Happy to make your acquaintance. 

 

KIRK: 

Mister President, may I present my officers. 

 

Commander Spock, second in command 

Engineering Officer Scott

and

Security Officer Dickerson. 

 

LINCOLN: 

Mister Spock, Mister Scott, Mister Dickerson. 

 

Gentlemen,

I hope to talk to each of you. 

 

But meanwhile, your captain is consumed with questions

and I shall do my utmost to answer them. 

And I trust your duties will permit time to answer some of mine.

 

At your service, Captain. 

 

KIRK: 

Lieutenant Dickerson,

you and your men may return to quarters.

Mister President. 

 

LINCOLN: 

A most interesting vessel. 

 

(Kirk, Lincoln, Spock and security leave)

 

MCCOY:

Just what was it you locked onto before you beamed him aboard? 


 

SCOTT:

You heard Mister Spock yourself.

Mineral he called it, like living rock. 


 

MCCOY:

And that became Lincoln? 


 

SCOTT:

I couldn't tell.

It may have been another figure down there standing by.

What do you make of it? 

 

MCCOY: 

I'm not quite sure.

 

Captain's log, stardate 5906.4. 

 

Who or what has been beamed aboard our vessel? 

 

An alien who has changed himself into this form? 

An illusion? 

 

I cannot conceive it possible that Abraham Lincoln could have actually been reincarnated. 

And yet his kindness, his gentle wisdom, his humour, everything about him is so right.

 

 

[Bridge]

 

KIRK: 

Yes, if I recall, your Union Army observation balloons were tendered six hundred or so feet high. 

We're six hundred and forty three miles above the surface of this planet. 

 

LINCOLN: 

You can measure great distances that closely? 

 

SPOCK: 

We do, sir. 

Six hundred forty three miles,

two thousand twenty one feet, two point zero four inches

at this moment, using your old-style measurements. 

 

LINCOLN:

Bless me. 

 

UHURA: 

Excuse me, Captain Kirk. 

 

KIRK: 

Yes, Lieutenant. 

 

UHURA: 

Mister Scott 

 

LINCOLN: 

What a charming negress. 

Oh, forgive me, my dear. 

I know in my time some used that term as a description of property.

 

UHURA: 

But why should I object to that term, sir? 

You see, in our century we've learned not to fear words. 

 

KIRK: 

May I present our communications officer, 

Lieutenant Uhura. 

 

LINCOLN: 

The Foolishness of My Century had me apologising 

where no offence was given. 

 

KIRK: 

We've each learned to be delighted with what we are. 

The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did. 

 

SPOCK: 

It is basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir.

 

The combination of a number of things

to make existence worthwhile. 

 

LINCOLN: 

Yes. Philosophy of Nome,

meaning all. 

 

...How did I know that?

 

Just as I seem to know that on the planet surface

you will meet one of the greatest living Vulcans

in all the long history of your planet. 

 

My mind cannot recall his name, 

but I know he will be there. 

 

What is it that powers your vessel, Captain? 

May I see your engine room? 

 

 

KIRK: 

Certainly.

Our engineering officer  --

 

UHURA: 

Has been waiting in the briefing room for you, sir, for over two hours. 

 

KIRK: 

Oh, dear. If you'll forgive me, our communications officer 

 

LINCOLN: 

I would be delighted to have her as guide. 


 

KIRK:

Forgive me again.

We'll rejoin you shortly.

 

[Briefing room]

 

MCCOY:

Where the devil are they? 


 

SCOTT:

Why, they're probably looking up a plate of haggis in the galley.

They've been everywhere else. 


 

(Kirk and Spock enter)




KIRK:

Sorry to have been delayed, gentlemen. 


 

MCCOY:

Jim, I would be the last to advise you on your command image. 


 

KIRK:

I doubt that, Bones, but continue. 


 

MCCOY:

Do I have to lay it out for you?

Practically the entire crew has seen you treat this impostor like The Real Thing

when he can't possibly be the real article. 


 

SCOTT:

Lincoln died three centuries ago on a planet hundreds of light years away.

 

[ pointing ]


 

SPOCK:

More that direction, Engineer. 


 

MCCOY:

You're The Science Officer.

Why aren't you, well,

doing whatever a Science Officer does at a time like this? 


 

SPOCK:

I am, Doctor.

I am observing The Alien. 


 

MCCOY:

At last! At least somebody agrees with us he's an alien. 


 

KIRK:

Yes, of course he's an alien. 


 

MCCOY :

And he's potentially dangerous. 


 

SCOTT:

Mad. Loony as an Arcturian dogbird. 


 

KIRK:

Gentlemen, as you know, Mister Spock and I

have been invited to beam down to the planet surface with him.

 

Any comments on that? 


 

MCCOY:

Yes, a big one. Suddenly, miraculously, we see a small spot of Earth-type environment down there.

Now is it really there, or do we just think we see it down there? 


 

SCOTT:

You might beam down into a sea of molten lava. 


 

KIRK:

But why would he want to kill only two of us? 


 

SPOCK:

It would be illogical.

With such abilities, they could as easily trick us into destroying the entire vessel. 


 

MCCOY:

Are you implying, Mister Spock, that it's probably safe to beam down there? 


 

SPOCK:

No, I'm not, Doctor.

There's no doubt they want us down there for some hidden purpose.

Otherwise, they would have revealed some logical reason for all of this. 


 

KIRK:

Why Lincoln, Spock?

Any speculation on that? 


 

SPOCK:

Speculation is unnecessary, Captain. The Answer is clear.

President Lincoln has always been a very personal hero to you. What better way to titillate your curiosity than to make him come alive for you. 
K

 

KIRK:

But not only to me, Spock. 


 

SPOCK:

Agreed. I, too, experienced his charm.

It is a magnificent work of duplication. 


 

MCCOY:

But he holds a special involvement to you, Jim.

I think it's interesting, in as much as you're the one

who's going to make the decision

whether to beam down or not.

 




SCOTT:

Don't do it, Captain. 


 

KIRK:

The very reason for the existence of our starships is contact with other life.

Although the method is beyond our comprehension, we have been offered contact.

 

Therefore, I shall beam down.

 

Mister Spock, as for you 


 

SPOCK:

Captain, since I was included in the invitation to make contact,

I must beam down with you. 


 

MCCOY:

You're both out of your heads! 


 

SCOTT:

Aye, sir. 

 

KIRK:

And you're on the edge of insubordination. 

 

MCCOY:

Would I be on the edge of insubordination to remind The Captain

that this smells of something happening to him that I might not be able to patch together again? 


 

SCOTT:

Aye! 


 

KIRK:

Gentlemen, your concern is noted and appreciated.

Mister Spock, standard dress, tricorders and phasers.

 

We will guide President Lincoln to the transporter room.

 

We'll beam down immediately.

 

 

[Transporter room]

KIRK: Standing by, Mister Scott. 


 

SCOTT:

Transporter room to bridge. Standing by. 


 

CHEKOV [OC]:

We are now locked in synchronous orbit, Mister Scott.

Sensors continue to show the area as completely Earth-like in all respects. 


 

MCCOY:

If they're wrong and they do beam into a pool of lava 
--

 

SCOTT:

Then they're dead men.

I couldna pull them back in time. 


 

KIRK:

All right, Mister Scott, energise. 


 

(Lincoln, Kirk and Spock are beamed away, but - ) 


 

MCCOY:

Scotty.

 

[Planet surface]

(Sandy ground, big rocks, orange sky) 


 

SPOCK:

Captain. Our phasers and tricorders did not beam down with us. 


 

KIRK:

Kirk to Enterprise. Enterprise?

Enterprise, come in. Kirk to Enterprise.

Enterprise, come in. 


SPOCK: Undamaged, yet something is preventing them from functioning.

 

 

[Transporter room]

 

SCOTT:

Come in, landing party. Report.

Enterprise to Captain Kirk.

Can you read us? 


 

MCCOY:

If they're all right, they should've reported in.

 

 

[Planet surface]

 

KIRK:

Your explanation, sir? 


 

LINCOLN:

Well, I have none.

To me, this seems quite as it should be. 


 

KIRK:

Why were our weapons taken?

Why can't we communicate with our ship? 


 

LINCOLN:

Please, believe me.

I know nothing other than what I have already told you. 


 

KIRK:

The Game is over.

We've treated you with courtesy.

We've gone along with what and who you think you are. 


 

LINCOLN:

Despite the seeming contradictions, all is as it appears to be.

I am Abraham Lincoln. 


 

SURAK:

Just as I am whom I appear to be. 


 

SPOCK:

Surak…. 


 

KIRK:

Who? 


 

SPOCK:

The Greatest of all who ever lived on our planet, Captain.

The Father of All We Became.

 

 

[Bridge]

 

SULU:

(in the captain's chair)

All ship's systems going dead.

Switch to reserve power. All decks report status. 


 

 

UHURA:

All decks report status.

All decks report status. 


 

SULU:

Bridge to Engineering. Come in.

What's happening to our power?

Bridge to Engineering, report. 


 

ENGINEER :

Everything's out.

We've switched to reserve power.

Lost all power in the warp engines. 


 

(Scott and McCoy enter) 


 

SCOTT:

How is it, Mister Sulu?

 


SULU:

No answer yet on what caused it.

They're standing by. 


 

SCOTT:

Shut down all but the most necessary systems. 


 

 

UHURA:

No damage report, Mister Scott. 


 

 

ENGINEER :

No indication of engine damage, sir. 


 

SCOTT:

Engage restart cycle. 


 

ENGINEER [OC]:

I can't. I don't understand it. 


 

SCOTT:

Start emergency procedures. 


 

ENGINEER :

Aye, aye, sir.

 

[Planet surface]

 

SURAK:

Live long and prosper, Spock.

 

May you also, Captain Kirk. 


 

SPOCK:

It is Not Logical that you are Surak.

There is no Fact, Extrapolation of Fact or Theory,

which would make possible. 


 

SURAK:

Whatever I am,

Would it harm you to give response? 


 

SPOCK:

Live Long and Prosper, Image of Surak,

Father of All We Now Hold True. 


 

SURAK:

The Image of Surak read in Your Face

What is in Your Mind, Spock. 


 

SPOCK:

As I turned and my eyes beheld you, I displayed emotion.

I beg forgiveness. 


 

 

SURAK:

The cause was more than sufficient.

Let us speak no further of it.

 

In my time, we knew not of Earth men.

 

I am pleased to see that we have differences.

May we together become greater than the sum of both of us. 


 

KIRK :

Spock, we'll not go along with these charades any longer. 


 

(A rock changes into a creature with heavy fore-claws) 


 

ROCK:

You'll have an answer soon, Captain.

 

Our World is called Excalbia.

Countless who live on that planet are watching.

 

Before this drama unfolds,

we give welcome to the ones named Kirk and Spock. 


 

KIRK:

We know nothing of Your World or Your Customs.

 

What do you mean,

Drama about to unfold? 


 

ROCK:

You're intelligent life form,

but I'm surprised you do not perceive the honour we do you.

Have we not created in this place on our planet a stage identical to your own world? 


 

KIRK:

We perceive we were invited to come here, and we came in friendship.

 

And you have deprived us of our instruments to examine Your World,

to defend ourselves, to communicate with our vessel. 


 

ROCK:

Your objection is well taken.

 

We shall communicate with your vessel

so your fellow life forms may also enjoy and profit from the play.

 

Behold. 


(More people arrive. A human, a Mongol, an alien woman and a Klingon) 


 

ROCK:

Captain, Mister Spock, some of these you may know through history.

 

Genghis Khan, for one.

 

And 

Colonel Green 

Who led a genocidal war early in the 21st century on Earth. 

 

Zora

Who experimented with the body chemistry of subject tribes on Tiburon. 

 

Kahless, The Unforgettable

The Klingon who set the pattern for his planet's tyrannies. 

 

We Welcome The Vessel Enterprise

 

 

To our solar system and to our spectacle.

 

MCCOY: 

At least The Captain and Spock are safe. 

 

SCOTT: 

It's a confrontation of some sort. 

Those are all figures out of history. 

Notoriously Evil. 

 

ROCK : 

We ask you to observe with us

 

 

The confrontation of the two opposing philosophies you term 

Good and Evil. 

 

Since this is our first experiment with Earthlings, 

our theme is a simple one. 

 

Survival, 

Life and Death.

 

Your philosophies are alien to us,

and we wish to understand them

and discover which is the stronger. 

 

We learn by observing such spectacles. 

 

KIRK: 

What do you mean,

"Survival"? 

 

ROCK: 

The Word is Explicit.

 

If you and Spock survive, you return to your vessel.

 

If you do not, your existence is ended.