Season 3

KIRK: 

Scotty! Get me out of here! 

SCOTT [OC]: 

That was quick. 

There's quite a bit of surface interference, sir. 

KIRK: 

Scotty!

[Transporter room]

(Two Teenaxi have beamed up with Kirk. Security deal with them as Kirk walks away.) 

SECURITY: 

Get it off of me! 

KIRK: 

I ripped My Shirt again….

SCOTT: 

How'd it go?

[Corridor]

(Spock and McCoy come up behind Kirk. McCoy scans him.) 

SPOCK: 

Captain, did you manage to broker 

a treaty with the Teenaxi? 

KIRK: 

Er... let's just say I came up short. 

Will you log that and put it in the vault, Spock? Thank you. 

(He throws Spock the artefact.) 

MCCOY: 

Jim, you look like crap. 

KIRK: 

Thank you, Bones. 

MCCOY: 

You got that little vein popping out of your temple again. You okay? 

KIRK: 

Never better! 

Just another day in the fleet.

Captain's log, Stardate 2263.2. 

Today is our 966th day in deep space, a little under three years into our five year mission. 

The more time we spend out here, the harder it is to tell where one day ends and the next one begins. 

It can be a challenge to feel grounded when even gravity is artificial. But, well, we do what we can to make it feel like Home. 

The crew, as always, continues to act admirably despite the rigours of our extended stay here in outer space. And the personal sacrifices they have made. 

We continue to search for new life forms in order to establish firm diplomatic ties. 

Our extended time in uncharted territory has stretched the ship's mechanical capacities but fortunately our engineering department, led by Mr Scott, is more than up to the job. 

The ship aside, prolonged cohabitation has definitely had effects on interpersonal dynamics. Some experiences for the better, and some for the worse. 

As for me, things have started to feel a little… episodic. 

The farther out we go, the more I find myself wondering what it is we're trying to accomplish. If the universe is truly endless, then are we not striving for something forever out of reach? 

The Enterprise is scheduled for a reprovisioning stop at Yorktown, the Federation's newest and most advanced starbase. Perhaps a break from routine will offer up some respite from the mysteries of The Unknown. 

[Kirk's quarters]

MCCOY: 

Sorry I'm late.

 Keenser's leaking some kind of highly acidic green goo, 

and Scotty's terrified he's gonna sneeze on the warp core and kill us all. 

What the hell are you drinking? 

KIRK: 

I'm pretty sure it's the rest 

of that Saurian brandy 

we picked up on Thasus. 

MCCOY: 

My God, man, 

are you trying to go blind? 

That stuff's illegal. 

Besides, I found this in Chekov's locker. 

(A 30 year old malt whisky.) 

MCCOY: 

Wow. Right? I mean, 

I always assumed he'd be….

KIRK: 

A vodka man. 

MCCOY: 

A vodka guy, exactly. 

I wanted to have something 

appropriate for your birthday. 

KIRK: 

That's in a couple days. 

You know I don't care about that. 

MCCOY: 

I know. I know you don't like celebrating it 

on the day because it's also 

the day Your Pa bit the dust. 

I was being sensitive. 

KIRK: 

Did they teach you about 

bedside manner in medical school? 

Or is it just your southern charm. 

(Three glasses have been poured.) 

KIRK: 

Oh yeah. That's good. 

MCCOY: 

Lordy! 

Are you gonna call your Mom? 

KIRK: 

Yeah, of course. 

I'll call her on the day. 

I'm one year older. 

MCCOY: 

Yep, that's usually how it works. 

KIRK: 

A year older than he ever got to be. 

He joined Starfleet because he... 

he believed in it. I joined on a dare. 

MCCOY: 

You joined to see 

if you could live up to him. 

You spent all this time 

trying to be George Kirk 

and now you're wondering 

just what it means to be Jim. 

Why you're out here. 

(a toast) 

To perfect eyesight 

and a full head of hair. 

(Comms beep.) 

KIRK: 

Kirk here. 

SULU [OC]: 

Captain, approaching 

Yorktown base. 

KIRK: 

I'm on my way, Mr Sulu.

Let's keep this birthday thing 

under wraps, huh? 

MCCOY: 

Yeah, you know me :

Mr Sensitive.

Hiding

[Courtroom]

STONE: 

Court is now in session. 

The board will entertain motions before delivering its verdict. 

Counsel for the prosecution? 

SHAW: 

Sir, the prosecution rests. 

STONE: Counsel for the defence? 

COGLEY: Sir, the defence rests. 

(McCoy and Spock run in and whisper to Kirk and Cogley) 

STONE: Mister Cogley. Mister Cogley! 

COGLEY: Sir, some new evidence has just been brought to my attention. I'd like to ask the court to 

SHAW: Objection! Counsel for the defence has rested his case. 

STONE: Of what nature is this evidence? 

COGLEY: I can't tell you, I'll have to show you. 

SHAW: Mister Cogley is well-known for his theatrics. 

COGLEY: Is saving an innocent man's career a theatric? i

STONE: Counsels will kindly direct their remarks to the bench. 

COGLEY: I'd be delighted to, sir, now that I've got something human to talk about. Rights, sir, human rights. The Bible, the Code of Hammurabi and of Justinian, Magna Carta, the Constitution of the United States, Fundamental Declarations of the Martian colonies, the Statutes of Alpha Three. Gentlemen, these documents all speak of rights. Rights of the accused to a trial by his peers, to be represented by counsel, the rights of cross-examination, but most importantly, the right to be confronted by the witnesses against him, a right to which my client has been denied. 

SHAW: Your Honour, that is ridiculous. We produced the witnesses in court. My learned opponent had the opportunity to see them, cross-examine them. 

COGLEY: All but one. The most devastating witness against my client is not a human being. It's a machine, an information system. The computer log of the Enterprise. Can ask this court adjourn and reconvene aboard that vessel. 

SHAW: I protest, Your Honour. 

COGLEY: And I repeat, I speak of rights. A machine has none. A man must. My client has the right to face his accuser, and if you do not grant him that right, you have brought us down to the level of the machine. Indeed, you have elevated that machine above us. I ask that my motion be granted, and more than that, gentlemen. In the name of humanity, fading in the shadow of the machine, I demand it. I demand it!

Captain's Log, Stardate 2950.1. After due consideration, the general court-martial has reconvened on board the Enterprise.

[Briefing room]

COGLEY: How many games of chess did you win from the computer, Mister Spock? 

SPOCK: Five in all. 

COGLEY: May that be considered unusual? 

SPOCK: Affirmative. 

COGLEY: Why? 

SPOCK: I personally programmed the computer for chess months ago. I gave the machine an understanding of the game equal to my own. The computer cannot make an error and assuming that I do not either, the best that could normally be hoped for would be stalemate after stalemate, and yet I beat the machine five times. Someone, either accidentally or deliberately, adjusted the programming and therefore the memory banks of that computer. 

COGLEY: Could that have had an effect on the visual playback we saw? 

SHAW: Object! The witness would be making a conclusion. 

STONE: Sustained. 

COGLEY: Hypothetically, Mister Spock. Hypothetically, Miss Shaw. If what you suggest had been done, it would be beyond the capabilities of most men. Is that true? 

SPOCK: Affirmative. 

COGLEY: What man aboard ship would it not be beyond? 

SPOCK: The Captain, myself, and the records officer. 

COGLEY: And at the moment, you have no records officer. 

SPOCK: Affirmative. Until he was lost, our records officer was Lieutenant Commander Finney. 

COGLEY: 

Captain Kirk, will you tell the steps you took to find Mister Finney after the storm? 

KIRK: 

I instituted a phase one search. 

COGLEY: 

Describe a phase one search. 

KIRK: 

It's a painstaking, thorough attempt 

in and around The Ship 

to find a man who's presumably injured and unable to respond. 

COGLEY:

It presupposes, does it not, that A Man wishes to be found? 

KIRK: 

I beg your pardon..? 

COGLEY: 

If you start a search for A Man, 

you assume, don't you, 

that he wants to be found? 

He's not hiding? 

KIRK: 

Yes. 

COGLEY: 

On a ship of this size, 

could a man evade such a search? 

KIRK: 

Possibly. 

COGLEY: 

Gentlemen, I submit to you that 

Lieutenant Commander 

Ben Finney is not dead.

The Vulcan Ego

Lt. Saavik: 

What happens if Reliant fails to follow us into the nebula?

Capt. Spock: 

I think we can guarantee she'll follow us, Lieutenant —

Remind me to discuss with you 

the concept of 

The Human Ego.

Dracula :
Do you really think provoking me is CLEVER…?

Van Helsing :

Yes. Yes, I Do —

I want to 

Learn More ABOUT You.

“Mr. Spock,

I am not very good at writing letters so I will make this short. I know that you are half Vulcan and half human and you have suffered because of this. My mother is Negro and my father is white and I am told this makes me a half-breed. In some ways I am persecuted even more than the Negro. The Negroes don’t like me because I don’t look like them. The white kids don’t like me because I don’t exactly look like one of them either. 

I guess I’ll never have any friends.

F.C.
Los Angeles, Calif.

Leonard became so interested in this girl’s situation, FaVE [the magazine] offered him this chance to tell everyone what Mr. Spock did when he faced this problem.

As you may know, only Spock’s mother was human. His father was a Vulcan. Spock grew up among Vulcan children and, because he was different, he had to face the problem of not being accepted. This is because people, especially young people it seems, and Vulcans, too, tend to form into groups, kind of like wolf packs. They often demand that you be just like them or you will not be accepted. And the Vulcans were no different than humans are when it comes to prejudice.

Most of the Vulcan kids didn’t like Spock because he was half human. So they wouldn’t include him in all the things they did. He was very lonely and no one understood him. And Spock was heartbroken because he wasn’t popular. But it was only the need for popularity that was ruining his happiness. The question was which was more important, being ‘popular’ with the pack who might turn against him at any minute or being true to himself?

TAKES COURAGE

It takes a great deal of courage to turn your back on popularity and to go out on your own. Although inside you’re not really like the members of the pack, it’s still frightening to decide to leave them, because as long as you’re popular, you at least have someone to hang around with. But if you do leave, then you may end up all alone.

Now, there’s a little voice inside each of us that tells us when we’re not being true to ourselves. We should listen to this voice. Often we try to talk ourselves into believing our actions are good – ‘it’s okay to pick on that person’ we say because it may make us popular for awhile with the pack.

But usually there is no good reason for picking on anyone. He’s only bullied or turned away because of his background, because of the way he looks or talks or thinks. It’s always only because he’s different – not worth less personally than anyone else.

KNEW HIS OWN WORTH

“Spock learned he could save himself from letting prejudice get him down. He could do this by really understanding himself and knowing his own value as a person. He found he was equal to anyone who might try to put him down – equal in his own unique way.

You can do this too, if you realize the difference between popularity and true greatness. It has been said that ‘popularity’ is merely the crumbs of greatness.

When you think of people who are truly great and who have improved the world, you can see that they are people who have realized they didn’t need popularity because they knew they had something special to offer the world, no matter how small that offering seemed. And they offered it and it was accepted with peace and love. It’s all in having the patience to find out what you yourself have to offer the world that’s really uniquely yours.

So – the answer to the whole problem, the answer that Spock found when he had to make his big decision, is in overcoming the need to be popular. It’s in choosing your own personal goal and going after it and forgetting what the others are saying. If you do this, then the ones who accept people for the right reasons – for their true worth – will find you and like you.

So Spock said to himself: “OK, I’m not Vulcan, so the Vulcans don’t want me. My blood isn’t pure red Earth blood. It’s green. And my ears – well, it’s obvious I’m not pure human. So they won’t want me either. I must do for myself and not worry about what others think of me who don’t really know me.

LISTENED TO THE VOICE

Spock decided he would live up to his own personal value and uniqueness. He’d do whatever made him feel best about himself. He decided to listen to that little voice inside him and not to the people around him.

He replaced the idea of wanting to be liked with the idea of becoming accomplished. Instead of being interested in being popular, he became interested in being intelligent. And instead of wanting to be powerful, he became interested in being useful.

He said to himself: ‘Not everyone will like me. But there will be those who accept me just for what I am. I will develop myself to such a point of excellence, intelligence and brilliance that I can see through any problem and deal with any crisis. I will become such a master of my own abilities and career that there will be a place for me. People of all races will need me and not be able to do without me.’

And that’s just what he did. And when I see him standing there on the bridge of the Enterprise, facing danger and life-and-death problems so cooly and with so much intelligence, I’m sure he made the right decision.”

SYBOK: 

Captain, I'm afraid you'll have to remain here. 

Spock, Doctor McCoy, 

come with me.

SYBOK: 

Spock?

SPOCK: 

I cannot go with you.

SYBOK: 

Why not?

SPOCK: 

I Belong Here.

SYBOK: 

I don't understand.

SPOCK: 

Sybok! You are My Brother, 

but you do not know me. 

I am not The Outcast Boy you left behind 

those many years ago. 

Since that time, 

I Have Found Myself and My Place 

and I Know Who I Am. 

I cannot go with you.

McCOY: 

I er... 

I guess you'd better count me out, too.

SYBOK: 

Then I'll see you on 

The Other Side.

KIRK: 

Wait! ...You know we'll never 

make it through The Great Barrier.

SYBOK: 

What if we do? Will that convince you that My Vision was True?

KIRK: 

Your Vision..?

SYBOK: 

Given to Me by God. 

He Waits for Us 

on The Other Side.

KIRK: 

You are Mad.

SYBOK: 

Am I? ...We'll See.

[Enterprise-A bridge]

SULU: 

They Say no ship can survive this.

SYBOK: 

I say They're Wrong. 

I say the danger is an illusion.

CHEKOV: 

We have no instrument readings. 

Is it there or isn't it?

SYBOK: 

Mister Sulu, 

...full ahead.

SULU: 

Full ahead, aye.

[Enterprise-A forward observation room

KIRK (OC): 

Is it possible?

SPOCK: 

Fascinating!

McCOY: 

Are we dreaming?

KIRK: 

If we are, then Life is a Dream.

(camera pans down to plaque on ship's wheel 'To boldly go where no man has gone before')

[Enterprise-A bridge]

CHEKOV: 

Instruments are back on line. 

Incredible. 

There's a power source emanating from the planet like nothing 

I've ever seen.

SYBOK: 

Sha Ka Ree.

KORRD: Qui'Tu.

CAITHLIN: 

Vorta Vor.

TALBOT: 

Eden.

KIRK: 

About The Ship.

SYBOK: 

The Ship needs its Captain.

KIRK: 

No special conditions?

SYBOK: 

No conditions.

KIRK: 

What makes you think I won't turn us around?

SYBOK: 

Because you too, must know.

Doctor McCoy

“We ALL Want to Live. 

And in large part 

we make Our Logic 

according to 

What We LIKE.

But not having attained our aim 

and continuing to live is cowardice.

This is a thin and dangerous line. 

To Die without Gaming One's Aim 

is A Dog's Death 

and Fanaticism. 

But there is no shame in this. 

This is the substance of The Way of the Samurai. 

Capt. SARU: 

Burnham, we are running out of time.

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

Okay, it's time to go, Spock.

Get back to Discovery.

 

SPOCK :

Michael, I cannot.

 

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

What? 

 

SPOCK :

When my vessel was hit 

My engines were disabled.

 

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

Discovery can lock onto you 

with a tractor beam.

 

SPOCK :

There is no time.

And even if there were, 

they would need to lower their shields 

to bring me aboard, 

and they will not survive doing so.

Not in this battle.

Not with the amount of damage 

that ship has already sustained.

You Must Go.

 

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

I just got you back.

I don't want to let go.

 

SPOCK :

Neither do I.

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

I already lost you once.

 

SPOCK :

You never Lost Me, Michael.

As A Child, I was Truly Lost.

The Path of My Father, 

The Path of My Mother.

You came into our lives 

and you taught me it was possible 

to travel both.

You Found Me.

You Saved Me.

 

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

That wasn't me.

That was always in you.

 

SPOCK :

You are My Balance, Michael, 

you always HAVE been —

and I am afraid that 

I will not find it again without you.

 

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

Okay —

Listen to Me :

Listen to Me, Little Brother.

This is the last advice 

I'll ever be able to give you —

There is a Whole Galaxy 

out there full of people 

who will  reach for you.

You Have to 

LET Them.

Find That Person 

Who Seems Farthest from you, 

and reach for them.

Reach for them.

Let them guide you.

 

SPOCK :

I will.

I only wish,

I could be certain of your safety.

 

MICHAEL, 

Daughter of Michael :

(SIGHS) 

You will.

(CHUCKLES) 

(SNIFFLES) 

I'll send the last signal.

I'll send it through The Wormhole when we get to The Other Side.

 

 

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.