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Plato's Stepchildren

Captain Kirk: CAPTAIN'S LOG. STAR DATE 5784.2

WE ARE RESPONDING TO DESPERATE DISTRESS CALLS

FROM AN UNKNOWN PLANET.

MY SCIENCE OFFICER MR. SPOCK IS UNABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS,

SINCE HE REPORTED NO SIGNS OF LIFE ON THE PLANET.

IT IS RICH IN KIRONIDE DEPOSITS--

A VERY RARE AND LONG-LASTING SOURCE OF GREAT POWER.

ARE YOU FROM THE SPACESHIP ENTERPRISE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ALEXANDER, AT YOUR SERVICE.

I SING, I DANCE,

I PLAY ALL VARIETY OF GAMES,

AND I'M A GOOD LOSER, A VERY GOOD LOSER.

PLEASE, SIR, TRY TO BEAR THAT IN MIND.

NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE ACCOMPANY ME?

WHO ARE THE INHABITANTS OF THIS PLANET?

OH, PLATONIANS.

I'M SURE YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF US.

OUR NATIVE STAR IS SAHNDARA.

MILLENNIA AGO, JUST BEFORE IT WENT NOVA, WE MANAGED TO ESCAPE.

OUR LEADER LIKED PLATO'S IDEAS-- PLATO, PLATONIUS. SEE?

IN FACT, OUR PRESENT PHILOSOPHER-KING, PARMEN,

SOMETIMES CALLS US PLATO'S CHILDREN,

ALTHOUGH WE SOMETIMES THINK OF OURSELVES

MORE AS PLATO'S STEPCHILDREN.

EXCUSE ME. UH, SOMEONE'S WAITING FOR YOU.

WELCOME TO OUR REPUBLIC.

WHO AMONG YOU IS THE PHYSICIAN?

I AM. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

MY SPOUSE. HIS LEG. COME THIS WAY.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT LEG?

I SUPPOSE I SCRATCHED IT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO IMMEDIATELY.

SHEER IGNORANCE.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO?

WELL, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO TRY.

THE INFECTION IS MASSIVE.

LET ME GIVE YOU A HYPO TO EASE THE PAIN.

WHERE?

IN THE ARM.

PHILANA, THEY CAME TO HELP.

THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN TO DIE--ARGH!

ALEXANDER, YOU TALK TOO MUCH.

SPACE-- THE FINAL FRONTIER.

THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.

ITS FIVE-YEAR MISSION--

TO EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS...

TO SEEK OUT NEW LIFE AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS...

TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE.

CAPTAIN'S LOG. STAR DATE 5784.3.

DR. McCOY IS ENDEAVORING TO TREAT THE LEADER

OF A STRANGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

WHEN THEIR PLANT NOVAED, MILLENNIA AGO,

THEY TRANSPORTED THEMSELVES TO EARTH

DURING THE TIME OF SOCRATES AND PLATO.

AFTER THE DEATH OF THE GREEK CIVILIZATION THEY IDOLIZED,

THEY CAME TO THIS PLANET AND CREATED FOR THEMSELVES

A UTOPIA PATTERNED AFTER IT.

WHAT IS YOUR PROGNOSIS, DOCTOR?

I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I HAVE THE RESULTS.

AND FROM NOW ON,

IT WOULD BE BETTER IF I HANDLED THE INSTRUMENTS

WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

BONES, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A SIMPLE CUT LIKE THAT

COULD BECOME SO SERIOUS.

NEITHER DO I, BUT IT HAS.

HOW DO I KNOCK OUT AN INFECTION

WHEN THE TRICORDER DOESN'T SHOW ANY INFORMATION

ON PLATONIUS BACTERIA?

ALL I CAN DO, AND THIS IS GONNA TAKE TIME,

IS TO TRY TO MATCH HIS BUGS WITH A KNOWN STRAIN AND HOPE.

YOUR PAN IS IN JEOPARDY.

MM-HMM.

IT ISN'T NOW.

I WIN.

WELL PLAYED, ERACLITUS.

I THANK YOU, DIONYD.

THIS PSYCHOKINETIC POWER OF YOURS...

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD IT?

2 1/2--

EVER SINCE OUR ARRIVAL HERE ON PLATONIUS.

HOW IS THE POWER TRANSMITTED?

BRAIN WAVES.

DO THESE WAVES CEASE WHILE YOU ARE ASLEEP?

NO, NOT IF THEY'RE EMBEDDED IN THE UNCONSCIOUS.

WHAT ABOUT MEDICINE?

WHY NO DOCTORS?

WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PRESSING NEED FOR THE MEDICAL ARTS.

YOU SEE, WHILE STILL ON SAHNDARA,

WE INSTITUTED A MASS EUGENICS PROGRAM.

WE ARE THE RESULT.

PARED DOWN TO A POPULATION OF 38,

WE'RE PERFECT FOR OUR UTOPIA.

WE'RE BRED FOR CONTEMPLATION AND SELF-RELIANCE...

AND LONGEVITY.

HOW OLD WOULD YOU SAY I AM?

OH, DON'T BE AFRAID. I'M NOT VAIN.

35.

THAT OLD?

I STOPPED AGING AT 30.

WELL, ANYWAY, YOU'RE OFF BY 2,000 YEARS.

I'M 2,300 YEARS OLD.

WE WERE MARRIED VERY YOUNG.

I WAS ONLY 117,

AND HE WAS 128.

SO YOU SEE, WE SCARCELY HAVE TO MOVE ANYMORE,

LET ALONE WORK.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE NO RESISTANCE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

A BREAK IN THE SKIN OR A CUT CAN BE FATAL.

UH...

UH...UH...

FASCINATING.

I BELIEVE WE'RE EXPERIENCING

THE PSYCHOKINETIC MANIFESTATIONS OF PARMEN'S DELIRIUM.

UHH...

SCOTT TO CAPTAIN KIRK.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

CAPTAIN, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM.

NO DISCERNIBLE CAUSE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

THERE'S 10-SCALE TURBULENCE RIGHT NOW.

EMERGENCY GYROS AND STABILIZERS AT MAXIMUM.

IF THIS KEEPS UP, CAPTAIN, WE CAN'T LAST!

ENGINES AT FULL SPEED.

GET HER OUT OF ORBIT AND INTO SPACE.

I'VE TRIED THAT, SIR.

SHE'S LOCKED TIGHT.

THEN THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO BUT BATTEN DOWN AND WEATHER.

RIGHT, CAPTAIN.

PARMEN'S MIND IS NOT-- WATCH IT!

HE'S NOT ONLY THROWING AROUND THE FURNITURE,

HE'S TEARING UP THE ENTERPRISE AS WELL.

BONES, KNOCK HIM OUT FAST.

HELP!

SAVE ME!

ALEXANDER--

OH!

STAND BEHIND ME.

OW!

HIS MIND WILL FIND ME ANYHOW.

OH!

DON'T SAVE HIM. LET HIM DIE.

THE OTHERS WILL KILL EACH OTHER

TRYING TO TAKE HIS PLACE.

HURRY UP WITH THAT SHOT!

NOW, DOCTOR.

UH... I CAN'T BREATHE.

I'M CHOKING...

BONES!

SHAKE HIM. BREAK HIS CONCENTRATION.

AHH...

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

SCOTT ON THE ENTERPRISE.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, CAPTAIN.

THE TURBULENCE HAS ABATED.

GOOD. I THINK YOU'LL FIND THE ORBIT LOCK IS BROKEN AS WELL.

ASSESS DAMAGE AND REPAIR WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.

AYE, CAPTAIN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN EVER THANK YOU.

NOT ONLY FOR PLATONIUS, BUT FOR MYSELF.

NO THANKS IS NECESSARY.

ALEXANDER, SHOW OUR GUESTS TO THE SOUTH WING.

OH, THANK YOU. WE MUST RETURN TO THE SHIP.

I THINK I BETTER WAIT UNTIL THE FEVER BREAKS.

WELL...IN THAT CASE, WE'LL STAY.

ANYTHING YOU WANT, JUST ASK ME.

ANYTHING.

THANK YOU, ALEXANDER.

THINK NOTHING OF IT. YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

LISTEN, I THINK I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT--

TELL ME WHAT?

WELL, JUST THAT I NEVER KNEW ANY PEOPLE LIKE YOU EXISTED.

WHERE IS EVERYONE?

THEY'RE ALL IN CHAMBERS...

MEDITATING.

ALEXANDER...

ARE THERE OTHER PLATONIANS LIKE YOU?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, LIKE ME?

WHO DON'T HAVE THE PSYCHOKINETIC ABILITY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MY SIZE...

BECAUSE THEY MAKE FUN OF ME FOR MY SIZE.

BUT, UM, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE IT.

I WAS BROUGHT HERE AS THE COURT BUFFOON.

THAT'S WHY I'M EVERYBODY'S SLAVE

AND I HAVE TO BE 10 PLACES AT ONCE

AND I NEVER DO ANYTHING RIGHT.

HOW DOES ONE OBTAIN THE POWER?

AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT JUST COMES TO YOU

SOMETIME AFTER YOU'RE BORN.

THEY SAY I'M A THROWBACK,

AND I AM, AND SO ARE YOU.

SORRY. I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

WE'RE HAPPY WITHOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE YOU ARE.

LISTEN, WHERE YOU COME FROM,

ARE THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT THE POWER AND MY SIZE?

ALEXANDER, WHERE I COME FROM,

SIZE, SHAPE, OR COLOR MAKES NO DIFFERENCE,

AND NOBODY HAS THE POWER.

NOBODY?

UH, S-SOMEBODY WANTS ME.

CAPTAIN, IT WILL BE VERY GRATIFYING TO LEAVE HERE.

THAT MIGHT NOT BE EASY SHOULD PARMEN DIE.

EVEN IF HE SHOULDN'T.

YES.

THIS UTOPIA OF THEIRS

IS ONE OF THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS IN THE GALAXY.

SCREENING THEMSELVES FROM OUR SENSORS,

LOCKING US INTO ORBIT--

ALL THIS ADDS UP TO A PATTERN.

JIM,

MY CONCOCTION ACTUALLY WORKED.

THE FEVER'S BROKEN.

AND WHAT RECUPERATIVE POWERS.

THE INFECTION'S BEGUN TO DRAIN ALREADY.

DR. McCOY, YOU MAY YET CURE THE COMMON COLD.

IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE, IT'S NOW.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE. SCOTTY, COME IN.

SCOTT HERE, SIR.

PREPARE TO BEAM US UP.

AFRAID I CAN'T DO THAT, SIR.

EVERYTHING'S FROZEN.

THE TURBULENCE HIT YOU THAT HARD?

IT'S NOT THE TURBULENCE, SIR.

DAMAGE TO THE SHIP IS MINIMAL.

WHAT CAUSED IT?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR,

AND THOSE ARE THE FACTS.

DID YOU GET UP INTO SPACE?

NO, SIR. THE ORBIT'S LOCKED TIGHTER THAN EVER,

AND SUBSPACE COMMUNICATION WITH STARFLEET,

IT'S COMPLETELY SEVERED.

ALL RIGHT, SCOTTY.

I'LL HANDLE IT DOWN HERE. STAND BY.

♪ GREAT PAN SOUNDS HIS HORN ♪

♪ MARKING TIME TO THE RHYME ♪

♪ WITH HIS HOOF, WITH HIS HOOF ♪

♪ FORWARD, FORWARD IN OUR PLAN ♪

♪ WE PROCEED AS WE BEGAN ♪

BREKEKEKEKX...

BREKEKEKEKX...

KOOOAX...

YOUR EXCELLENCY.

PARMEN WILL DO.

PHILOSOPHER KINGS HAVE NO NEED OF TITLES.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE SHIP'S INSTRUMENTATION AND WEAPONRY IS FROZEN...

AND WHY THE ENTERPRISE IS LOCKED IN ORBIT.

CAPTAIN, PLEASE.

YOU ARE MISTAKEN, I ASSURE YOU.

PARMEN, I'VE TALKED TO THE ENGINEER ABOARD THE SHIP.

WE'VE SHOWED OUR GOOD FAITH.

NOW YOU SHOW YOURS.

I WANT THE SHIP RELEASED IMMEDIATELY.

THE AMENITIES, CAPTAIN.

ALLOW ME TO REMIND YOU THAT I AM THE HEAD OF THIS PRINCIPALITY.

GUESTS DO NOT COME BARGING IN HERE,

MAKING DEMANDS AND ISSUING ORDERS.

GUESTS?

YOU DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD.

GUESTS AREN'T TREATED LIKE COMMON PRISONERS.

DO NOT TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME.

OH!

OH!

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE. ACKNOWLEDGE.

ACKNOWLEDGE. ENTERPRISE, COME IN.

ENTERPRI--

I CAN'T RAISE THEM.

OBVIOUSLY PARMEN DOES NOT WISH

ANY CONTACT MADE WITH THE ENTERPRISE.

HE MAY STILL NEED THE SHIP'S MEDICAL STORES.

WHY PREVENT CONTACT?

TO SHUT OUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HIS BRUTAL TREATMENT OF A STARFLEET CAPTAIN.

NO, MR. SPOCK. ONE THING FOR CERTAIN--

PARMEN ISN'T CONCERNED WITH MY DIGNITY OR SAFETY.

AGREED, CAPTAIN.

AND PARMEN WOULDN'T HAVE TREATED YOU SO BRUTALLY

IF HE HAD ANY INTENTION OF RELEASING YOU OR THE ENTERPRISE.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO GO, BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.

[FANFARE]

GENTLE SPACEMEN,

WE ARE ETERNALLY IN YOUR DEBT.

WE HAVE SOME TRIFLES FOR YOU.

PLEASE ACCEPT THEM AS TOKENS OF OUR GRATITUDE.

THEY STEM FROM THE VERY SOURCE OF OUR INSPIRATION.

TO OUR NOBLE CAPTAIN,

THE SHIELD CARRIED BY PERICLES,

AS A SYMBOL OF GALLANT LEADERSHIP.

TO OUR SILENT AND CEREBRAL MR. SPOCK,

THIS KITHARA TO PLUCK MUSIC

TO SOOTHE HIS EVER-ACTIVE BROW.

AND LASTLY, TO THE PHYSICIAN DR. McCOY,

WHO SAVED PLATONIUS AND MY SPOUSE,

THIS ANCIENT COLLECTION OF GREEK CURES,

PENNED BY HIPPOCRATES HIMSELF.

HAS THE ENTERPRISE BEEN RELEASED YET?

CAPTAIN, WAIT.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

MY HUMBLE APOLOGIES.

YOU WERE BADLY USED.

IN MY OWN DEFENSE, ALLOW ME TO SAY

THAT MY ILLNESS WAS MORE PROFOUNDLY DISTURBING THAN I MYSELF REALIZED.

I'M SURE THAT YOU, TOO, CAPTAIN, HAVE BEEN OUT OF SORTS

AND HAVE BEEN DRIVEN TO FITS OF TEMPER AND RAGE.

UNLIKE YOU, HOWEVER, WHAT I THINK AND FEEL,

WHETHER FOR GOOD OR ILL,

IS INSTANTLY TRANSLATED INTO REALITY.

SO PLEASE, FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO FORGIVE ME.

CERTAINLY.

HAS THE ENTERPRISE BEEN RELEASED YET?

IT WILL BE SHORTLY.

THEN GOOD DAY. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTS.

NOT AT ALL.

BUT THERE IS ONE FINAL REQUEST.

AFTER MY NEARLY FATAL INFECTION,

IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS TO US ALL

THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT A SKILLED PHYSICIAN.

THEREFORE WE SHOULD LIKE YOU, DR. McCOY, TO REMAIN.

I'M VERY SORRY, BUT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

YOUR DUTIES WILL BE EXTRAORDINARILY LIGHT.

YOU'LL BE FREE TO READ, MEDITATE, CONDUCT RESEARCH,

WHATEVER YOU LIKE.

YOU'LL WANT FOR NOTHING.

THE ANSWER IS NO.

WE SHOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT CORDIAL,

BUT WE ARE DETERMINED TO HAVE YOU STAY, DOCTOR.

DR. McCOY SAVED YOUR LIFE.

I AM LOSING PATIENCE, CAPTAIN.

AND YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A DISCIPLE OF PLATO?

WE MANAGE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY.

WHOSE HARMONY,

YOURS?

PLATO WANTED TRUTH AND BEAUTY

AND ABOVE ALL JUSTICE.

MY DEAR MR. SPOCK,

I ADMIT THAT CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE FORCED US

TO MAKE A FEW ADAPTATIONS OF PLATO,

BUT OURS IS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY CONCEIVABLE.

ANYONE CAN, AT ANY MOMENT,

BE OR DO ANYTHING HE WISHES,

EVEN TO BECOMING RULER OF PLATONIUS

IF HIS MIND IS STRONG ENOUGH.

AND IF HIS MIND ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH,

HE GETS TORN APART LIKE ALEXANDER.

OH, COME NOW. WE AREN'T CHILDREN.

IN YOUR CULTURE, JUSTICE IS THE WILL OF THE STRONGER.

IT IS FORCED UPON PEOPLE BY MEANS OF WEAPONS AND FLEETS OF SPACESHIPS.

OUR JUSTICE IS THE WILL OF THE STRONGER MIND,

AND I, FOR ONE, CONSIDER IT A VAST IMPROVEMENT.

WE DON'T USE OUR WEAPONS FOR THE KIND OF BRUTALITY YOU PRACTICE.

FAREWELL, CAPTAIN.

COME ON, DOCTOR.

McCOY...

I CAN'T MOVE, JIM.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP ME HERE NO MATTER WHAT.

LEAVE, PLEASE.

NO. YOU'RE THE DOCTOR.

THEY DON'T WANT TO FORCE YOU.

THEY NEED YOUR GOOD WILL. THEY'RE TRYING--

CAPTAIN, GO WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

WE'RE NOT LEAVING UNTIL McCOY IS RELEASED.

THIS ISN'T THE ENTERPRISE.

YOU ARE NOT IN COMMAND, CAPTAIN.

WHY EVEN DISCUSS IT? GET RID OF THEM.

NO, MY DEAR. THAT MIGHT OFFEND THE GOOD DOCTOR.

YOU WISH TO STAY?

BY ALL MEANS.

YOU CAN HELP US CELEBRATE OUR ANNIVERSARY.

IN THE PROCESS, I HOPE WE CAN PERSUADE YOU TO JOIN OUR TINY REPUBLIC.

YOU WON'T PERSUADE ME.

I THINK WE WILL.

♪ I'M TWEEDLEDEE, HE'S TWEEDLEDUM ♪

♪ TWO SPACEMEN MARCHING TO A DRUM ♪

♪ WE SLITHE AMONG THE MIMSEY TOVES ♪

♪ AND GYRE AMONG THE BOROGOVES ♪

YOU'RE NOT STAYING, McCOY.

NO MATTER WHAT HE TRIES--

BEING YOUR SLAVE...

WHAT SHOULD I DO

BUT TEND UPON THE HOURS...

AND TIMES...

OF YOUR DESIRE?

I HAVE NO PRECIOUS TIME AT ALL TO SPEND,

NOR SERVICE TO DO, TILL YOU--

STOP IT!

DON'T DO THIS TO HIM, PARMEN!

McCOY...

NO MATTER WHAT HE MAKES ME...

SAY OR DO...

THE ANSWER'S...NO.

OHH!

NO, PARMEN!

STOP IT!

WELL, DOCTOR?

I HAVE MY ORDERS.

AS YOU WISH, DOCTOR.

UHH...

IS THIS...

YOUR UTOPIA,

YOUR GRAND VISION OF THE FUTURE?

YOU DON'T--

AAH!

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OR YOUR MORALIZING.

AND WE'VE HAD TOO MUCH OF YOURS.

YOU WILL NEVER GET ME TO STAY HERE.

YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO STAY.

IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME, DOCTOR,

BUT YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO STAY.

[LAUGHING]

HE'S A VULCAN.

YOU CAN'T FORCE EMOTION OUT OF HIM.

YOU MUST BE JOKING, DOCTOR.

IT'LL DESTROY HIM.

[LAUGHING]

WE CAN'T LET HIM DIE LAUGHING, CAN WE?

[SOBBING]

I BEG YOU.

SPOCK...

SPOCK...

DON'T...

LET THEM...

BREAK YOU.

HOLD ON.

DON'T--

PARMEN...

THEY SAVED YOUR LIFE.

I'M ASHAMED TO BE A PLATONIAN.

I'M ASHAMED!

AAH!

[WHINNY]

[WHINNY]

HOW CAN YOU LET THIS GO ON?

[WHINNY]

[WHINNY]

[WHINNY]

[WHINNY]

CAN YOU DO ANYTHING FOR HIM?

THERE'S NO MEDICINE THAT CAN HELP HIM.

HE'LL HAVE TO COME THROUGH THIS HIMSELF.

I TRUST THEY DID NOT INJURE YOU TOO MUCH, CAPTAIN.

MY MUSCLES ARE SORE, THAT'S ALL.

THE HUMILIATION MUST HAVE BEEN

MOST DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO BEAR.

I CAN UNDERSTAND.

THE RELEASE OF EMOTIONS, MR. SPOCK,

IS WHAT KEEPS US HEALTHY,

EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY, THAT IS.

THAT MAY BE, DOCTOR,

HOWEVER I HAVE NOTED THAT THE HEALTHY RELEASE OF EMOTION

IS FREQUENTLY VERY UNHEALTHY

FOR THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU.

WHICH JUST GOES TO PROVE

THAT THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT SOLUTION.

SO IT WOULD SEEM.

CAPTAIN.

YES, SPOCK.

DO YOU STILL FEEL ANGER TOWARD PARMEN?

GREAT ANGER.

AND YOU, DR. McCOY?

YES, SPOCK.

AND HATRED.

THEN YOU MUST RELEASE IT, GENTLEMEN,

AS I MUST MASTER MINE.

I MIGHT HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED YOU, CAPTAIN,

EVEN KILLED YOU.

THEY HAVE EVOKED SUCH GREAT HATRED IN ME...

I CANNOT ALLOW IT TO GO FURTHER.

I MUST...

MASTER IT.

I MUST...

CONTROL.

JIM...

THIS IS SENSELESS. I'VE THOUGHT IT OVER. I'M STAYING.

YOU CAN'T.

BUT PARMEN HAS PROMISED ME YOU'LL BE SAFE.

PROMISED?

PARMEN?

HE'D LET US BEAM UP TO THE ENTERPRISE,

THEN PLUNGE THE SHIP BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

WHY? WHY TRICK ME?

BECAUSE IF HE KILLED US OUTRIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU,

YOU'D RETALIATE.

YOU'RE A DOCTOR. YOU HAVE THE MEANS.

BONES, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING,

BUT IF ANY ONE OF US ESCAPED,

PARMEN KNOWS THAT STARFLEET

WOULD NEVER LET THIS PLANET GO UNPUNISHED.

SACRIFICE YOURSELF BY AGREEING TO STAY,

AND YOU SIGN OUR DEATH WARRANT.

HE'S RIGHT.

I SHOULD HAVE WARNED YOU.

THEY WERE TREATING YOU THE SAME WAY THEY TREAT ME,

JUST LIKE ME, ONLY YOU FIGHT THEM.

ALL THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS ME,

MY MIND THAT COULDN'T EVEN MOVE A PEBBLE.

THEY EVEN TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THEY BOTHERED TO KEEP ME AROUND AT ALL,

AND I BELIEVED THEM.

THE ARMS AND LEGS OF EVERYBODY'S WHIM...

LOOK DOWN. DON'T MEET THEIR EYES. SMILE. SMILE...

THOSE GREAT PEOPLE...

THEY WERE GODS TO ME.

BUT YOU SHOWED ME WHAT THEY REALLY ARE.

NOW I KNOW. DON'T YOU SEE?

IT'S NOT ME. IT'S NOT MY SIZE.

IT'S THEM!

IT'S THEM!

IT'S THEM!

PUT IT DOWN.

NO. THIS IS THE BEST THING FOR THEM.

PUT IT DOWN. NO.

DO WHAT I SAY. I'M GOING TO CUT THEM.

ALEXANDER. PARMEN FIRST.

AND THEY'LL ALL GET INFECTED.

BUT THIS TIME, WHATEVER THEY SAY, DON'T SAVE THEM.

LET THEM DIE.

GIVE IT TO ME! AT LEAST LET ME GIVE THEM A TASTE

OF WHAT THEY GAVE ME.

PLEASE. THEY'RE GONNA KILL YOU ANYWAY. YOU KNOW THAT.

IN THAT CASE, WHAT'S THE POINT IN YOU DYING, TOO, ALEXANDER?

GIVE IT TO ME.

TH-THAT'S THE FIRST TIME

ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT OF MY LIFE BEFORE HIS OWN.

I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU WHEN YOU FIRST CAME HERE

THAT THEY WERE GONNA KILL YOU,

BECAUSE I KNEW THAT, BUT I WAS AFRAID.

I WAS AFRAID.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, ALEXANDER.

LISTEN, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP,

AND THERE MAY BE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP.

ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP, YOU JUST TELL ME.

ALL RIGHT. DID THE PLATONIANS ALWAYS HAVE THIS POWER?

NO, NOT UNTIL WE CAME TO THIS PLANET.

ALEXANDER, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RECALL

HOW LONG AFTER YOU ARRIVED HERE

THAT THEIR POWER BEGAN TO DEVELOP?

HOW COULD I FORGET THAT?

IT WAS EXACTLY 6 MONTHS AND 14 DAYS AFTER WE GOT HERE

THAT THEY STARTED PUSHING ME AROUND.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS' SUPPLIES

YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU?

WELL, FOUR, I THINK. NO, THREE.

THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH, ALEXANDER.

FASCINATING.

THEIR POWER DEVELOPED TWO OR THREE MONTHS

AFTER THEY STARTED EATING THE NATIVE FOODS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THEN IT'S LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT

THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PSYCHOKINETIC POWER

AND THE EATING OF THE NATIVE FOODS.

THEN WHY WOULDN'T ALEXANDER HAVE THE SAME POWER AS THE OTHERS?

PERHAPS HIS SYSTEM CANNOT ABSORB THE CRUCIAL ELEMENT.

BONES, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA

IF YOU TOOK A READING OF ALEXANDER'S BLOOD.

UH, NOT THAT I'M AFRAID OR ANYTHING,

BUT WILL IT HURT MUCH?

YOU WON'T EVEN KNOW IT HAPPENED.

YOU STILL HAVE A TRICORDER READING OF PARMEN'S BLOOD, DON'T YOU?

OF COURSE.

PARMEN POSSESSES THE HIGHEST ORDER

OF PSYCHOKINETIC ABILITY,

AND ALEXANDER THE LOWEST

IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

THE PROBABILITIES ARE THAT ALEXANDER

WAS BORN WITH SOME BIOCHEMICAL DEFICIENCY

RELATIVE TO PLATONIUS.

I'LL RUN BOTH THEIR BLOOD SAMPLES THROUGH

FOR A FULL COMPARATIVE TEST ON THE TRICORDER.

AND IF OUR THEORY WORKS OUT,

WE'VE GOT A WEAPON.

THE ONE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PARMEN'S BLOOD AND ALEXANDER'S

IS A CONCENTRATION OF KIRONIDE

BROKEN DOWN BY A PITUITARY HORMONE.

KIRONIDE.

IT'S A HIGH-ENERGY SOURCE.

THAT COULD BE IT.

THE PITUITARY HORMONES CONFIRM THE HYPOTHESIS.

THEY ALSO REGULATE BODY GROWTH.

OH. YOU MEAN, THE SAME THING

THAT KEPT ME FROM HAVING THE POWER

MADE ME A DWARF?

YES.

IT'S ALSO OBVIOUS WHY PARMEN

KEPT THIS LITTLE UTOPIA A SECRET.

ANYONE COMING DOWN HERE AND REMAINING LONG ENOUGH

WOULD ACQUIRE THE POWER.

EXACTLY.

McCOY...

THERE MUST BE A QUICK WAY

OF BUILDING UP A CONCENTRATION

OF KIRONIDE IN OUR BLOOD.

IT'LL TAKE SOME DOING, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

WHAT IS IT, BONES?

WELL, EVEN IF THE KIRONIDE REACHES ITS DESIRED EFFECT,

IT STILL MAY NOT HELP US GET OUT OF HERE.

YES. THERE ARE 38 OF THEM.

THE POINT IS WELL TAKEN,

HOWEVER THE PSYCHOKINETIC POWER IS NOT ADDITIVE.

IF IT WERE, CONSIDERING THE PLATONIANS' HOSTILE PROPENSITIES

TWO OR THREE OF THEM

WOULD HAVE COMBINED FORCES CENTURIES AGO

AND DEPOSED PARMEN.

HE'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, PARMEN SAYS

THAT EACH ONE HAS HIS OWN SEPARATE POWER FREQUENCY

BECAUSE BEFORE WHEN THEY'VE TRIED TO COMBINE THEIR POWERS

AND USE THEM TOGETHER, IT NEVER WORKED.

I'M READY.

LET'S NOT WASTE ANY TIME.

GIVE US DOUBLE THE CONCENTRATION IN PARMEN'S BLOODSTREAM.

THE TIME FACTOR CONCERNS ME.

IT MAY TAKE DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS

BEFORE THERE'S ENOUGH BUILDUP FROM THE KIRONIDE

TO BE OF ANY BENEFIT TO US.

YES...

WHAT ABOUT ALEXANDER?

SINCE THE KIRONIDE'S BROKEN DOWN AND INJECTED DIRECTLY INTO HIS BLOODSTREAM,

IT SHOULD WORK ON HIM AS WELL AS US--

BETTER, IN FACT, BECAUSE HE'S ACCLIMATED.

OH, NO.

NOT AFTER WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO ME.

WHY NOT?

YOU COULD CONCEIVABLY TAKE PARMEN'S PLACE

AND RUN THE WHOLE PLANET.

YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANT?

BECOME ONE OF THEM, BECOME MY OWN ENEMY?

JUST LIE AROUND LIKE A BIG BLOB OF NOTHING

AND HAVE THINGS DONE FOR ME?

I WANT TO MOVE AROUND FOR MYSELF.

IF I'M GOING TO LAUGH OR CRY, I WANT TO DO IT FOR MYSELF!

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PRECIOUS POWER.

ALL I ASK IS ONE THING.

IF YOU DO MAKE IT OUT OF HERE,

TAKE ME WITH YOU.

JUST DROP ME ANYPLACE WHERE THEY NEVER HEARD OF KIRONIDE OR PLATONIUS.

ALEXANDER--

Kirk: NURSE... LIEUTENANT UHURA?

I GUESS WE WEREN'T SUFFICIENTLY ENTERTAINING.

ARE WE EVER GLAD TO SEE YOU.

WE WERE FORCED IN THE TRANSPORTER AND BEAMED DOWN.

IT WAS LIKE BECOMING SOMEONE'S PUPPET.

I THOUGHT I WAS SLEEPWALKING.

I COULDN'T STOP MYSELF.

[LAUGHTER]

CAPTAIN, WHAT IS IT?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

[LAUGHTER]

SPOCK, DO YOU FEEL ANY EFFECT

OF THE KIRONIDE SHOT?

I DID EXPERIENCE A SLIGHT FLUSH, CAPTAIN.

SO DID I. LET'S TRY A SIMPLE TEST.

CONCENTRATE ON RAISING THIS PLATE OF FRUIT.

NOTHING.

[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

FELLOW ACADEMICIANS.

2,500 YEARS AGO, A BAND OF HEARTY VAGABONDS

ARRIVED ON THIS BARREN, ROUGH-HEWN PLANET.

THERE WAS A DESPERATE HARDSHIP

OF BACKBREAKING TOIL.

AND THEN A DIVINE PROVIDENCE

GRACED OUR GENIUS AND OUR DEDICATION

WITH THE POWER OF POWERS.

AND THROUGH IT, OUR EVERY NEED INSTANTLY MATERIALIZED.

WE THEREUPON DETERMINED

TO FORM A UTOPIAN BROTHERHOOD.

THIS NIGHT IS INDEED A FESTIVE OCCASION,

FOR TONIGHT, WE WELCOME INTO THAT BROTHERHOOD

IT'S FIRST NEW MEMBER.

NOT YET, PARMEN.

YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THE DOCTOR FIRST.

THEY'LL NEVER DO IT, JIM.

DOCTOR, PLEASE.

YOU ARE DESTROYING THE FESTIVE MOOD OF THE LADIES.

WE MUST RECAPTURE IT AT ONCE.

I KNOW.

WHAT WOULD BE BETTER

THAN A SERENADE FROM THE LAUGHING SPACEMAN?

[LAUGHING]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ TAKE YOUR YOUNG LADIES AND VALUE YOUR WINE ♪

♪ BE WATCHFUL OF YOUNG MEN IN THEIR VELVET PRIME ♪

♪ DEEPLY THEY'LL SWALLOW FROM YOUR FINEST KEGS ♪

♪ THEN SWIFTLY BE GONE ♪

♪ LEAVING BITTER DREGS ♪

♪ AHH-AH-AH-AH ♪

♪ BITTER DREGS ♪

♪ WITH SMILING WORDS AND TENDER TOUCH ♪

♪ MAN OFFERS LITTLE AND ASKS FOR SO MUCH ♪

♪ HE LOVES IN THE BREATHLESS EXCITEMENT OF NIGHT ♪

♪ THEN LEAVES WITH YOUR TREASURE ♪

♪ IN COLD MORNING LIGHT ♪

♪ AHH AHH ♪

♪ IN COLD MORNING LIGHT ♪

AND NOW LET THE REVELS BEGIN.

[LAUGHTER]

[APPLAUSE]

OH, HOW FAITHLESS AND FICKLE.

MAKE UP YOUR MINDS.

I'M SO ASHAMED.

PLEASE MAKE THEM STOP.

WE HAVE TRIED.

PLEASE! PLEASE MAKE THEM STOP.

I HAVEN'T THE POWER.

I'M DEEPLY SORRY.

WE FAILED YOU.

FOR SO LONG I'VE WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO YOU.

NOW ALL I WANT TO DO IS CRAWL AWAY AND DIE.

CAREFUL, MR. SPOCK.

TOO MUCH LOVE IS DANGEROUS.

REMEMBER--CUPID'S ARROW KILLS VULCANS.

I'M SO FRIGHTENED, CAPTAIN.

I'M SO VERY FRIGHTENED.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY WANT YOU TO FEEL.

IT MAKES THEM THINK THAT THEY'RE ALIVE.

I KNOW IT...

BUT I WISH I COULD STOP TREMBLING.

TRY NOT TO THINK OF THEM.

TRY.

I'M THINKING.

I'M THINKING OF ALL THE TIMES ON THE ENTERPRISE

WHEN I WAS SCARED TO DEATH...

AND I WOULD SEE YOU SO BUSY AT YOUR COMMAND

AND I WOULD HEAR YOUR VOICE

FROM ALL PARTS OF THE SHIP...

AND MY FEARS WOULD FADE.

AND NOW THEY ARE MAKING ME TREMBLE.

BUT I'M NOT AFRAID.

I AM NOT AFRAID.

OH...

[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]

PARMEN, LET'S GET ON WITH IT.

YOU ARE SO IMPATIENT, MY WIFE.

OBSERVE THE DOCTOR AND LEARN.

HE'S QUITE CONTENT TO WAIT

FOR THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE.

YOU'RE HALF DEAD, ALL OF YOU!

YOU'VE BEEN DEAD FOR CENTURIES.

WE MAY DISAPPEAR TOMORROW,

BUT AT LEAST WE'RE LIVING NOW,

AND YOU CAN'T STAND THAT, CAN YOU?

YOU'RE HALF CRAZY

BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING INSIDE. NOTHING.

AND YOU HAVE TO TORTURE US

TO CONVINCE YOURSELVES YOU'RE SUPERIOR.

STOP IT, PARMEN! STOP IT!

I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO.

I'LL STAY HERE AND SERVE YOU, BUT STOP IT!

PARMEN.

ALEXANDER AGAIN.

HE LIKES TO PLAY WITH KNIVES.

VERY WELL. WE SHALL INDULGE HIM.

WHO DID THAT?

I DID.

[ERACLITUS] IMPOSSIBLE!

QUITE POSSIBLE...

AND LOGICAL.

WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

PLATONIANS, LISTEN TO ME.

THE NEXT ONE OF YOU THAT TRIES ANY TRICK

WILL GET HURT.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE YOUR PSYCHOKINETIC ABILITY

BUT AT TWICE YOUR POWER LEVEL.

NOT TWICE MINE!

CAPTAIN, NO!

CAPTAIN...

I BEG OF YOU!

I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU SAY.

I DO NOT WISH TO DIE.

CAPTAIN...

DO YOU HEAR ME?

DON'T STOP ME. LET ME FINISH HIM OFF.

DO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE HIM?

PARMEN, LISTEN TO ME.

I COULD HAVE HAD YOUR POWER,

BUT I DIDN'T WANT IT.

I COULD HAVE HAD YOUR PLACE RIGHT NOW,

BUT THE SIGHT OF YOU AND YOUR ACADEMICIANS SICKENS ME.

DESPITE YOUR BRAINS,

YOU'RE THE MOST CONTEMPTIBLE THINGS

THAT EVER LIVED IN THIS UNIVERSE.

CAPTAIN...

YOU KNEW THAT I INTENDED TO DESTROY

BOTH YOU AND THE ENTERPRISE,

YET YOU SPARED ME.

TO US, KILLING IS MURDER,

EVEN FOR REVENGE.

BUT THERE WILL BE OTHER STARSHIPS.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR CONCERN.

THEY'LL BE SAFE.

OF LATE, I HAVE BEGUN TO THINK

THAT WE HAVE BECOME BIZARRE AND UNPRODUCTIVE.

WE'RE EXISTING MERELY TO NOURISH OUR OWN POWER.

IT'S TIME FOR SOME FRESH AIR.

WE SHALL WELCOME YOUR INTERSTELLAR VISITS.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.

THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNCHARACTERISTIC.

WE MUST EXPECT, PARMEN,

THAT THE MOMENT WE LEAVE HERE,

YOUR FEAR WOULD BE GONE

AND YOU'D AGAIN BE AS SADISTIC AND AS ARROGANT

AS YOUR 2,500 YEARS HAVE MADE YOU.

AND JUST REMEMBER, WE CAN RE-CREATE THAT POWER IN A MATTER OF HOURS,

SO DON'T TRY ANYTHING.

UNDERSTOOD, CAPTAIN.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

NONE OF US CAN BE TRUSTED.

UNCONTROLLED, POWER WILL TURN EVEN SAINTS INTO SAVAGES,

AND WE CAN ALL BE COUNTED UPON

TO LIVE DOWN TO OUR LOWEST IMPULSES.

YOU'RE VERY GOOD AT MAKING SPEECHES, PARMEN.

JUST MAKE SURE THIS ONE SINKS IN.

NOW, MOVE ASIDE.

ALEXANDER.

KIRK TO ENTERPRISE.

MR. SCOTT, PREPARE TO BEAM US UP.

I HAVE A LITTLE SURPRISE FOR YOU.

I'M BRINGING A VISITOR ABOARD.