Original subtitles

'Captain's log, stardate 1 51 3.1 .

'Our position, orbiting planet M-1 1 3.

'Onboard the Enterprise, Mr Spock, temporarily in command.

'On the planet, the ruins of an ancient and long dead civilisation.

'Ship's surgeon McCoy and myself are now beaming to the planet's surface.

'Our mission, medical examination of archaeologist Robert Crater,

'and his wife, Nancy.

'Routine, but for the fact Nancy Crater is that one woman in McCoy's past.'

Should we pick some flowers, Doctor?

When a man visits an old girlfriend she usually expects something.

ls that how you get girls to like you? By bribing them?

Doesn't seem to be anybody around.

They'll be along. You rushed us down ten minutes early.

Professor Crater? Professor?

Mrs Crater?

Nervous, Dr McCoy?

Yeah, a little bit l guess.

We walked out of each other's lives ten years ago.

She married Crater and for all l know she may have forgotten me completely.

Of all the bonehead ideas. How do l let myself in for these things?

(Woman singing)

(Sings)

- Leonard. - Nancy.

Hello.

- lt's good to see you. - Let me look at you.

You haven't aged a day.

Oh, this is Captain Jim Kirk of the Enterprise.

Mrs Crater. l've heard a great deal about you.

- All good l hope. - Ah...

And Crewman Darnell.

How do you do, ma'am.

- Something wrong, Darnell? - Excuse me, sir.

But ma'am, l'd swear you were someone l left on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet.

- A little less mouth, Darnell. - l'm sorry, sir. l...

l mean, l know it's impossible.

- Why don't you step outside, Darnell? - Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

- Maybe l'll step outside, too. - What?

And let Plum examine me all alone?

- Plum? - Plum.

A nickname l gave Leonard when we were very young.

l'll er... l'll wait for the professor and l'll catch you both at once.

(Chuckles) l better go get Bob.

Every time he starts digging he forgets time, sleep, food, everything.

l'll be back in a minute.

lt's quite warm here, isn't it?

'Space - the final frontier.

'These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.

'lts five-year mission, to explore strange new worlds,

'to seek out new life and new civilisations,

'to boldly go where no man has gone before.'

'Captain's log, additional entry.

'Our mission was routine, so we beamed down to the planet without suspicion.

'We were totally unaware each of us was seeing a different woman.

'A different Nancy Crater.'

Professor Crater. l'm Captain Kirk. This is...

The heroic captain and intrepid doctor cross space to preserve our health.

Your sense of duty is overwhelming. Now go back where you came from.

And tell whoever issues your orders to leave us alone.

We need additional salt. Aside from that, we're doing very well, thank you.

l'm pleased you're doing well, but l'm required to confirm that fact.

Doubtless, the good surgeon will enjoy prodding us with his arcane machinery.

Go away. We don't want you.

What you want is unimportant right now. You will get what is required by the book.

Quote, ''All research personnel on alien planets must have their health certified

by a starship's surgeon at one-year intervals.''

As commander of the starship, l'm required...

To show your gold braid. You love it, don't you?

He's all yours, Plum...Dr McCoy.

- Sit down and breathe deeply. - Did l hear you call him Dr McCoy?

You did.

McCoy.

- l've heard Nancy speak of a McCoy. - She didn't mention l was here?

You. You've seen Nancy?

- She went out to get you. - You were with the good doctor?

- Yes, why? - Oh, nothing.

lt gives me great pleasure to know she's seen an old friend

and has a chance for some company.

lt's different for me. l enjoy solitude.

But for a woman... You understand, of course.

lt certainly hasn't aged her. She looks exactly as l knew her 1 2 years ago.

lt's amazing. Like a girl of 25.

l'm sorry, Captain. Sit down. l seem to have forgotten my manners.

Quite all right.

l'm not joking. She hasn't aged a day. There's not a grey hair on her head.

She's got some grey, Bones...

Excuse me, Professor. She's a handsome woman but hardly 25.

You've seen my wife through the eyes of your past attachment, Doctor.

l'm sure when Nancy lets...

When you see her again, she'll be of a believable age.

Well, she doesn't look a day over 30.

Genuine affection. l'm glad you still feel it for her.

Leonard, isn't it? She's a fine woman.

- Open your mouth. - The machine...

The machine is capable of almost anything.

But l put my trust in healthy tonsils.

(Woman screams)

(Screams)

McCoy.

Dead, Jim. lt's strange... The red mottling all over his face.

- What happened? - What do you suppose?

Your crewman ate an untested plant.

l've just lost a crewman, Mrs Crater. What happened?

Well, l... l...

Take it easy, Nancy. Just tell us what you know.

Well, l was just...

l couldn't find Bob, and l was coming back.

l crossed to your crewman.

l wanted him to know l wasn't offended by the things he'd said back there.

You remember?

Then l...

l noticed he had a Borgia plant in his hand.

Before l could say anything, he'd taken a bite from it.

He fell. He was all twisting and...

- You look like you don't believe me. - No. lt's not that.

Jim, l suppose we could complete these examinations later.

We don't need an examination. Perhaps you'd better take your man...

We're well aware of our next duties. We'll finish the examinations tomorrow.

- Transporter room. - 'Yes, Captain.'

- Lock onto us. Three beaming up. - 'Locked onto you.'

You did ask him about more salt tablets?

l'll take care of the provisioning, Nancy.

Uhura, your last subspace log contained an error in the frequencies column.

Sometimes l think if l hear that word ''frequency'' once more, l'll cry.

Cry?

l was just trying to start a conversation.

lt is illogical for a communications officer to resent the word frequency.

- l have no answer. - No, you have an answer.

l'm an illogical woman, who's beginning to feel too much a part of that console.

Why don't you tell me l'm attractive? Or ask me if l've ever been in love.

Tell me how your planet Vulcan looks on a lazy evening when the moon is full.

- Vulcan has no moon, Miss Uhura. - l'm not surprised, Mr Spock.

'Transporter room to bridge. Landing party returning.'

'They report one death.'

Bridge acknowledging.

- l don't believe it. - Explain.

You explain. That means somebody is dead and you just sit there.

Captain Kirk is the closest thing you have to a friend.

My concern will not change what has happened.

The transporter room is well manned. They will call if they need my assistance.

- She called it a Borgia plant. - lt's new to me.

- 'Bridge to dispensary.' - Go ahead.

Borgia plant listed in record tapes as carbon group three vegetation.

Similar to Earth nightshade. Alkaloid poison.

Chemical structure common to Class-M planets.

About the strange mottling on his facial skin surface...

There is no reference to this symptom.

Then this man wasn't poisoned.

Stand by, Mr Spock.

- She says she saw him eat the plant. - She's mistaken.

- There's no trace of it. - He had bits in his mouth.

Jim, he could not have swallowed any. My instruments would have picked it up.

- What kills a healthy man? - And something else.

This man shouldn't be dead. There's nothing wrong.

According to all the tests he should just walk away from here.

l don't know. l'll have the tests checked. My eyes may be tricking me.

l swear, when l first saw her she looked just as l'd known her ten years ago.

Granted, l may have been looking through a romantic haze.

How your love affects your vision doesn't interest me. l've lost a man.

- l want to know what killed him. - Yes, sir.

'Captain's log, stardate 1 51 3.4.

'ln orbit around planet M-1 1 3.

'One crewman, member of the landing party, dead by violence.

'Cause, unknown.

'The cause of death was not poison.'

Message, Captain.

Base on Corinth lV requesting explanation of our delay.

Commander Dominguez says we have supplies he urgently needs.

Tell Josй he'll get his chilli peppers.

Tell him they're prime Mexican reds. But he won't die without them.

- Got it? - Got it, Captain.

Well?

No mistake. Borgia plant, sole deadly property is alkaloid poison.

- Professor Crater and wife? - Check out perfectly.

They arrived here nearly five years ago. Visited by various vessels.

Made fairly heavy shipments out of artefacts and reports.

However, there has been a marked drop in shipments during the last year.

'Dispensary to Captain.'

- Kirk here. - 'We found something.'

- What is it? - 'l'd rather not put it on the speaker.'

Fascinating. So improbable, we almost didn't check.

Sodium chloride. No trace.

- This man has no salt in his body. - How do you explain that?

l can't.

Except, what we normally carry in our bodies is gone from his.

- He'd die instantly. - There's no mark.

- Except the rings on his face. - Skin mottling?

l thought it was, sir. Another error on my part.

l'm not counting them, Bones.

Are you in the mood for an apology?

Forget it. l should have been thinking about my job.

Perhaps you were.

Nancy and Crater went out of their way to mention one item they needed.

Salt tablets.

Mr Spock. Outfit a landing party.

We're beaming down with some questions.

One might think you had more important duties than harassing people.

l have. Where is Mrs Crater? l want to talk to her, too.

You can't just beam down and bully us and interfere with our work.

Mrs Crater. l won't ask again.

Possibly at the other diggings.

- Green, find her. - Yes, sir.

- Mr Spock. - 'Standing by.'

Sturgeon, transport a sample to Spock. We'll check if it's the Borgia plant or not.

- You got that? - 'Complete analysis.'

Captain? Considering you are a trespasser on my planet...

Your complaint is noted, sir.

Look. Something we don't understand killed one of my men.

lt could prove a danger to you and Mrs Crater, too.

We've been here for five years.

lf there were anything hostile here we would know about it.

Tell the Professor what the autopsy revealed.

Our crewman died of salt depletion.

Sudden, total loss of it. Medically impossible by any standards.

And by coincidence, both you and Mrs Crater requested salt tablets.

And your esteemed physician cannot explain our need for salt tablets?

We're all aware of the need for salt on a hot and arid planet like this.

But it's a mystery. And l don't like mysteries.

They give me a bellyache. l got a beauty right now.

Nancy and l started with 25 pounds.

This is what we have left. Now, what is so mysterious about that?

Salt.

A mission of the Enterprise is to protect human life.

l have to ask you to stay aboard until we find out what killed the crewman.

- You can't do that. - l can.

- lt will interfere with our work. - How?

You've been here five years. Will a couple of days make a difference?

Mr Spock. Arrange quarters for the Professor and Mrs Crater.

- Did you get the plant analysis? - 'lt is a Borgia.'

'lt could not have caused Darnell's death.'

Jim, he's run off.

Nancy?

You! Salt!

l've got salt. Smell it. Smell it, Nancy.

(Kirk) Professor Crater! Professor Crater!

Professor Crater!

Professor Crater!

Professor!

Jim! Jim!

lt's Sturgeon.

He's dead.

Better locate crewman Green.

(Kirk) Green!

Crewman Green, report!

Green!

Crewman Green, report.

Green!

(Kirk) Green, where are you?

- Could it be Crater? He came this way. - l don't know.

Green! Gre... Did you see this?

Yes. Sturgeon was dead when l found him. l was circling to find what it was.

Same red rings on his face.

Have you seen Nancy...Mrs Crater?

No, sir. l checked all through the ruins.

l'm worried about her, Jim. She could be in trouble.

- Nancy! - Crater!

- Nancy! - We're beaming aboard the ship.

- You can't. - We can't search on foot.

You could learn from Spock. You think with your glands.

We've equipment that could pinpoint a lit match. Or the heat of a body.

Transporter room. Kirk speaking. Three to beam up.

Kirk to bridge. Break out the surface search equipment.

l want coordinates on two people.

- There's a body down there. - We'll bring him home, sir.

- You could use some sleep, Bones. - All right, Jim.

Bridge.

Oh, Green. What went on down there?

Who do you think you are?

Something odd. You said two people.

Professor and Nancy Crater.

We get a reading on only one person. Probably Crater.

He's circling as if searching for something.

- Expand search radius. - Yes, sir.

- Why don't you go chase an asteroid? - Hey, Janice. ls that for me?

Don't you wish it was?

How about that?

How would you like to have her as your own personal yeoman?

- Sulu? - l'm in here feeding the weepers.

l've got your tray.

May the great bird of the galaxy bless your planet.

Hello, Beauregard. How are you today, darling?

- Her name's Gertrude. - lt's a he-plant. A girl can tell.

Why do people call inanimate objects ''she?'' Like, ''She's a fast ship''.

He is not an inanimate object. He's so animate he makes me nervous.

ln fact, l keep expecting one of these plants of yours to grab me.

Hello, Green.

He's not talking today.

Have you been nipping Saurian brandy or something?

(Flower screams)

Take it easy. Calm down. Very sensitive.

He's the real spook. Do you suppose he's space-happy?

(Uhura) The door to my quarters still rattles.

Will you stop by and see if you can do something about it? Thanks, Bobby.

Crewman, do l know you?

ln a way, ma'am.

You were just thinking of someone like me.

l'm guessing, but you look a little lonely.

l see. So naturally, when l'm lonely l think of you.

lt's Swahili.

'Lieutenant Uhura to the bridge.'

'Lieutenant Uhura to the bridge.'

l better give this tray back. Bye, Beauregard.

Wait a minute. l'll walk along.

'Lieutenant Uhura, report to the bridge.'

Lieutenant Uhura. On my way, sir.

McCoy to bridge. ls the Captain there?

Kirk here. We haven't located Mrs Crater.

- Can't you sleep? - No.

Try taking one of those red pills you gave me last week. You'll sleep.

The simple fact is, unless there's something wrong with the equipment,

there's only one person within a 1 00-mile circle.

All right, we'll triangulate on him.

We'll let Professor Crater explain what happened to his wife.

Remember my instructions. Keep a tight fix on us.

lf we yell, l want an armed party down there before the echo dies.

Nancy.

Well, come in. l've been worried sick about you.

- Why didn't Jim tell me he found you? - l'm so happy to see you, Leonard.

The others, they... Well, l...

l don't relate to them as much. You have such strong memories of me.

- Well, l... - You do care, don't you, Leonard?

Makes me feel so...so safe.

- Nancy... - My husband?

l like your feelings better.

Much stronger.

But you're tired. You need to rest.

You're as bad as Jim Kirk. He's been telling me to take these.

l think you should. l'll get you some water.

(Gasps) Look at his face.

Bridge, Sulu. Trouble on deck 9, section 2. We need a medical team.

'Captain's log, stardate 1 51 3.8.

'The violent deaths of my crewmen was caused by some strange life-form.'

l was so worried. Your husband acting strange...

- Crewmen dying... - You're so tired, darling. Just rest now.

'Medical department alert. Doctors and medics, acknowledge.'

lt's nothing dear. lt's nothing. You just sleep.

Nancy will take care of everything.

'Dr McCoy to the bridge. Dr McCoy to the bridge.'

'Dr McCoy to the bridge.'

'Captain's log, additional.

'Able-bodied crewmen are not slaughtered this easily.

'Apparently the killer can immobilise them,

'perhaps with some hypnotic or paralysing power.

'The answer lies with Professor Crater.'

- Professor Crater? - We don't want you here.

We? Where's your wife, Professor? We're concerned about her.

l'm armed. Go away.

- Where's your wife? - She's no concern of yours.

We're worried about her safety. Aren't you?

You're a reasonable man. Let me...

(Beeping)

- Kirk here. - 'Casualty, Captain.'

'Barnhart was found dead. Same symptoms.'

Spock cutting in. Something here through the arches to your left.

Stand by, Mr Sulu. Spock has something.

Green.

- He beamed up to the ship with us. - Or something did.

- Enterprise from Kirk. - 'Bridge, Sulu.'

You have an intruder. Could be masquerading as Green.

General quarters, security condition 3.

'GQ, security 3, sir.'

'General quarters 3, intruder alert. GQ 3, intruder alert.'

(Siren)

'General quarters 3, intruder alert.'

'GQ 3, intruder alert.'

'Reporting GQ 3 secure. Do you require assistance there?'

lf we take Crater alive...

Negative, Lieutenant. But keep locked in on us. Kirk out.

Let's get him.

We don't want you here.

We're happy alone. l'll kill to stay alone.

You hear that, Kirk? Or you'll have to kill me. l don't care either way.

Taking him alive is going to be difficult.

Set your phaser on one quarter. Mine is on stun.

Why risk your life for his?

He's not trying to kill us, he's trying to frighten us. And he's doing a good job.

GQ 3 now secure except for decks 5, 7 and 1 0. Come in, please.

- He's not in supply and maintenance. - Engineering deck now.

- Run through file photos. - Check.

'Deck 5 reporting. Crewman Green is not in his quarters.'

(Sulu) He's not Green. Captain reports Green's dead.

And he... lt followed me. l thought there was something twitchy about him.

He, or whatever, is probably your crewman, too, Lieutenant.

He must have been ''it''. l would have remembered a crewman like him.

The creature leading you a merry chase, Mr Sulu?

- Creature? - Or whatever is killing the crewmen.

Perhaps l can help. Fill me in.

- Set. - Acknowledged.

Crater?

Your wife, Professor. Where is she?

Your wife, Professor. Where is she?

She...was the last of her kind.

The last of her kind?

The last of its kind.

Earth history, remember? Like the passenger pigeon. Or a buffalo.

Oh, l feel strange.

Just stunned. You'll be able to think in a minute.

The Earth buffalo, what about it?

Once there were millions.

Prairies black with them. One herd covered three whole states.

When they moved, like thunder.

And now they're gone. ls that what you mean?

Like the creatures here. Once there were millions of them.

Now there's one left. Nancy understood.

Always in the past tense.

Where's your wife? Where is she now?

Dead. Buried up on the hill that killed her.

- When? - A year...or was it two?

- Kirk to Enterprise. - 'Bridge to Captain. Sulu here.'

The intruder can assume any shape. You, myself, anyone. Understand?

- Go to GQ 4. - 'General quarters 4.'

The creature was trying to survive. lt has that right.

Transporter room, three to beam up.

They needed salt to stay alive. There was no more salt.

lt's the last one. The buffalo. There is no difference.

There's one, Professor. Your creature is killing my people.

'Captain's log, continuing.

'The Enterprise has been invaded by a creature capable of assuming any form,

'with the capacity to paralyse and draw the life from any one of us.'

(Sulu) 'Deck 5, section 3. Report.'

Security 3-A here, 3-B in sight.

Negative, Captain. l've checked every face. lt was not a crewman l saw.

Yeoman Rand, how long was ''Green'' with you?

As long as he...it thought it could get to the salt on my tray.

Salt has been set as bait at all decks and levels, Captain.

However, no one or nothing has approached.

- Dr McCoy? - Yes?

Medical department report, Doctor.

Oh...

Well, we could offer it salt without tricks.

There's no reason for it to attack us.

Your reasoning is reckless.

The creature is not dangerous when fed.

No. lt's simply trying to survive by using its natural ability to take other forms.

The way the chameleon uses protective colouring,

an ability retained from its primitive state.

We've retained our incisors. They were once fangs.

Certain of our muscles were designed for chase.

lt uses its ability, the way we use muscles and teeth, to stay alive.

And like us, it's an intelligent animal. There's no need to hunt it down.

Very interesting hypothesis, Doctor.

- Briefing room. - All the hulls sealed off.

All weapons accounted for.

Security 4 in effect on every level. Still no lead on intruder.

Thank you, Lieutenant. Continue the search.

Crater, we don't know what we're looking for. We need your help.

l demanded that you get off my planet.

Can you recognise this thing when you see it?

Professor, l'll forego charges up to this point.

But this creature is aboard my ship. And l'll have it.

Or l'll have your skin. Or both. Now, where is it?

l loved Nancy very much. Few women like my Nancy.

She lives in my dreams. She walks and sings in my dreams.

And it becomes Nancy for you?

Not because of tricks. lt doesn't trick me. lt needs love as much as it needs salt.

When it killed Nancy, l almost destroyed it.

lt isn't just a beast. lt is intelligent.

And the last of its kind.

(Kirk) You bleed too much, Crater. You're too pure and noble.

Are you saving the last of its kind or is this your private heaven?

Here on this planet.

This thing becomes wife, lover, best friend, wise man,

fool, idol, slave.

lsn't a bad life to have everyone at your beck and call and win all the arguments.

You don't understand.

Have you learned to see it in whatever form it becomes?

- Yes. - Are you going to help us find it?

Sorry, l can't.

l recommend we use truth serum.

Doctor?

Well, l resist using it, but in this case the Professor will give us the truth.

Take him.

- l'll accompany you, Doctor. - Yes, of course.

'Captain Kirk to dispensary. Urgent.'

(Siren)

lt wasn't McCoy. lt was the creature. lt hit me.

Crater grabbed my phaser.

l wondered about McCoy. Doubt had crossed my mind.

Captain.

Professor Crater.

Dead.

But it had you, too.

Fortunately, my ancestors spawned in another ocean.

My blood cells are quite different.

Leonard. Wake up. Please help me. Help me, Leonard.

They're trying to kill me. Don't let them.

- Who? No one is going to hurt you. - But you must help me.

- Move aside, Bones. - What's going on?

She's not Nancy, Bones.

- Are you insane? - lt killed four crewman. Now Crater.

- lt? - The creature. lt kills.

- lt needs salt to live. Move aside. - No!

My guess is she needs more. You want it, Nancy?

- Come and get it. - You're frightening her, Jim.

Not fright. Hunger. Look at her.

Leonard, if you love me, make him go away.

Come on. You want this, Nancy?

- Come on, Nancy. - Help me.

- McCoy, get out of the way. - Stop it!

- McCoy! - Are you out of your mind?

Get out of the way!

- lt's killing him. Shoot it, Doctor! - No!

- lt's killing him! Shoot quick! - l won't shoot Nancy.

This is not Nancy. lf she were Nancy, could she take this?

Stop it! Stop it, Spock!

Stop it!

- ls that Nancy, Doctor? - No.

(McCoy) No!

Leonard. Leonard, no.

- Leonard, please. - Lord, forgive me.

l'm sorry, Bones.

Ready to leave orbit, Captain.

Something wrong, Captain?

l was thinking about the buffalo.

- Warp 1 , Mr Sulu. - Warp 1 , sir. Leaving orbit.