Original subtitles

Ready to beam down.

Energise.

Energise.

- Having trouble? - l just don't understand.

You're beaming cargo down to a penal colony.

- Their security force field. - USS Enterprise, Tantalus colony.

- Rehab colony, come in. - Open your force field for cargo.

Enterprise, affirmative. Our security cover is now open.

Energise.

- Any incoming cargo? - One item.

Some research material for the Central Bureau of Penology.

Tantalus cargo ready to beam up.

Mr Berkeley, refamiliarise yourself with penal colony procedures.

- lmmediately, sir. - l think you can lock this up first.

l'll get a vault assignment.

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, stardate 27 1 5.1 .

Exchanged cargo with penal colony on Tantalus V.

Have departed without going ashore.

l would like to have met Dr Adams.

Have you been to a penal colony since they followed his theories?

- A cage is a cage. - You're behind the times.

They're more like resort colonies now.

Message, Captain. Switching to speaker.

Tantalus colony to Enterprise. We are unable to locate one of our inmates.

This is a potentially violent case.

Possibly hidden in the box we beamed up to you.

Repeat. Unable to locate one of our inmates.

This is a potentially violent case.

Enterprise acknowledging. Stand by. Security alert 3.

Security alert. Condition 3.

All sections go to alert condition 3. We may have an intruder aboard.

Repeat. All sections to alert condition 3. lntruder aboard.

Hey! You from engineering!

Bridge, section C, deck 1 4.

Section C, deck 1 4, reporting trouble. Someone in engineering uniform.

Security control, come in.

l have them. Closing off deck 1 4. Search in progress.

Security alert, condition 3.

Approximately 6'4'', early 40s. Approach with caution.

This man is extremely dangerous. Repeat. Approach with extreme caution.

Negative in the deck area. He may have gotten out. Expanding search.

- Enterprise to Tantalus colony. - Tantalus colony. Adams here.

Dr Adams, this is Captain Kirk. We may have an inmate of yours.

Transporter crewman unconscious. Cargo case open and empty.

- Make that definite. He's aboard. - Terribly sorry.

l take all the blame. Let me repeat. He's clever and extremely violent.

- Take all possible precautions. - We'll keep you posted. Kirk out.

All sections, security check in progress. Report.

- Affirmative. - Alert conditions. Section operational.

lnteresting. You Earth people glorify organised violence for 40 centuries.

But you imprison those who employ it privately.

And, of course, your people found an answer.

We disposed of emotion, Doctor.

Where there's no emotion, there's no motive for violence.

Where's the captain?

Which one of you is the captain?

l'm Captain Kirk.

My name is...

...Van Gelder.

- l want asylum. - At gunpoint?

l want your promise first, your word, that you won't take me back to Tantalus.

- No promises. Give me the weapon. - No.

No, l'm not going back. l'll disable your vessel first.

You choose, Captain. l'll destroy your control panel.

Take him to sickbay.

Reverse course. Head back for Tantalus colony.

Abnormal, of course.

lt's not schizophrenia, tissue damage, or any condition l'm acquainted with.

lt took a triple dose of sedative to put him under.

- The report said he was talkative. - But not informative.

He'd claim one thing, forget, then he'd claim something else.

But always with just a ring of truth in it. l'd sure like to study this one, Jim.

- Not our problem, Bones. - You smug, button-pushing brass hat.

Wash your hands of it. ls that your system?

You're both quite sure of yourselves, aren't you? Quite expert.

''Take him back. Let someone else worry about him.''

- What did you say your name was? - My name?

My name is....

Simon...Van Gelder.

l was the director of...

...director...at the Tantalus colony.

See what l mean?

l was graduate of...

l was assistant to...

T... T...

l knew...

But they've erased it.

- Erased? - Edited.

Adjusted. Subverted me.

But l won't forget! l won't forget!

You're so blind ignorant. You believe l belong back there, don't you?

Dead or alive. Well, l won't let you take me back. l'm not going!

l'll die first. Do you hear? l'm not going! No!

- Estimating arrival at Tantalus? - 57 minutes, 30 seconds, Captain.

What's so fascinating?

An identification tape from our ship's library on Dr Simon Van Gelder.

- Dr Van Gelder? - Dr Van Gelder, Captain. No mistake.

- There's a full lD tape on him. - Committed to Tantalus when?

Assigned there six months ago as Dr Adams' associate.

Ship to surface. Tantalus colony.

- Frequency's open, sir. - USS Enterprise to Tantalus colony.

- Captain Kirk to speak to Dr Adams. - Stand by, Enterprise.

Captain Kirk, Dr Adams here.

Dr Adams, regarding your escaped man...

ls Dr Van Gelder all right? And your people? No injuries?

No casualties, sir. This man is Dr Simon Van Gelder?

Yes. You're certain he's all right? We've been very concerned.

- ln his state... - No harm to him.

We thought you might enlighten us about him.

He'd been doing experimental work.

A beam we hoped might rehabilitate incorrigibles.

Van Gelder felt he hadn't the right

to expose another man to something he hadn't tried.

- Tragedy, Doctor. - Jim, that doesn't quite ring true.

Dr Adams, please stand by. Explain.

l don't believe him. l can't explain it, but the more l study that patient...

You don't believe him and you can't explain it.

Are you aware that in 20 years,

Dr Adams has done more to revolutionise,

to humanise the treatment of prisoners

than all the rest of humanity had done in 40 centuries?

l've been to those penal colonies since they begun following his methods

and they're not cages any more.

They're clean, decent hospitals for sick minds.

- Listen. - Gentlemen.

l suggest you ask Dr Adams if he wants Van Gelder returned.

Dr Adams, regarding Van Gelder...

May l enquire about your patrol destinations?

Are you passing near any hospital superior to ours?

l'd like Van Gelder to have the best possible treatment.

Thank you, Doctor. l'll take it up with the ship's surgeon. Stand by.

Bones, you've got the ball. You care to recommend a better place?

There are no superior facilities. He knows that.

That's not the question. lf something unusual is going on...

An assumption, Doctor.

l'm required to enter reasonable doubts into my log.

That requires you to answer in your log.

Sorry, Jim.

Dr Adams, this is rather embarrassing.

By strict interpretation of our starship regulations,

l'm required to initiate an investigation of this, so that a proper report...

No need to apologise, Captain Kirk.

l'd take it as a favour if you'd beam down and look into it yourself.

We don't get too many visitors here.

l would appreciate it if you could come down with a minimum staff.

We're forced to limit outside contact.

Affirmative, Doctor. l've visited rehab colonies before. Enterprise out.

Find me someone in your department with psychiatric experience.

lf possible.

Yes, sir.

Captain's log, stardate 27 1 5.2.

Standard orbit, planet Tantalus V.

Mission. Routine investigation as per ship's surgeon's medical log.

As for my last entry, it seems l will get to meet Dr Adams at last.

However, l would have preferred other circumstances.

Sickbay. Report, Doctor.

Van Gelder's still violently agitated.

You'd prefer to keep him until l complete my investigation.

- l believe we should. - l'm assigning you technical aid.

One of our psychiatrists does have a background in rehabilitative therapy.

Dr Noel. Standing by in the transporter room now.

Thank you, Doctor. Bridge out. Mr Spock?

- Coordinates? - Locked in. Ready to beam down.

Dr Helen Noel, Captain. We've met.

Don't you remember?

- The science lab Christmas party. - l remember.

- You dropped in... - Yes, l remember.

Problem, Captain?

Tell McCoy that she'd better check out as the best assistant l ever had.

- Energise. - Energise.

ln here, l presume, Doctor.

lt'd be simpler if you call me Helen.

This is another time, another place and another situation.

Of course.

Elevator... and going down quite a way.

l wouldn't recommend it for weak hearts.

- Hello, Captain Kirk and... - Dr Helen Noel.

- A pleasure to finally meet you, sir. - Thank you.

Welcome to ''Devil's lsland'', Doctor.

Perhaps you'll call me Helen.

With so many titles, we won't be sure who's talking to who.

l shall indeed. Won't you?

Regulations say to check my weapon.

That won't be necessary. Just keep it out of sight.

l know you feel as naked without a weapon as we do without a medikit.

A small toast. Do you mind?

lt's such a great day when we have visitors, no matter what the excuse.

You made your apology from upstairs. Now, forget it.

l don't think you'll be able to get through the security screen. Just a second.

- Now try it. - Kirk to Enterprise. Come in.

Enterprise. Spock here.

Your landing coordinates were on the nose.

We arrived safely and we're here with Dr Adams. Kirk out.

Affirmative, Captain. Enterprise out.

Lethe, come in.

Lethe, this is Captain Kirk and Dr Helen Noel.

Lethe came to us for rehabilitation and stayed on as a therapist.

And a very good one, too.

l love my work.

Go right ahead, Captain.

- Before you came here... - l was another person.

- Malignant, hateful. - May l ask what crime you committed?

Does it matter? That person no longer exists.

Part of our cure is to bury the past.

Why should a person go on living with unbearable memories if there's no...

l feel quite sure that you'd concur with me, Doctor...Helen.

The shifting of memory patterns is basic to psychotherapy.

Yes. And now to the toast. You'll forgive us, Lethe.

There you are, Captain.

To all mankind, may we never find space so vast,

planets so cold, heart and mind so empty

that we cannot fill them with love and warmth.

- Quite a tour. Very impressive. - Thank you. Karl.

- Doctor? - Yes.

l was afraid you'd ask about this.

One doesn't like to talk about their personal failures.

- lt was an experiment that went wrong. - May l see it?

lf something hasn't worked out...

- Shall we leave that to the doctor? - You brought me for advice...

An advantage of being a captain

is asking for advice without having to take it.

l'll award that round to the captain.

You're fighting over your weight. Let's take a look.

l'm not a criminal!

l do not require...

...neural neutraliser.

Neural neutraliser?

Can you explain that, Dr Van Gelder?

A room. A device.

Door. Control panel.

Ceiling...

A device... A light!

- A light! - This room. What happens there?

A neural neutraliser. Experimental.

Actually we don't expect to get much use out of it.

That beam from above neutralises brain waves.

Relaxes the patient's mind. Does him no harm.

- Effects are only temporary. - lf it doesn't do any good...

Why do we go on using it, Captain?

Hope. Yes, there's always that slight chance

that it might do some good in the more violent cases.

Tranquillisers are fine, but to continually pump chemicals into a person...

Exactly my point, Helen. Shall we?

- How does it work? - Quite simple. Off, on switches.

The large control changes the strength of the brain neutralising beam.

Captain, you remind me of the ancient sceptic

who demanded of the wise old sage

to be taught all the world's wisdom while standing on one foot.

Beam neutralising has been experimented with on Earth.

l'm not acquainted with this equipment,

but l can assure you he has not created a chamber of horrors.

l didn't mean to suggest that he had.

But you haven't mentioned where Dr Van Gelder's injury occurred.

Right here, Captain. Yes. Simon was a very stubborn man.

He could have sat in that room for years with the beam at that volume or higher.

Or if he simply had someone standing by to snap it off in case he got into trouble.

But no, he tried it alone and on full volume.

Such a pity.

Thank you.

You will forget all you have heard.

To remember any portion of it, any word, will cause you pain.

Terrible pain.

Growing more terrible as you fight to remember.

Give us your present location.

ln Dr Adams' study, Mr Spock. Why?

- Then you're with Dr Adams now? - Affirmative.

Captain, Van Gelder has made reference to a particular treatment room.

- The term was neural neutraliser. - Yes, he was injured there.

Dr Adams explained the mistake Van Gelder made.

Go ahead, Mr Spock. Anything further?

Mr Spock sounds like a very excellent second in command.

Please tell him to speak freely.

l have to check in with a member of my staff. Excuse me.

Stand by, Mr Spock.

Dr Adams has left. What is it, Mr Spock?

Van Gelder is extremely agitated and warns that you're in danger.

- That's foolish. - Please repeat. l didn't receive that.

Tell McCoy the technical expert insists that any concern is unjustified.

According to Adams, Van Gelder created his own problem.

He has neural synapse damage.

As if his brain was short-circuited. No wonder he's having delusions.

McCoy here. Received and understood, but we still have some doubts.

- Can you tell us any more? - Not really.

When do you plan to beam back up?

l think we'll spend the night here.

No! No!

And you will continue to check in every four hours?

Affirmative. Kirk out.

No! Don't let them.

You must warn your captain. No.

Don't let him stay! Don't let him stay!

Don't! No hypo! Please, don't hypo me.

l'll try not to fight.

l'll try. But you must listen.

Warn your captain. Dr Adams...

Dr Adams...

- ...was destroyed. - Destroyed? How? What?

Like...death.

Enterprise log, First Officer Spock, acting captain.

l must use an ancient Vulcan technique to probe into Van Gelder's mind.

lf there's a possibility it might help...

l've never used it on a human.

lf we can look into this man's mind to see if what he's saying...

lt's a personal thing to the Vulcan people.

Part of our private lives.

Now, look. Jim Kirk could be in real trouble.

Will it work or not?

lt could be dangerous. Do you understand?

lt requires l make pressure changes in your nerves, your blood vessels.

You must open my mind.

Let me warn you, explain to you...

This will not affect you, Dr McCoy. Only the person l touch.

- lt is not hypnosis. - l understand.

Good. The reading's levelling.

You begin to feel a strange euphoria.

Your body floats.

Yes.

l begin to feel it.

Open your mind.

We move together.

Our minds sharing the same thoughts.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

What did you think of the inmates we saw here?

You could have asked me tomorrow.

- l didn't. - l thought they were happy.

- Well-adjusted. - But a bit blank.

lf you're questioning the methods of Tristan Adams...

l want to see that treatment room. You're familiar with the theory?

Yes, but if you'd simply state your doubts to Dr Adams...

lf he's lying, l won't find out a thing.

l have to see that machine at work.

Or is that too impractical and unscientific of me, Doctor?

- Well? - Coming.

What is our name?

Who are we?

We are Simon Van Gelder.

Dr Adams. The neural neutraliser.

What did he do to us?

He can reshape any mind he chooses.

He used it to erase our memories. Put his own thoughts there.

He was surprised it took so much power.

We fought him, remember?

But we grew so tired.

Our mind so blank, so open,

that any thought he placed there became our thoughts.

Our mind so empty, like a sponge. Needing thoughts.

Begging...empty.

Loneliness... So lonely to be sitting there empty.

Wanting any word from him.

Love, hate.

Live, die.

Such agony to be empty.

Empty.

- Lonely. - Lonely.

So empty.

So empty.

l have no desire to damage my brain.

Can this be handled with reasonable safety?

Yes.

Will you be able to determine if that beam is harming me?

Yes, Captain. l know my profession.

Ready? We'll try minimum intensity. A second or two.

Any time you're ready. Just for a second or two.

We already tried it for that long.

- Nothing happened. - Something happened.

Your face went completely blank.

Try a harmless suggestion.

You're hungry.

When we finally get through this, l'd like to raid a kitchen.

l put that suggestion in your mind, Captain.

l said simply that you were hungry.

Remarkably effective for a device that Dr Adams was going to abandon.

l think we should try this again.

Pick something unusual, something we can both be sure of.

At the Christmas party, we met, we danced.

You talked about the stars.

l suggest now that it happened in a different way.

You swept me off my feet and carried me to your cabin.

Merry Christmas.

Captain, if your crew saw you carry me here...

My crew is sworn to secrecy.

But my reputation. l mean, just having met like this.

Of course, it would be different if you cared for me.

Do you want me to manufacture a lie?

Wrap it up as a Christmas present for you?

No.

l'd prefer honesty.

Now Captain Kirk is going to have a complete demonstration.

l want there to be no doubts whatsoever in his mind.

You're madly in love with Helen.

You'd lie, cheat and steal for her, sacrifice your career, your reputation.

No, Doctor!

The pain. Do you feel it?

You must have her or the pain grows worse.

- The pain, the longing for her. - Helen...

For years, you've loved her. For years.

For years, l've loved you.

You must continue to remember that, Captain.

And now she's gone.

Helen!

Helen, don't go!

l need you, Helen!

Now, Captain, you must take your phaser and drop it on the floor.

Captain, the pain increases unless you obey me.

l...must...drop it.

Very good, Captain. Very good indeed.

And now your communicator. Drop it on the floor.

Kirk to Enterprise.

Kirk...to Enterprise.

No!

They've taken you from the room.

You're in your own quarters now.

For years, l've loved you.

Try to remember. He placed all that in your mind.

Remember. Dr Adams took the controls away from me.

Do you remember the pain and then his voice?

Remember?

l...remember.

l remember.

Helen.

The duct.

The duct.

Give me a hand here. Pull.

Air conditioning. lt has to connect with other ducts and tunnels.

Get through this. lt might lead to the power supply.

Short-circuited, it would cut off the security force field.

Have you had any training in circuits?

No.

Megavoltage. Touch the wrong line and you're dead.

Anything's better than Adams' treatment room!

Time for another treatment?

Please don't fight me.

The pain only gets worse when you doubt me.

- You believe in me completely. - l believe in you.

- You trust me completely. - l...trust you.

Excellent, Captain. l compliment you.

Dr Van Gelder was down on his hands and knees sobbing at this point.

So gratifying.

l'm so fortunate to have had excellent specimens to work with.

l've learned a great deal.

The woman doctor. She's gone, Dr Adams.

Notify security at once, Lethe.

Where is she, Captain?

l don't know.

Where did you send her? And with what instructions?

l...don't know.

- Emergency channel D. - l can't break through their force field.

Get him back in the chair and find that girl.

The force field has gone. l can send you there.

Get some security people and follow me down.

Energise.

Enterprise, this is Spock. Force field has been eliminated.

Captain! Captain?

- Helen, are you all right? - Yes.

This isn't right, Captain. Dr Adams did this to you.

Dr Adams?

Dr A...

The treatment room. Follow me.

Jim!

- The power came up. - He's dead, Captain.

The machine wasn't on high enough to kill.

But he was alone.

Can you imagine a mind emptied by that thing?

Without even a tormentor for company.

l understand.

All sections. Security check report.

Captain, there was a message from Tantalus colony, sir.

Van Gelder thought you'd like to know the treatment room had been dismantled.

- The equipment destroyed. - Thank you.

lt's hard to believe that a man could die of loneliness.

Not when you've sat in that room.

Take us out of orbit, Mr Spock. Ahead warp factor 1 .

Acknowledged, Captain. Warp factor 1 .