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Science Fiction » alt.startrek » TOS Recap: The Corbomite Maneuver, part 3 of 4
| TOS Recap: The Corbomite Maneuver, part 3 of 4 [message #217054] |
Do, 09 Februar 2006 02:54 |
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ACT THREE
Tiny Enterprise, huge Fesarius.
We pan to the right, following Scott as he paces across the bridge. A
red-shirted extra is seated at Engineering, with a blue-shirted extra
standing next to him. At the helm, Sulu announces, "Four minutes,
thirty seconds."
"You have an annoying fascination for timepieces, Mr. Sulu," Scott
tells him. The guy from the turbolift is talking to the blue-shirted
extra at Environmental Control.
What does the guy at Environmental Control do? He monitors the ship's
environment, of course: air pressure, temperature, composition,
humidity, ionization and circulation; light levels; gravity levels.
He's one of twelve crewmen in the ship's environmental division, four
on each watch. Each one spends one week out of every four on the
bridge, manning Environmental Control, while the other three man
stations in the ship's Environmental Section. When the man on the
bridge spots a glitch in the specified environment somewhere on the
ship, he assigns one of the other three to go fix it. Then he logs the
event in his shift report; copies of the report go to Chief Engineer
Scott and First Officer Spock, and a summary of the report goes to
Captain Kirk for his signature. During yellow alert, the four men from
the next watch report for duty to the Environmental Section; during red
alert, everyone in the environmental division is on duty. How do I
know all this? I just made it up. But it sounds plausible, doesn't
it? (By the way, duty uniform for the guy on the bridge is a blue
tunic, while the guys down in the Environmental Section wear blue
jumpsuits.)
Kirk passes by in the foreground, and we pan left again to follow him,
then right again as he paces back. As he approaches Spock, Spock says,
"Jim . . . " but Kirk doesn't stop pacing.
Kirk's pacing ends as Balok announces, "YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES." It's
27:31.
"What's the matter with them out there?" Kirk mutters to Spock. "They
must know we mean them no harm."
Spock joins Kirk as he paces again. "They're certainly aware by now
that we're totally incapable of it."
"There must be something to do," says Kirk as he pauses. "Something
I've overlooked."
"In chess," Spock answers, "when one is outmatched, the game is over.
Checkmate."
"Is that your best recommendation?"
"I'm sorry," Spock answers, and you can tell that he is. "I regret
that I can find no other logical alternative." Kirk walks away, and
Spock sorrowfully mans his library computer station.
The turbolift opens, and McCoy steps onto the bridge, presumably having
escorted Bailey to his quarters. "Assuming we get out of this, Captain
--"
"Nobody's given up yet," Kirk answers curtly.
"Well then, about Bailey," McCoy continues as he follows Kirk to the
Big Chair. "Let me enter it in my medical records as 'simple
fatigue'."
"That's my decision, Doctor."
"And it was your mistake. You overworked him, pushed him, expected too
much out of him --"
"I'm ordering you to drop it," Kirk harshes. "I've no time for you,
your theories, your quaint philosophies."
Nobody calls Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy quaint and gets away with it,
not even the Captain. "I intend to challenge your actions in my
medical records. I'll state that I warned you about Bailey's
condition. Now that's no bluff." This is serious stuff. McCoy is
threatening to go on the record saying that Kirk's judgment can't be
trusted -- not the sort of thing a starship captain likes to see in his
service record.
"Any time you can bluff me, Doctor --" Kirk starts to snarl, then cuts
himself off when he realizes he's shouting. Spock has turned around to
see what all the fuss is about. The tension on the bridge is so thick
you can cut it with a knife.
And at this point Balok announces, "THREE MINUTES." Musical sting,
leading into the Impending Danger theme. It's 28:57.
More calmly, Kirk says, "All right, Doctor. Let's hope we have time to
argue about it." McCoy retreats back to Communications, giving Kirk
some space. Scott joins Spock by the Library/Computer station. The
Impending Danger theme continues to play in the background.
Kirk glances over at Spock, and at the 29:17 mark we see a lightbulb go
off over his head. When the wheels in his head stop spinning, Kirk
says, "Not chess, Mr. Spock. Poker." The Impending Danger theme gives
way to the Things Are Looking Up theme as Kirk continues, "Do you know
the game?" Spock doesn't answer, and Kirk says "Ship to ship" to
Uhura.
"Hailing frequencies open, sir," Uhura responds for the sixth time.
(It may have been at this point that Nichelle Nichols reportedly
exclaimed, "If I open hailing frequencies one more time I'm gonna blow
up this goddamn panel!")
Kirk sits back in the Big Chair, all cool, calm and collected, and
states: "This is the Captain of the Enterprise. Our respect for other
life forms requires that we give you this warning. One critical item
of information that has never been incorporated into the memory banks
of any Earth ship. Since the early years of space exploration, Earth
vessels have had incorporated into them a substance known as corbomite.
It is a material and a device which prevents attack on us." Spock
shares a puzzled glance with Scott. Sulu has a little smile on his
face. "If any destructive energy touches our vessel, a reverse
reaction of equal strength is created, destroying --"
Balok interrupts to say "YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES." It's 30:20.
Undeterred, Kirk continues. "Destroying the attacker. It may interest
you to know that since the initial use of corbomite more than two of
our centuries ago, no attacking vessel has survived the attempt. Death
has little meaning to us. If it has none for you, then attack us now.
We grow annoyed at your foolishness." He gestures to Uhura, who closes
hailing frequencies. The Tension Theme plays while everyone on the
bridge waits for Balok's response.
Fifteen seconds after Kirk's challenge to Balok, nothing has happened.
Spock steps down to the Big Chair and says, "However, it was well
played." Apropos of nothing, he adds, "I regret not having learned
more about this Balok. In some manner he was reminiscent of my
father." Given that Spock's father is not an arrogant, condescending,
long-winded asshole, it's hard to see what Spock means by this.
"Then may heaven have helped your mother," Scott remarks.
"Quite the contrary," says Spock, "she considered herself a very
fortunate Earth woman." And thus we learn that Spock is half human.
What his other half is will not be revealed until the next episode is
produced.
McCoy approaches the Big Chair, and Kirk quietly says, "Doc . . .
sorry." Doc? Doc??? (Quick review.) By golly, Kirk hasn't called
McCoy "Bones" once in this episode.
"What, for having other things on your mind?" McCoy says. "My fault.
I don't know how in the devil you kept from punching me in the face."
Sulu watches as his chronometer passes the one minute mark. "One
minute," he remarks. "I knew he would." Presumably, Sulu means he
knew Balok would leave them in suspense about whether they're still
under his deadline.
With less than a minute to go, Uhura rises from her chair to stand
beside McCoy.
The turbolift door opens and Bailey walks in, looking properly abashed,
and assumes an "at ease" posture. Kirk gives McCoy a questioning look,
and McCoy shakes his head.
"If, um, anyone's interested," Sulu remarks, "thirty seconds."
"Request permission to return to post, sir," says a subdued Bailey.
McCoy smiles to himself. Whatever he said to Bailey on the walk down
to his quarters (and you just know he said something -- it wouldn't
surprise me to learn that there was a scene between the two of them
that got cut when they edited this episode down to length) seems to
have done the trick.
"Permission granted," says Kirk. Bailey slowly takes his place at
Navigation -- which, for some inexplicable reason, remained unmanned
after Kirk relieved him.
Sulu counts down the seconds from eleven to one and . . . nothing
happens. The Fesarius sits on the viewscreen, its glowing spheres
winking on and off. One by one, the crew starts breathing again.
Thirty-seven seconds after Balok's deadline has passed, Spock says, "A
very . . . interesting game, this poker."
"It does have advantages over chess," Kirk says with a smile.
"Love to teach it to you," McCoy adds.
Finally, forty-six seconds after his deadline has passed, Balok deigns
to speak. "THIS IS THE COMMANDER OF THE FESARIUS."
"Here it comes," Kirk says. "Is it raise or call?"
"THE DESTRUCTION OF YOUR VESSEL HAS BEEN DELAYED. WE WILL RELENT IN
YOUR DESTRUCTION ONLY IF WE HAVE PROOF OF YOUR CORBOMITE DEVICE." I'll
see your corbomite and raise you a stay of execution.
As Uhura replaces her earpiece, Kirk says, "Hold on that. Let him
sweat for a change."
Sulu grins. After letting Balok stew for ten seconds, Kirk finally
says, "Ship to ship."
"Hailing frequencies, sir," Uhura responds for the seventh time.
"Request denied," Kirk says sharply, and gestures for Uhura to close
the hail. I see your stay of execution. Call.
"I have visual contact, Captain," Spock announces.
As the Fesarius theme returns, the viewscreen dissolves from the
Fesarius to Balok. "WE WILL SOON INFORM YOU OF OUR DECISION REGARDING
YOUR VESSEL. AND HAVING PERMITTED YOUR PRIMITIVE EFFORTS TO SEE MY
FORM, I TRUST IT HAS PLEASED YOUR CURIOSITY. AND NOW, ANOTHER
DEMONSTRATION OF OUR SUPERIORITY." Balok disappears from the
viewscreen. Kirk looks at Spock, who gives the Vulcan equivalent of a
shrug. Still, it's not good for Balok when he's reduced to playing
tricks with the viewscreen to demonstrate his "superiority".
The turbolift opens, and Rand steps out holding a tray with a thermos
and some coffee cups. "I thought the power was off in the galley,"
McCoy remarks.
"I used a hand phaser and zap, hot coffee," Rand says with a grin.
This is the only recorded instance of the use of the word "zap" in the
original series.
Sulu's attention is drawn to the viewscreen. On it, we see a cluster
of five glowing spheres detach itself from the Fesarius and approach
the Enterprise. "Something's going on, Captain," he says.
"It's a small ship," Kirk remarks.
"About two thousand metric tons," Spock clarifies.
As the Fesarius moves off, Balok announces, "IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT I
WILL CONDUCT YOU TO A PLANET OF THE FIRST FEDERATION WHICH IS CAPABLE
OF SUSTAINING YOUR LIFEFORM. THERE, YOU WILL DISEMBARK AND BE
INTERNED. YOUR SHIP WILL BE DESTROYED, OF COURSE."
"Engine systems coming on, Captain," Spock announces as the hum of the
engines rises.
"DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE SIZE OF THIS PILOT VESSEL. IT HAS AN EQUAL
POTENTIAL TO DESTROY YOUR VESSEL."
The Enterprise shakes, and Spock announces, "Tractor beam again."
"SO THAT YOU MAY SUSTAIN YOUR GRAVITY AND ATMOSPHERE, YOUR SYSTEMS ARE
NOW OPEN. ESCAPE IS IMPOSSIBLE, SINCE YOU ARE BEING TAKEN UNDER OUR
POWER TO YOUR DESTINATION. ANY MOVE TO ESCAPE OR DESTROY THIS SHIP
WILL RESULT IN THE INSTANT DESTRUCTION OF THE ENTERPRISE AND EVERYONE
ABOARD." To punctuate his threat, Balok gives the Enterprise another
shake.
"We're being towed, sir," Sulu reports. Kirk has called, and Balok
displays his hand: imprisonment.
Shot of the Enterprise from behind, with the five blinking spheres of
the pilot vessel ahead of it.
Reactions shots of the bridge crew.
Shot of the pilot vessel towing the Enterprise. Musical sting. Fade
to black.
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| Re: TOS Recap: The Corbomite Maneuver, part 3 of 4 [message #217076 ] |
Fr, 10 Februar 2006 19:53 |
|
Empok Nor wrote:
> ACT THREE
>
> Tiny Enterprise, huge Fesarius.
>
> We pan to the right, following Scott as he paces across the bridge. A
> red-shirted extra is seated at Engineering, with a blue-shirted extra
> standing next to him. At the helm, Sulu announces, "Four minutes,
> thirty seconds."
>
> "You have an annoying fascination for timepieces, Mr. Sulu," Scott
> tells him. The guy from the turbolift is talking to the blue-shirted
> extra at Environmental Control.
>
> What does the guy at Environmental Control do? He monitors the ship's
> environment, of course: air pressure, temperature, composition,
> humidity, ionization and circulation; light levels; gravity levels.
> He's one of twelve crewmen in the ship's environmental division, four
> on each watch. Each one spends one week out of every four on the
> bridge, manning Environmental Control, while the other three man
> stations in the ship's Environmental Section. When the man on the
> bridge spots a glitch in the specified environment somewhere on the
> ship, he assigns one of the other three to go fix it. Then he logs
> the event in his shift report; copies of the report go to Chief
> Engineer Scott and First Officer Spock, and a summary of the report
> goes to Captain Kirk for his signature. During yellow alert, the
> four men from the next watch report for duty to the Environmental
> Section; during red alert, everyone in the environmental division is
> on duty. How do I know all this? I just made it up. But it sounds
> plausible, doesn't it? (By the way, duty uniform for the guy on the
> bridge is a blue tunic, while the guys down in the Environmental
> Section wear blue jumpsuits.)
>
It does sound plausible. ;-P
<snip>
> "I'm ordering you to drop it," Kirk harshes. "I've no time for you,
> your theories, your quaint philosophies."
>
> Nobody calls Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy quaint and gets away with
> it, not even the Captain. "I intend to challenge your actions in my
> medical records. I'll state that I warned you about Bailey's
> condition. Now that's no bluff." This is serious stuff. McCoy is
> threatening to go on the record saying that Kirk's judgment can't be
> trusted -- not the sort of thing a starship captain likes to see in
> his service record.
>
McCoy never was very much in awe of guys with superior rank.
Good for him!
> "Any time you can bluff me, Doctor --" Kirk starts to snarl, then cuts
> himself off when he realizes he's shouting. Spock has turned around
> to see what all the fuss is about. The tension on the bridge is so
> thick you can cut it with a knife.
And Kirk knows how to dish out as well.
<snip>
> As the Fesarius theme returns, the viewscreen dissolves from the
> Fesarius to Balok. "WE WILL SOON INFORM YOU OF OUR DECISION REGARDING
> YOUR VESSEL. AND HAVING PERMITTED YOUR PRIMITIVE EFFORTS TO SEE MY
> FORM, I TRUST IT HAS PLEASED YOUR CURIOSITY. AND NOW, ANOTHER
> DEMONSTRATION OF OUR SUPERIORITY." Balok disappears from the
> viewscreen. Kirk looks at Spock, who gives the Vulcan equivalent of a
> shrug. Still, it's not good for Balok when he's reduced to playing
> tricks with the viewscreen to demonstrate his "superiority".
>
Pffftt...
> The turbolift opens, and Rand steps out holding a tray with a thermos
> and some coffee cups. "I thought the power was off in the galley,"
> McCoy remarks.
>
> "I used a hand phaser and zap, hot coffee," Rand says with a grin.
> This is the only recorded instance of the use of the word "zap" in the
> original series.
>
If I wasn't in love with Miss Janice already...
You gotta love how this lady thinks on her feet.
<snip>
> As the Fesarius moves off, Balok announces, "IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT
> I WILL CONDUCT YOU TO A PLANET OF THE FIRST FEDERATION WHICH IS
> CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING YOUR LIFEFORM. THERE, YOU WILL DISEMBARK AND BE
> INTERNED. YOUR SHIP WILL BE DESTROYED, OF COURSE."
>
Now Balok might be bluffing.
<snip>
> Shot of the pilot vessel towing the Enterprise. Musical sting. Fade
> to black.
--
Wouter Valentijn
www.wouter.cc
www.nksf.nl
www.zeppodunsel.nl
liam=mail
"The world that denies thee, thou inhabit.
The peace that ignores thee, thou corrupt.
Chaos. I remain, as ever, thy faithful, degenerate son."
Ethan Rayne, 'Halloween' (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)
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