Star Trek The Original Series
Episode: The Enterprise Incident
Season 3, Episode 2

[Dr. McCoy] Enterprise Medical Log,
star date 5027.3.
Dr. Leonard McCoy recording.
I'm concerned about Captain Kirk.
He shows indications of increasing tension
and emotional stress.
I've completed the assignment, Captain.
"A theoretical incursion into --"
Yes, Mr. Chekov. I can read.
As usual, your theoretical evaluations don't tally with mine.
Return to your duty.
I'll let you know
when your work is satisfactory.
Mr. Spock. Full sensor scan of the region, please.
I did give a full report --
That was the past. I'm concerned with the present,
or is it too much to present current information?
No, sir. Compliance presents no problem.
Then, Mr. Spock, comply.
Sensor scan to 1/2 parsec.
Negative, Captain.
Very well.
I can find no reason for the captain's behaviour,
except, possibly, that we've been on patrol too long
without relief and diversion.
He's resisted all my attempts
to run a psychological profile on him.
Maintaining course and speed, sir.
Change course. Come about to 185, mark 3.
But, sir, that'll lead us
directly into the Romulan neutral zone.
Yes, very perceptive, Mr. Sulu.
I know where the course change takes us.
Execute.
Aye, sir.
Increasing sensor scan to 1 parsec.
All scanners report clear.
Nothing in our immediate vicinity.
Better and better, Mr. Spock.
Captain, leaving neutral zone.
Now entering Romulan space.
Very well, Mr. Sulu.
Lieutenant, when did the order come through?
Order?
From Starfleet.
The order to enter the neutral zone.
There's been no order I know of, Mr. Scott.
Surely the captain couldn't be doing this
on his own authority.
If you have complaints, you can bring them out into the open.
That's a Klingon ship!
But it couldn't be, not in this area.
Intelligence reports Romulans now using Klingon design.
Sound red alert. Man battle stations.
Stand by main phasers.
Battle stations. All hands, battle stations.
[Alarm Rings]
Second ship has appeared.
Correction ...
there are now three.
We are surrounded.
Space -- the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the star ship 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.
Lieutenant Uhura, code a message to Starfleet Command.
Advise them of our situation.
Include all log entries to this point.
- Aye, sir. - Mr. Spock,
your sensors read clear, what happened?
I have a theory, Captain.
Captain Kirk, I'm receiving class 2 signal
from the Romulan vessel.
Put it on the main viewing screen
and complete that message to Starfleet Command.
Aye, sir.
You have been identified as the star ship Enterprise,
Captain James T. Kirk last known to be in command.
Your information is correct.
This is Captain Kirk.
I am Subcommander Tal of the Romulan fleet.
Your ship is surrounded, Captain.
You will surrender immediately,
or we will destroy you.
Lieutenant.
They want something,
or they would have destroyed us by now.
True, Captain.
That would be standard Romulan procedure.
It's my ship they want and very badly.
It would be a great prize.
Lieutenant.
Save your threats.
If you board this ship,
I'll blow it up. You'll gain nothing.
Who is that beside you?
My first officer, Commander Spock.
A Vulcan.
[Beep Beep]
Yes, Commander?
Yes, Commander.
No one should decide quickly to die, Captain.
We give you one of your hours.
If you do not surrender your ship
at the end of that time,
your destruction is certain.
We will be open to communication
should you wish it.
You understand that Starfleet Command
has been advised of the situation?
The subspace message will take three weeks
to reach Starfleet.
The decision is yours, Captain.
One hour.
The design of the ship is the same.
Mr. Spock, you said you had a theory
on why your sensors didn't pick up the new ships
until they were upon us.
I believe the Romulans have developed a cloaking device
which renders our tracking sensors useless.
If so, Romulans could attack in Federation territory
before we knew they were there ...
before a vessel or planet could get their defenses up.
They caught us right enough.
That's a brilliant observation.
Do you have any helpful opinions?
We've not got many choices.
We have three.
We can fight and be destroyed
or we can destroy the Enterprise ourselves
and keep her from the Romulans.
Or we can ...
surrender.
Opinions, gentlemen.
If the Enterprise is taken by Romulans,
they'll know everything there is to know about a star ship.
If we had not crossed the neutral zone,
on your order,
you would not now need our opinions
to support a decision which should never have had to be made.
Jim, you ordered us?
You had no authority!
- Dismissed, Doctor. - Jim!
I said dismissed.
[Intercom Whistles]
Bridge to Captain Kirk.
Kirk here.
The Romulan vessel is signalling again, sir.
Put them on the screen.
Aye, aye, sir.
My commander wishes to speak with you.
Put him on.
The commander wishes to see you and your first officer
aboard this vessel.
It is felt this matter requires discussion.
Why should we walk right into your hands?
Two of my officers will beam aboard your vessel
as exchange hostages while you're here.
What guarantee do we have
they'll beam aboard our ship once we're on yours?
Granted we do not easily trust each other, Captain,
but you are the ones who violated our territory.
Should it not be we who distrust your motives?
However, we agree to simultaneous exchange.
Give us your transporter coordinates.
We're beaming aboard.
One final order, Engineer Scott.
If we do not return,
the Enterprise must not be taken.
If the Romulans attempt it,
you're to fight, and if necessary,
destroy yourselves.
Is that clear?
Perfectly clear.
Energize.
Captain Kirk.
Commander ...
I'm honored.
I don't think so ...
but we have an important matter to discuss.
And your superficial courtesies
are an overture to that discussion.
You are the first officer?
Spock.
I speak first with the captain.
You may wait outside.
The matter of trespass into Romulan space
is one of galactic import,
a violation of treaties.
Now I ask you simply,
what is your mission here?
Instrument failure caused navigational error.
We were across the neutral zone before we realized it,
then surrounded by your ships
before we could get back.
A star ship,
one of the Starfleet's finest vessels?
You're saying instrument failure
as radical as you suggest went unnoticed
until you were well past the neutral zone?
Accidents happen. Backup systems malfunction.
We were due for overhaul two months ago.
But you were able to navigate with this malfunction?
The error was corrected.
I doubt it'll clear you of espionage.
We were not spying, Commander.
Your language has always been most difficult for me, Captain.
Perhaps you have another word for it.
You're grossly mistaken if you think we were --
No Romulan vessel ventured far into Federation territory
without good explanation.
What would a star base commander do?
You see ...
it works both ways.
I hardly believe you are the injured party.
Spock, come in.
The captain has made his statement.
I understand.
I must admit some surprise on seeing you, Spock.
We were not aware of Vulcans aboard the Enterprise.
Starfleet is not in the habit
of informing Romulans of its ships' personnel.
Quite so, yet there are certain ships ...
certain officers ...
that are known to us.
Your situation appears most interesting.
What earns Spock your special interest?
He is a Vulcan.
Our forebears had the same roots
and origins.
Something you wouldn't understand, Captain.
We can appreciate the Vulcans, our distant brothers.
I have heard of Vulcan integrity
and personal honour.
There's a well-known saying --
or is it a myth --
that Vulcans are incapable of lying?
It is no myth.
Then tell me truthfully now,
by your honour as a Vulcan,
what was your mission?
I reserve the privilege of speaking
only when it will not violate my honour as a Vulcan.
It is unworthy of a Vulcan
to resort to subterfuge.
You're being clever, Commander.
That is unworthy of a Romulan.
It is not a lie to keep the truth to oneself.
Oh, then there is a truth here
that remains unspoken.
You've been told everything. There's nothing else.
There is Mr. Spock's unspoken truth.
You knew of the cloaking device
that we have developed.
You deliberately violated Romulan space
with a blatant spy mission, by order of the Federation.
We've been all through that, Commander!
We have not even begun!
There's no force that I can use
on a Vulcan that will make him speak.
That is a fact.
But there are Romulan methods
completely effective against humans ...
and human weaknesses.
You would not resort to them, Commander.
They would prove ineffective against the captain.
Then they will leave him dead,
or what might be worse than dead,
but I will know your unspoken truths.
Let her rant. There's nothing to say.
I cannot allow the captain to be further destroyed.
The strain of command has worn heavily upon him.
He's not been himself for weeks.
That's a lie!
As you can see, he's highly sensitive and emotional.
He's lost the capacity for rational decision.
Shut up!
I'm betraying no secrets.
The commander's suspicion
that Starfleet ordered the Enterprise
into the neutral zone is unacceptable.
Our rapid capture demonstrates its fool hardiness.
You filthy liar!
I am speaking the truth for the benefit
of the Enterprise and the Federation.
I say now and for the record,
Captain Kirk ordered the Enterprise across the neutral zone
on his own initiative and his craving for glory.
I'll kill you for this, you traitor!
I'll kill you!
He is not sane.
Attention, Enterprise, I'm speaking to you
from the Romulan flagship.
The U.S.S. Enterprise,
under command of Captain James T. Kirk,
is formally charged with espionage.
The testimony of First Officer Spock
was highly instrumental in confirming this intrusion
into Romulan space was not an accident.
First Officer Spock's testimony was specific
that your ship was not under orders
from Starfleet Command
or the Federation council
to perform such a spy mission.
It was Captain Kirk who was solely responsible.
Since the crew had no choice but to obey orders,
the crew will not be held responsible.
Therefore, I'm ordering Engineer Scott,
presently in command of the Enterprise,
to follow the Romulan flagship
to our home base.
You will there be processed and released
to Federation Command.
Until judgment is passed,
Captain Kirk will be held
in confinement.
Security, put our two Romulan hostages in the brig.
Lieutenant Uhura, give me a channel to that ship.
The channel is open, Mr. Scott,
and you are tied in.
This is Lieutenant Commander Scott.
The Enterprise takes no orders,
except those of Captain Kirk.
And we will stay right here
until he returns.
And if you make any attempt to board
or commandeer the Enterprise,
it will be blown to bits
along with as many of you as we can take with us.
You humans make a brave noise.
There are ways to convince you of your errors.
[Click]
Did you hear that, you coward?
You've betrayed everything of value you ever knew.
Did you hear the sound of human integrity?
Take him to the security room.
A Vulcan among humans ...
living, working with them.
I would think the situation would be intolerable to you.
I am half Vulcan. My mother is a human.
To whom is your allegiance then?
Do you call yourself Terrene or Vulcan?
Vulcan.
How long have you been a Starfleet officer, Spock?
18 years.
And you serve Captain Kirk.
Do you like him?
Do you like your shipmates?
The question is irrelevant.
Possibly, but you are subordinate to Captain Kirk's orders,
even to his whims.
My duty as an officer is to obey him.
You are a superior being.
Why do you not command?
I do not desire a ship of my own.
Or is it that no one has offered you, a Vulcan,
that opportunity?
Such opportunities are extremely rare.
For someone with your capabilities and accomplishments,
opportunities are made ...
and will be.
I will see to that,
if you'll stop looking on the Federation as the whole universe.
It is not, you know.
That thought has occasionally crossed my mind.
You must have your own ship.
Commander, shall we speak plainly?
It is you who desperately need a ship.
You want the Enterprise.
Of course.
It would be a great achievement for me
to bring home the Enterprise intact.
It would broaden the scope of my powers greatly.
It would be the achievement of a lifetime.
And it would open equal opportunities for you.
Aah!
Bridge to Dr. McCoy.
McCoy here.
Doctor, beam aboard the Romulan flagship immediately.
There's been an injury.
I don't make house calls.
Doctor, it's Captain Kirk!
He'll recover, but he'll need further attention.
Inform your superior.
[Beeping]
Yes?
I'll come there.
Attend me.
I neglected to mention I'll expect you for dinner.
We have much to discuss.
Indeed.
Allow me to -- to rephrase.
Will you join me for dinner?
I am honored, Commander.
Are the guards also invited?
Mr. Spock.
That corridor is forbidden to all but loyal Romulans.
Of course.
I shall obey your restrictions.
I hope that one day
there will be no need for you to observe
any restrictions.
It would be illogical
to assume that all conditions
remain stable.
Are you the doctor?
McCoy.
Chief medical officer.
Captain Kirk's condition?
Well, you can see for yourself,
he's mentally depressed, physically weak,
disoriented,
displays feelings of persecution and rebellion.
Then by your own standards of normality,
this man is not fully competent.
No, not now.
Mr. Spock has stated
that he believes the captain had no authority
or order to cross the neutral zone.
Could this mental incapacity
have afflicted him earlier?
Yes, it's possible.
Mr. Spock, the doctor has now confirmed your testimony
as to the mental state of your captain.
He was and is unfit to continue in command of the Enterprise.
That duty has fallen on you.
Are you ready to exercise that function?
I am ready.
Spock, I don't believe it.
There's no price you could pay to make him sell out.
The matter is not open for discussion.
What do you mean?
That's enough, Doctor.
As a physician, your duty is to save lives.
Mr. Spock's duty
is to lead the Enterprise and its crew
to a safe haven.
There's no alternative, Doctor.
The safety of the crew is now the paramount issue.
It is misguided loyalty to resist any further.
You traitor.
I'll kill you.
I'll kill you.
I'll kill you!
What did you do?
What did you do?
I was unprepared for his attack.
I instinctively used the Vulcan death grip.
Your instincts are still good, Mr. Spock.
The captain is dead.
Doctor!
Dr. McCoy!
Dr. McCoy!
I left orders that no one come in here.
But he's alive!
Now you know. Hand me the physic-stimulator.
But their doctors certified he was dead.
Spock gave him a nerve pinch to simulate death.
Then, Mr. Spock isn't a traitor,
and you knew that and didn't --
I didn't know it until I beamed aboard the Romulan ship.
Jim and Spock were operating under Federation orders.
[Groans]
[Groans]
My neck feels like it's been twisted off.
That's the Vulcan death grip for you.
There's no such thing as a Vulcan death grip.
But the Romulans don't know that.
Sure fooled the doctors.
You took a big chance they didn't start an autopsy.
As far as the rest of the crew's concerned,
I'm still dead.
Why?
That's what this whole masquerade was about --
to keep the Enterprise and the Federation off the hook.
So that if anything went wrong,
you would be the one to blame.
Bones, I want you to prepare for surgery.
What for?
[Intercom Whistles]
Sickbay to Bridge.
Scott here, Doctor.
Mr. Scott, report to sickbay.
I can't leave the bridge at a time like this.
You have to. It's urgent.
We're surrounded by enemy vessels ready to attack us.
I don't know of anything more urgent.
Well, I do.
Mr. Scott, please.
All right, Doctor.
It better be important.
Scott out.
All right, Doctor, what's so urgent that --
Captain?
Captain Kirk.
Yes.
Well, you look like the devil himself,
but as long as you're alive.
What's it all about?
Are those Romulan officers still aboard the ship?
They're in the brig, sir.
I'll need their Romulan uniform.
Ah ...
aye.
It'll be a pleasure.
I've had special Vulcan dishes prepared for you.
I hope they're to your liking.
I am very flattered, Commander.
There's no doubt that the cuisine aboard your vessel
is far superior to that of the Enterprise.
It is, indeed,
a very powerful recruiting inducement.
We have other inducements.
What the devil is Spock doing?
What's delaying him?
I wish I knew.
Scotty, are you sure
we have a clear channel to Spock?
Aye, sir. No doubt of it.
We can't wait. Prepare to beam me aboard the flagship.
But Mr. Spock hasn't sent the proper coordinates.
It can't be helped, Scotty.
You're taking an awful chance.
Just don't put me inside a bulkhead. Energize.
Centurion, I'm sorry. No one is allowed --
I've escaped from a Federation vessel.
I have important information for Subcommander Tal.
He's in control central.
Good. I'll mention your alertness to him.
Return to your duty.
Thank you, centurion.
You have nothing in Starfleet
to which to return.
I off --
We ...
offer you an alternative.
We will find a place for you,
if you wish it.
A place?
Mm-hmm.
With me.
Romulan women are not like Vulcan females.
We are not dedicated to ...
pure logic
and the sterility of nonemotion.
Our people are warriors.
Often savage.
But we are also many other pleasant things.
I was not aware of that aspect of Romulan society.
As a Vulcan, you will study it.
As a human, you would find ways to appreciate it.
Please believe me.
I do ...
appreciate it.
I am so glad.
Now one final step to make the occasion complete.
You will lead a small party of Romulans
aboard the Enterprise,
and there you will take your rightful place
as its commander.
And you will lead the ship to a Romulan port,
with my flagship at its side.
Yes, of course,
but not Just this moment.
An hour from now will do ...
even better.
Would it not ...
Commander?
Yes.
Yes, it will ...
Mr. Spock.
You do know I have a first name.
I was beginning to wonder.
Well, I do.
Would you like to hear it?
How rare ...
and how beautiful.
But so incongruous
when spoken by a soldier.
If you will give me a moment,
the soldier will transform herself ...
into a woman.
Spock to Captain Kirk.
Kirk here.
Captain, are you prepared to beam over?
I'm already on board, Spock.
Do you have the information?
Yes, Captain.
The cloaking device is near the commander's quarters.
It is closely guarded
and off-limits to all but authorized personnel.
What is your present location?
Subcommander Tal, I'm receiving an alien transmission
from within our vessel, sir.
You're certain?
Yes, Subcommander.
I must know the source!
Triangulating now, sir.
Spock, I'll get the cloaking device.
Will you be able to get back to the Enterprise
without attracting their attention?
Unknown, Captain.
At present, I am rather heavily --
Is my ...
attire now more appropriate ...
Mr. Spock?
Commander, your attire is not only more appropriate,
it should actually stimulate our conversation.
Centurion, have you clearance for this area?
I do not recognize you.
There's an intruder aboard.
Have someone tried to gain entrance there?
- I must see authorization. - Over there!
It's hard to believe ...
that I can be so moved ...
by the touch of an alien hand.
I must confess that I, too ...
am moved emotionally.
I know it is illogical.
Mr. Spock ...
we mustn't question what we truly feel ...
except what is happening between us,
even as I do.
[Beep]
Commander?
[Beep]
Permission to enter.
Not now, Tal.
It is urgent, Commander.
Enter.
Commander, we have intercepted an alien transmission.
Locate its source.
We have, Commander.
This room.
The cloaking device.
Bring him.
Halt.
Don't move.
Who are you? What are you doing in here?
There's an enemy spy aboard.
He'll be after the cloaking device.
Drop your weapon.
Scotty ...
energize.
But, sir, what about Mr. Spock?
He'll have to buy us time to get this installed.
It'll have to hook into our deflector shield control.
- Can you do it? - I don't know.
You have 15 minutes, Scotty.
Commander, the cloaking device is gone.
Full alert.
Search all decks.
That will be profitless, Commander.
I do not believe you will find it.
Oh, you must be mad.
I assure you ...
I am quite sane.
Why would you do this to me?
What are you that you could do this?
First officer ...
of the Enterprise.
What is your present form of execution?
[Captain Kirk] Captain's Log,
star date 5027.4.
Commander Scott has less than 15 minutes
to install the Romulan's cloaking device
and get it working.
I hope Mr. Spock can buy us the time we need.
Captain!
You're alive!
They said you'd been killed.
The report was premature.
Captain, your ears. What happened?
We'll discuss it later.
Mr. Sulu, lay in a course for home.
Mr. Chekov, take the sensors.
Mr. Spock is still aboard the Romulan flagship.
I want his body readings pinpointed and isolated.
That was not a request, gentlemen.
Aye, sir.
Aye, sir.
Aye, sir.
Return to your station, Subcommander.
The boarding action on the Enterprise
will begin with my command.
If they resist, destroy her.
Execution of state criminals
is both painful and unpleasant.
I believe the details are unnecessary.
The sentence will be carried out
immediately after the charges have been recorded.
I demand the right of statement first.
You understand Romulan tradition well.
The right is granted.
Thank you.
I shall not require much time,
no more than ...
20 minutes, I should say.
It should take less time than that
to find your ally who stole the cloaking device.
You will not die alone.
Recording the Romulan right of statement.
Proceed, Commander Spock.
My crime is sabotage.
I freely admit my guilt.
The oath I swore as a Starfleet officer
is both specific and binding.
As long as I wear the uniform,
my duty is to protect
the security of the Federation.
Clearly, your new cloaking device
is a threat to that security.
I carried out my duty.
Everyone carries out his duty.
You state the obvious, Spock.
There is no regulation regarding the content of my statement.
May I continue?
Very well.
Your 20 minutes is almost up.
There's only one Vulcan aboard that ship.
He should be easy enough to locate.
Romulans and Vulcans read almost exactly alike.
There is just a slight difference which --
Got him, sir.
Feed the coordinates to the transporter room.
Have them beam him aboard on my signal.
Captain Kirk,
Mr. Scott is on the intercom for you.
Go ahead.
I've got that device installed,
but bless me if I know whether it'll work.
It's a big guess.
Stand by, Scotty.
Sir, transporter room has the coordinates
and is ready for beaming.
Transporter room, beam Mr. Spock aboard.
Beyond the historic tradition of Vulcan loyalty,
there is also the combined Romulan-Vulcan history
of obedience to duty.
Transporter room reports Mr. Spock aboard, sir,
and the Romulan commander.
The commander?
Aye, sir.
Ha ha! All right.
Have them report to the bridge.
Mr. Sulu, take us away from the Romulans.
Warp factor 9.
Subcommander, the enemy vessel
is moving away at extreme speed, sir.
Alert all vessels.
Weapons officer, bring main batteries to bear on the Enterprise.
Holding at warp 9, sir.
Scotty, better switch on that device.
I did, sir.
It's not working.
I would give you credit, Captain,
for getting this far,
but you will be dead in a moment,
and the credit would be gratuitous.
Lieutenant, open a channel to the Romulan vessel.
Aye, sir.
I have Subcommander Tal, sir.
Establish two-way visual contact.
We have you under our weapons.
You cannot escape.
This is Captain Kirk. Hold your fire.
We have your commander aboard.
Commander?
Destroy this vessel. I command you!
- Break contact! - Tal!
Helmsman, flank speed.
Weapons officer, stand by to fire main batteries
as soon as we reach optimum range.
Scotty, we're running out of time.
Captain, I'm working as fast as I can.
You see, Captain?
Your effort is being wasted.
Mr. Spock, distance from the Romulan vessel?
150,000 kilometres, Captain,
and closing very rapidly.
Stand by, phasers.
Commander, you'll forgive me if I put up a fight.
Of course.
It's expected.
100,000 kilometres.
They should commence firing at us
within the next 12.7 seconds.
Scotty.
It's ready now, Captain,
but I don't know whether our circuits can handle this.
Throw the switch.
It'll likely overload.
Throw the switch.
Weapons officer, commence fi --
Gone.
They have the cloaking device!
Quickly, compute enemy course from last position
- and open fire! - Yes, sir.
Mr. Sulu, come about.
318 mark 7.
318 mark 7, sir.
Executing.
The cloaking device is working perfectly,
and the commander has informed me
that even the Romulan sensors
cannot track a vessel so equipped.
Thank you, Mr. Spock.
Cancel red alert.
We'll let you off at the nearest Federation outpost.
You are very generous, Captain.
If I may be taken to your brig,
I will take my place as your prisoner.
Mr. Spock will escort you to your quarters.
Captain.
Commander.
Deck 2.
It is regrettable that you were made an unwilling passenger.
It was not intentional.
All the Federation wanted was the cloaking device.
The Federation?
And what did you want?
It was my only interest
when I boarded your vessel.
And that's exactly all you came away with.
You underestimate yourself, Commander.
You realize that very soon
we will learn to penetrate
the cloaking device you stole.
Obviously.
Military secrets are the most fleeting of all.
I hope that you and I
exchanged something more permanent.
It was your choice.
It was the only choice possible.
You would not respect any other.
It will be our secret.
Entering neutral zone, Captain.
Very good, Mr. Chekov.
Thank you, Mr. Leslie.
Sickbay to Bridge.
What is it, Bones?
If all the shooting's over,
I'd like for you to report to sick bay.
What for?
You're due in surgery.
I'm going to bob your ears.
Captain ...
please go.
Somehow they do not look aesthetically agreeable on humans.
Well, are you coming, Jim,
or do you want to go through life
looking like your first officer?
I'm on my way.