The Deadly Years (episode)

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This article is written
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This article is written
from the Real World
point of view
"The Deadly Years"
TOS, Episode 2x11
Production number: 60340
First aired: 8 December 1967
Remastered version aired: 10 November 2007
← 41st of 80 produced in TOS →
← 41st of 80 released in TOS →
← 48th of 80 released in TOS Remastered →
← 41st of 726 released in all →
Written By
David P. Harmon

Directed By
Joseph Pevney
3478.2 (2267)
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When Enterprise discovers a colony full of rapidly-aging scientists, whatever caused the rapid aging inflicts them as well. Chekov may be their only hope for survival.

Contents

[edit] Summary

The Enterprise is on a routine mission to resupply the experimental colony at Gamma Hydra IV. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Lt. Galway, and Ensign Chekov beam down. While they are looking for the colonists, Chekov wanders into a darkened building. As the lights come on, they reveal the dead body of a very old man. Chekov runs out of the building scared to death and the rest of the landing party goes to investigate. McCoy reveals the cause of death to be natural causes, extreme old age. Spock finds this impossible, since he had checked the records prior to the group beaming down and found that none of the colony members were over 30. Then, two elderly people wander in, Robert Johnson, who claims to be only 29; and his wife, Elaine who claims to be 27.

"Captain’s log, stardate 3478.2. On a routine mission to resupply the experimental colony at Gamma Hydra IV, we discovered a most unusual phenomenon. Of the six members of the colony, none of whom were over 30, we found four had died and two were dying ... of old age."

Kirk tries to question Robert Johnson, but being of advanced age, he doesn't quite understand. He fills in his passengers, Commodore Stocker, Doris Atkins, and Dr. Janet Wallace, Wallace also being an old flame of Kirk's past. Kirk promises to keep them all informed and that they will remain in orbit until the mystery is solved. Commodore Stockers expresses his concern to reach Starbase 10, and Kirk says he will do everything he can to get Stocker there. Everyone leaves and Dr. Wallace and Kirk reminisce about the past for a moment and how their careers got in the way of their relationship.

Kirk goes to the bridge and gives the order to maintain orbit, and Spock informs him that a rogue comet passed near the planet some time ago, but is unsure if it had any effects on the planet. Commodore Stocker tries to again push the Enterprise to leave for Starbase 10, claiming the instruments there would be more effective. Kirk politely refuses the Commodore's request and leaves the bridge giving the command again to maintain orbit, much to Sulu's and Spock's confusion.

Meanwhile, Lt. Galway visits McCoy complaining about suffering a sudden loss of hearing. Kirk, in his quarters, calls Spock on the bridge and informs him to look into a comet that had recently passed the planet. Spock, of course, replies he is already doing so as per Kirk's orders, leaving Kirk a little confused. He then goes to sickbay complaining of shoulder pain, and jokes about McCoy's hair getting a little grayer. McCoy's initial exam reveals advanced arthritis in Kirk's shoulder, which Kirk doesn't believe at first. But then Scotty walks in, complete with gray hair and wrinkles.

"Captain’s log, stardate 3479.4. The Enterprise personnel who beamed down to the planet's surface – Dr. McCoy, Engineer Scott, Mr. Spock, Lieutenant Galway, and myself – are all showing definite signs of aging. Only Ensign Chekov appears to be normal."

Everyone that had been in the landing party is showing signs of aging, with the exception of Chekov. The party is aging at approximately thirty years a day, and McCoy is at a loss for the cause. He has run a complete physical on Chekov and found nothing. Spock estimates that they all have less than a week to live and that in lesser time, they will be little more than mental vegetables. Though Spock is showing no obvious physical signs, he admits to suffering from lethargy, memory and vision loss, and the ship's temperature is feeling increasingly colder to him. Kirk sends Scotty and Galway back to their duties and leave McCoy to do yet another physical on Chekov.

As Kirk heads back to he bridge, he exchanges a mildly flirtatious conversation with Dr. Wallace. The tone changes however, when Kirk realizes that Dr. Wallace's husband is much older than she is. Kirk inquires if Dr. Wallace's affections to him are partly because of his aging.

Chekov gripes to Sulu about the constant examinations of him and him giving all sorts of samples. "If I live long enough, I'm going to run out of samples." An elderly Kirk arrives at the bridge while Commodore Stocker looks on, and we see that age is taking its toll. Kirk gives orders, then forgets giving them. He even falls asleep in his command chair. A gray-haired Spock wakes him and informs him that the comet is indeed the source of the problem. The orbit of Gamma Hydra IV took the planet through the comet's tail. Though no regular levels of radiation were detected, there were extremely low levels of radiation, which is the probably cause. Kirk then orders Lt. Uhura to send a coded message to Starfleet and to use code 2 since they are close to the Romulan Neutral Zone. Uhura reminds Kirk that the Romulans have already broken code 2. A befuddled Kirk orders her to use code 3 and to relay the information about the comet. He then tells Sulu to move the ship to a higher orbit, and when Sulu says he had already given that command, he yells, "I fail to see why I have to keep repeating myself!"

McCoy confirms the radiation theory, and Kirk returns to the bridge. Spock then informs McCoy that the ship has become increasingly cold and he's had to increase the temperature in his own quarters to 125 degrees. Dr. Wallace then tells McCoy that none of the conventional means for radiation therapy will work in this case.

Commodore Stocker meets with Spock, informing him of his concern for Kirk's ability to command. He asks Spock to take over as captain, since Vulcans have a much longer life span. Spock reminds the Commodore that he is also feeling the effects of the aging and that he also is half Human. Stocker asks Spock to conduct a competency hearing, which according to regulations is Spock's duty as first officer.

As McCoy continues to examine Chekov, an aged Lt. Galway falls dead in Kirk's arms. McCoy speculates that Galway's increased metabolism was the cause for her early death and that they themselves don't have much more time.

Spock conducts the competency hearing, and a reluctant Uhura and Sulu testify about Kirk's failing abilities. Kirk tries to maintain his control, but it is quite obvious that his mind is failing. He is removed from command and to his dismay, Commodore Stocker assumes command.

Stocker, who has no field experience, plots a shortcut to Starbase 10 through the Romulan Neutral Zone and, of course, the Romulans attack. The Enterprise is quickly surrounded, as a shocked and frozen Commodore tries to decide what to do.

Meanwhile, a very old and gray Kirk and an equally-gray Spock and McCoy review again landing on the planet. Spock then reminds them that the only time Chekov was not with them was when he went into the building, discovered the body, and ran from the building scared half to death. McCoy postulates that the increased adrenalin levels may have protected Chekov from being afflicted.

The Romulans continue to attack the Enterprise while Stocker tries to establish communication. Spock makes a crude serum, but it could either cure or kill. Kirk, determined to get back to the bridge, demands the first shot – and upon receiving it, he starts to scream and writhe.

Stocker feels that the only way to get the Romulans to stop is by surrendering. But Chekov reminds him that Romulans do not take prisoners.

Suddenly, a young Kirk arrives on the bridge and retakes command. On purpose, he instructs Uhura to post a message to Starfleet, using code 2, that he plans to self-destruct the ship and take all the Romulan ships with him by using the Corbomite device.

As expected, the Romulans tap into the message and start to move out of the way. Kirk uses this opportunity to warp the Enterprise out of the Neutral Zone and back to safety.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"I don't know what's causing it. Virus, bacteria or evil spirits, but I'm trying to find out."

- McCoy


"Doctor, the ship's temperature is becoming increasingly cold. I've adjusted the temperature in my quarters to 125 degrees which is at least tolerable, and..."
"Well, I can see I'm not gonna make any house calls on you!"
"I was wondering if there was something which could lower my sensitivity to cold."
"I'm not a magician, Spock. Just an old country doctor."
"Yes, as I always suspected."

- McCoy and Spock


"'Give us some more blood, Chekov. The needle won't hurt, Chekov. Take off your shirt, Chekov. Roll over, Chekov, breathe deeply, Chekov! Blood samples, Chekov; Marrow samples, Chekov; Skin samples, Chekov.' If, If, I live long enough, I'm going to run out of samples."
"You'll live."
"Oh yes I'll live, but I won't enjoy it."

- Chekov and Sulu


"Because of your Vulcan metabolism, I've prepared an extremely potent shot. However you'll be pleased to know I have removed all the breakables from sickbay."
"That is very considerate of you, Doctor."

- McCoy and Spock


"What are you doing here?"
"It would seem to be the place where I can be of the most use."
"Maybe you'd like to relieve Dr. McCoy."

- An elderly Kirk takes a potshot at Spock.

[edit] Background Information

  • Bantam Books published a series of novelizations called "foto-novels," which took photographic stills from actual episodes and arranged word balloons and text over them, to create a comic book formatted story. The eleventh installment was an adaptation of this episode.
  • During the filming of this episode the cast and crew widely believed that this was to be their final episode, as at the time they were facing impending cancellation.
    (citation needed • edit)
  • The costume for Dr. Wallace was made from drapes.
  • Over-sized uniform shirts were specially constructed for this episode so the characters would appear to be shrinking as they "aged."
  • In this episode, Kirk makes a reference to the fictional "corbomite" device, which he first described in "The Corbomite Maneuver". Although Chekov was not on the bridge on that occasion, he obviously heard the story from someone, as he and Sulu exchange knowing looks when Kirk mentions the word.
  • Shatner's hairline is inconsistent in this episode. As the aging effect first hits him, the hairline is receding, but for some reason, as he gets much older, his hairline advances again. It has been documented that Shatner did not want to look old, and indeed, he looks much more youthful than Scott and McCoy. It is not known if Shatner wore a grey hairpiece on top of his existing toupee.
  • No special effects shots were filmed for this episode. The entire Romulan attack is created by using stock footage from "Balance of Terror" and "Errand of Mercy".
  • Areel Shaw's line from "Court Martial" about how long it has been since she's seen Kirk is recycled by Janet Wallace in this segment.
  • The script called for the aged Kirk to run from sickbay to the bridge, and gradually grow younger until he arrived. But as director Joseph Pevney told Allan Asherman in the Star Trek Interview Book, the slow speech patterns and actions of the aging Enterprise personnel were making the episode run long. So Kirk's reverse aging scenes were cut.
  • This episode was produced in early August 1967.
  • Kirk's age – 34 years old – is established in this episode.
  • In The World of Star Trek, William Shatner relates that he endured an excruciating make-up session for this episode – all for nothing, because the shooting day was just about to end. The producers caught his exasperation in an infamous blooper, wherein he declares, "Bob Justman, I'm going home now... after spending three hours putting this [expletive deleted] make-up back on – and it's your fault!"
  • The last shot of the episode is lifted from "Amok Time". Note the wig there on Walter Koenig, which he didn't have on for the entire episode.
  • Dr. Janet Wallace's reason for being aboard the Enterprise is never revealed. She's just "there" in Act I, and her expertise as an endocrinologist later turns out to be fortuitous. It's possible, however, that she and Commodore Stocker have both been assigned, and are being conducted, to Starbase 10.

[edit] Production Timeline

[edit] Video and DVD releases

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Starring

[edit] Guest Star

[edit] Also Starring

[edit] Featuring

[edit] Uncredited Co-Stars

[edit] References

2233; 2238; 2240; 2243; 2261; 2265; adrenal gland; adrenaline; aging; Aldebaran III; arthritis; astrophysics (astronomical section); Atomic Age; biochemistry; bone marrow; blood; blood type; carbohydrate compound; class M; code 2; code 3; colony; comet; command order; Commodore; competency hearing; corbomite; cosmic ray; deaf; endocrinology; Fahrenheit; field command; flag officer (flag rank); fuel consumption report; Gamma Hydra II; Gamma Hydra IV; heart; house call; hypersonic treatment; hyronalin; junior officer; logic; magician; medical scanner; mile; muscular strain; needle; nitrogen; oxygen; perigee; physical; plant; prosecuting attorney; Quadrant 448; radiation; radiation poisoning; radiation sickness; radiation therapy; rank; ranking officer; Romulans; Romulan Empire; Romulan Neutral Zone; senility; senior officer; skin; Starbase 10; Starfleet Command; Starfleet Regulations; stargram; vitamin; Vulcan; Wallace, Theodore; Yeoman

[edit] External link


Previous episode produced:
"Mirror, Mirror" 		Star Trek: The Original Series
Season 2 		Next episode produced:
"I, Mudd"
Previous episode aired:
"Friday's Child" 		Next episode aired:
"Obsession"
Previous remastered episode aired:
"Metamorphosis" 		TOS Remastered Next remastered episode aired:
"The Alternative Factor"
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