The Savage Curtain (episode)

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"The Savage Curtain"
TOS, Episode 3x22 Production number: 60043-77 First aired: 7 March 1969 Remastered version aired: 28 June 2008
←	78th of 80 produced in TOS	→
←	77th of 80 released in TOS	→
←	75th of 80 released in TOS Remastered	→
←	77th of 727 released in all	→
Teleplay By Arthur Heinemann and Gene Roddenberry Story By Gene Roddenberry Directed By Herschel Daugherty
5906.4 (2269)
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Kirk and Spock are forced to fight alongside such historical figures as Abraham Lincoln of Earth and Surak of Vulcan by aliens who want to understand the concepts of "good" and "evil."

Contents 1 Summary 2 Memorable Quotes 3 Background information 3.1 Story and production 3.2 Continuity 3.3 Response 3.4 Remastered information 3.5 Production Timeline 3.6 Video and DVD releases 4 Links and References 4.1 Starring 4.2 Also Starring 4.3 Guest Star 4.4 Co-Starring 4.5 Uncredited Co-Stars 4.6 References 4.7 External link

[edit] Summary

The Enterprise is surprised to detect life signs coming from an apparently lifeless planet. During the ensuing investigation, an image of Abraham Lincoln appears on the viewscreen.

"Captain’s log, stardate 5906.4. Who or what has been beamed aboard our vessel? An alien who has changed himself into this form? An illusion? I cannot conceive it possible that Abraham Lincoln could have actually been reincarnated. And yet his kindness, his gentle wisdom, his humor, everything about him is so right."

Lincoln makes a brief tour of the ship, then invites Kirk and Spock to beam down to a thousand-kilometer Earth-like region that suddenly appears on the sensors. Kirk seems all too ready to admire the "illusion," whereas McCoy and Scotty insist that the whole affair is a setup to lure Kirk and Spock to their deaths on the planet's deadly surface. Kirk and Spock accept the invitation, and discover themselves locked in a mortal combat of good versus evil, with the good represented by themselves, Lincoln, and Surak (the legendary Vulcan philosophical leader), and evil represented by four archetypes, including Kahless, founder of the Klingon Empire; Zora of Tiburon; ancient human conqueror Genghis Khan, and the charismatic but thoroughly despicable 21st century tyrant Colonel Green. The planet's denizens reveal themselves to be a race of rock-like beings, who often stage such combats to learn more about alien philosophies. Since Kirk refuses to fight, the aliens raise the stakes by damaging the Enterprise's matter/antimatter equipment, which will cause the ship to "blow to bits" in four hours – unless the "good" side manages to defeat their opponents.

"Supplemental log, stardate 5906.5. Engineer Scott reporting. The Enterprise is doomed to explode in two hours if Captain Kirk is defeated by the enemy on the surface of the planet. The enormous power of the Enterprise has been neutralized and we sit here watching, unable to assist."

Meanwhile, on the surface of Excalbia, Colonel Green wants to strike a deal with Kirk. Saying he wants the same thing that Kirk wants, (to get off the planet) and that he has no quarrel with Kirk. While they are talking, Khan, Zora, and Kahless ambush Kirk's team. A fight ensues, and both "sides" retreat to find higher ground. Surak goes to make peace with the other "side" and is captured. Then Kahless starts imitating his voice and yells for Spock to help him. Kirk feels they should go and help him, saying that " he's in agony." Spock insists that he should have known what would happen to him when he left, and that a Vulcan "would not cry out so." Lincoln proposes that they should do what the other "side" wants them to do,"but not the way they want." Lincoln crawls over to where Surak is being held, only to find him dead, or unconscious. Meanwhile, Kirk voices to Spock his worry over Lincoln taking so long. Then, Lincoln comes walking over to Kirk, holding his hands behind his back. He tells Kirk to stay back, then topples over with a four-foot long spear embedded in his back. Kirk and Spock notice the "evil side" approaching their emplacement. A battle follows, and the "good side" is the winner. Yarnek emerges again, telling Kirk and Spock that, "it seems that evil runs off when forcibly confronted." But, he also adds that he sees no difference between good and evil. Kirk points out the difference in motivation that Yarnek had to employ to force each side to confront each other - saving oneself, vs saving others one cared for. Kirk and Spock return to the Enterprise, its matter/antimatter equipment repaired.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"President Lincoln, indeed! No doubt to be followed by Louis of France and Robert the Bruce!"
"If so, then we will execute appropriate honors for each, Mr. Scott."

- Scott, as Kirk enters the transporter room

"You're both out of your heads!"
"Aye!"
"And you're both on the edge of insubordination!"
"Would I be on the edge of insubordination to remind the captain that this smells of something happening to him that I might not be able to patch back together again?"

- McCoy, Scott, and Kirk

"Scotty, beam us up fast!"

- Kirk

"What a charming negress." "Oh, forgive me, my dear. I know in my time some use that term as a description of property."
"But why should I object to that term, sir? In our century, we've learned not to fear words."

- "Abraham Lincoln" and Uhura

"Lincoln died three centuries ago in a planet hundreds of light years away!"
"More...that direction, engineer."

- Scotty and Spock, correcting Scotty as he incorrectly points in the direction of Earth

"Live long and prosper, image of Surak; father of all we now hold true."
"The, uh – image of Surak read in your face what is in your mind, Spock."
"As I turned, and my eyes beheld you, I displayed emotion... I ask forgiveness."
"The cause was more than sufficient... let us speak no further of it."

- Spock and "Surak"

"I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us."

- "Surak"

"Your choice of actions is unlimited as is your choice of weapons. Should you wish to use any, you may fabricate anything you desire out of what you can find around you."
"Mister Spock and I refuse to participate."
"You will decide otherwise."

- Yarnek and Kirk

"There is no honorable way to kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in war except its ending."

- "Abraham Lincoln"

This line has been wrongly attributed to the actual Lincoln. [1]

"What do you mean, survival?" "The word is explicit, if you and Spock survive, you return to your vessel. If you do not --- your existence is ended."

- Kirk and Yarnek

"It would seem that evil retreats when forcibly confronted."

- Yarnek

"We came in peace." "And you may go in peace."

- Kirk and Yarnek

[edit] Background information

[edit] Story and production

• Arell Blanton was hired for this episode because of his military background, needed for the welcoming ceremony for Abraham Lincoln. He was in an episode of M*A*S*H years later for the same reason.
  ^{(citation needed • edit)}
• Colonel Green talks to Surak and argues that while the latter is there "talking peace" the others ("the good guys") are preparing to attack. This is somehow a paraphrase from a well-known "latin proverb" Si vis pacem, para bellum: "if you want peace, prepare for war."

[edit] Continuity

• This episode includes two further contributions to the ambiguous timeline that the series is set it, establishing that "Lincoln died three centuries ago," indicating a mid-22nd century timeline, while at the same time establishing, more accurately, that the 21st century was "centuries ago."
• This episode marks the second time TOS encounters a silicon-based lifeform. The first time is in "The Devil in the Dark". Janos Prohaska played both lifeforms, with Bart LaRue supplying the Excalbian's voice.
• Yarnek is never named in dialog. Even in the closed captioning, he's merely identified as "Excalbian."
• This episode introduces several notable figures in the Star Trek universe, including the Human despot, Colonel Green; the founder of the Klingon Empire, Kahless the Unforgettable; and, the father of the modern Vulcan civilization, Surak, all of whom were characters who would be revisited in later series.
• The appearances of Kahless and Surak mark the final respective appearances of a Klingon and (full) Vulcan in The Original Series.
• This episode also marks the final appearance of Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) in the series.
• This is the second and final mention in a TOS episode that it may be possible to separate the nacelles from the ship, in this case by specifically jettisoning them.

[edit] Response

• Like fan mail phenomenon the studio experienced following the broadcast of "Journey to Babel", the studio experienced a repeat of that phenomenon following the broadcast of "The Savage Curtain", this time in response to the introduction of Surak. The fans who wrote in were again intrigued demanding to see more of Surak. (The World of Star Trek)

[edit] Remastered information

The episode was remastered in 2008 featuring new shots of Excalbia.

The Enterprise enters orbit of Excalbia	Remastered version	Excalbia on the viewscreen	Remastered version
Aft view of the Enterprise in orbit	Remastered version	The Enterprise makes another orbit	Remastered version
The Enterprise breaks orbit	Remastered version

[edit] Production Timeline

• Series proposal, "Star Trek is...": 11 March 1964 - mentions similar story idea "Mr. Socrates"
• Story outline by Gene Roddenberry, 8 May 1968.
• Story outline by Gene Roddenberry, 9 May 1968.
• Teleplay by Gene Roddenberry, 11 September 1968.
• Teleplay by Gene Roddenberry and Arthur Heinemann, 27 November 1968.
• Final draft script, 6 December 1968
• Filmed in mid-December 1968

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• Original US Betamax release: 1988.
• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 40, catalogue number VHR 2436, 18 March 1991.

This volume is a three-episode tape to close out the series.

• US VHS release: 15 April 1994.
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 3.8, 2 March 1998.
• Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 39, 11 December 2001.
• As part of the TOS Season 3 DVD collection.

View online at the CBS website (available in the US only)

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Starring

• William Shatner as James Kirk

[edit] Also Starring

• Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock

And:

• DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

[edit] Guest Star

• Lee Bergere as Lincoln

[edit] Co-Starring

• Barry Atwater as Surak
• Phillip Pine as Col. Green
• James Doohan as Scott
• George Takei as Sulu
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• Walter Koenig as Chekov
• Arell Blanton as Chief Security Guard
• Carol Daniels DeMent as Zora (no lines)
• Robert Herron as Kahless
• Nathan Jung as Genghis Khan (no lines)

[edit] Uncredited Co-Stars

• William Blackburn as Hadley
• Roger Holloway as Lemli
• Bart LaRue as voice of Yarnek
• Janos Prohaska as Yarnek

[edit] References

19th century; 21st century; American Civil War; antimatter; Arcturian dog bird (Arcturian); balloon; boomerang; boatswain's whistle; carbon cycle lifeform; class M; commander in chief; dress uniform, Starfleet; Earth; emergency battery power; evil; Excalbia; Excalbians; galley; General; good; Grant, Ulysses S.; haggis; honor detachment; Human; insubordination; Klingon; lava; Louis of France; matter; mile; mineral; minute; Mr. President; musician; nacelle; Negress; nitrogen; Nome; oxygen; power; presidential honor; restart cycle; Robert the Bruce; rock; Roman; Rome; slavery; sling; spear; Starfleet Command; surgeon; tape; telegraph; Tiburon; Time of Awakening; transporter; Union Army; United States of America; Vulcan; Vulcan (planet); Vulcan language; Vulcan philosophy; whiskey; woodsman; World War III

[edit] External link

• The Savage Curtain (episode) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works

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