SYNOPSIS
The crew of the Enterprise struggles to cope with a planet of imitative people who have modeled their society on 1920s gangsters.
CANON CONTEXT
This was the last Star Trek script credited to Gene L. Coon.
RECAP
What do you think about mobster movies? They were all the rage back in the late 60’s after The Rat Pack and Ocean’s Eleven made such a splash (to name a couple notable ones). I am sure the cast must love when episodes like these are done because it gets them out of their standard starfleet uniform (except for Kirk, of course, who may spend an entire episode topless) and into more “civilian” clothing.
This episode sees the Enterprise on their way to a planet that was “interfered” with by a previous starship and now, they are tasked to see the damage that may have been caused because of said interference. Did I mention this planet is inhabited by “imitative people” meaning they will completely become whatever they learn or see. And in this case, that starship left behind this lovely little (?) book for them to study and become:
And when I tell you they hit the nail on the head on this planet, I mean it. The language was actually a bit foreign to me and I thought I knew all the lingo from the 20’s. Not because I was born during that time, though I’ve been told I have a pretty old soul, but because I’ve seen my share of mobster movies. But I digress.
When Kirk and Spock and Bones beam down onto the planet they are met by guys in suits carrying some pretty heavy weaponry around. Even the women on the streets are packing. And if you ain’t packin’ brother are you in trouble! Know what I mean?
They announce their arrival to the “leader” or who they consider the leader because he owns and manages the largest part of the planet thus far. Being that this is all based on mobs, whoever has control over the most territory is the big cheese. Know what I mean?
Can’t say I like (or get?) the names of the two mob bosses we meet in this episode so I won’t bother you with what they are or use them. I like to give names based on appearance (yes, I’m shallow like that, my wife tells me all the time) and so for the purposes of this review I’m gonna refer to the big mob boss as “glasses guy.” Not pretty but it fits. Kirk and crew meet with him and he tries to strike a deal with them. He knows they must be pretty advanced and all that since the last ship paid them a visit. So he wants the Enterprise to supply him with enough weapons to take over all the other mobsters so that he’s the big kahuna. In return he’ll cut them in on the action. Something like that. Of course, Kirk (and starfleet for that matter) wouldn’t really like such a deal that could result in casualties.
But sooner or later Kirk has to acquiesce to the norms of his surroundings and what better way than to dress the part?
I’ve always loved a pin stripe suit and hope to one day have one tailor made for me. But I must say, Captain, that hat is not working for me at all.
In the suits they fleeced from guys working for the glasses dude they attempt to infiltrate the next largest mob boss. Let’s call him bowtie guy. He’s interested in a similar arrangement with glasses dude as they are both pretty tired of hitting each other (aka killing each others guys). That can get pretty old pretty fast.
By now you’ll be lulled into a false sense of glee and find yourself smiling for no reason. It was giving me that nostalgic feel for shows from this time period. I found myself wanting to watch I Dream of Jeanie or the original Batman television show.
One such laughing gag came when Kirk had to get them away from some mob guys playing poker nearby. He tells them about this game they play nowadays that’s much more complicated than poker which is silly stuff. The look on this guy’s face as he not only thinks he’s following Kirk’s rules but that he’s winning a game they aren’t even playing yet is one for the slapstick ages!
Another character worth mentioning is the kid on the street who thinks he’s a tough guy and just “wants a piece of the action” when he sees Kirk and Spock carrying their guns. The kid knows their about to bust in on one of the mob bosses and offers to help them as long as they cut him in. Who could turn down a face like this?
In the end, Kirk manages to convince all the mob bosses that they would be stupid not to take the federation seriously. He negotiates a deal where the glasses dude will be the leader of all the mobs with bowtie guy as his lieutenant. Together they will run the entire planet in a less mob-like way. In return, the federation will take a 40% cut of the action. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me.
Of course, Spock has to sour it by asking how Kirk intends on informing the federation that annually they have to send a ship to this planet to collect. What a party pooper!
DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT?
The whole episode is one great line/scene after another. But here’s how it ends:
[last lines]
Capt. Kirk: All right, Bones, in the language of the planet, “What’s your beef?”
Dr. McCoy: Well, I don’t know how serious this is, Jim. And I don’t quite know how to tell you…
Capt. Kirk: Go ahead.
Dr. McCoy: But in all the confusion, I…
Capt. Kirk: Tell me.
Dr. McCoy: I think I left it in Bela’s office.
Capt. Kirk: You left it?
Dr. McCoy: Somewhere, I’m-I’m not certain.
Capt. Kirk: You’re not certain of what?
Dr. McCoy: I left my communicator.
Capt. Kirk: In Bela’s office?
Spock: Captain, if the Iotians, who are very bright an imitative people, should take that communicator apart…
Capt. Kirk: They will, they will. And they’ll find out how the transtator works.
Spock: The transtator is the basis for every important piece of equipment that we have – the transporter, the…
Capt. Kirk: [overlapping] Everything, everything.
Dr. McCoy: You really think it’s that serious?
Capt. Kirk: Serious? Serious, Bones? It upsets the whole percentage.
Dr. McCoy: How do you mean?
Capt. Kirk: Well, in a few years, the Iotians may demand a piece of OUR action.
