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| Series: | TOS |
| Release Date (US): | 1982-06-04 |
| Production Number: | 002 |
| Year: | 2285 |
| Stardate: | 8130.3 |
| Story by: | Harve Bennett and Jack B. Sowards |
| Screenplay by: | Jack B. Sowards |
| Produced by: | Harve Bennett |
| Directed by: | Nicholas Meyer |
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"At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance."
Khan escapes from Ceti Alpha V, hijacks the starship Reliant, and plans vengeance on Admiral Kirk.
Summary
It is the 23rd century and a female Vulcan Starfleet officer is in command of the starship Enterprise. While the senior crew work at their posts on the bridge, the Vulcan officer, Saavik, makes a log entry.
- "Captain's log, stardate 8130.3. Starship Enterprise on training mission to Gamma Hydra. Section 14, coordinates 22-87-4. Approaching Neutral Zone, all systems normal and functioning."
When Lieutenant Commander Sulu reports that the ship is entering Section 15, Saavik orders him to project a parabolic course in order to avoid the Neutral Zone. At her station, Uhura receives a distress call from the Kobayashi Maru, a fuel carrier which has struck a gravitic mine in close proximity to Altair VI. When the signal begins to break up, the captain of the damaged vessel reveals that his ship is in the Neutral zone. However, Saavik orders Sulu to set an intercept course, even with the helm officer's reluctance to enter the Zone. When Spock informs her that Enterprise is in violation of treaty, she contacts the transporter room and asks for preparations to be made for retrieving the survivors. Uhura loses the distress signal and the computer reports the arrival of three Klingon cruisers. Saavik orders the crew to man battlestations and to raise the shields. Although Uhura attempts to notify the Klingon vessels that Enterprise is on a rescue mission, the crew on the ships are jamming all the communication channels. When the enemy ships fire photon torpedoes, Enterprise takes heavy damage and the crew, including Spock, apparently die. Eventually, Saavik orders the launch of Enterprise's log buoy and escape pods, which will carry the surviving crew away from the starship. From an unseen source, the filtered voice of Admiral Kirk is heard. The viewscreen of the "bridge" slides across, revealing a lighted room beyond. When Kirk strides through the opening, Saavik asks him for advice. The admiral replies that prayer would be the best course of action, as Klingons don't take prisoners. Standing up, Spock orders the trainees to the briefing room and leaves with the cadets. Saavik argues that the simulation was not a fair test of her command abilities, because there was no way to win. However, Kirk replies that a no-win situation is one which every captain may face and that the way in which someone deals with death is equally as important as how they face life. These thoughts didn't occur to Saavik, who says she will now spend time to think about them. When Dr.McCoy suggests that an experienced crew may serve more efficiently on the Enterprise, Kirk retorts that "galloping around the cosmos is a game for the young". Offended by the admiral's comment, Uhura indicates her displeasure.
Spock waits for Kirk.
Outside the bridge simulator, Spock is waiting for Kirk's approval of the trainee cadets. When the admiral comments that the cadets destroyed the simulator room, Spock reminds him that the Kobayashi Maru scenario frequently results in such a situation - noting that Kirk took the test three times, his final solution being somewhat "unique". The admiral thanks Spock for an antique written copy of "A Tale of Two Cities", which the Vulcan had given to Kirk as a birthday gift. They hear a voice report that a shuttle which is waiting for Spock will leave for Enterprise - the real Enterprise - in 15 minutes, prior to Kirk's inspection later. Kirk says he is returning home and enters a turbolift.
In Kirk's quarters on Earth, Dr. McCoy arrives and presents a bottle of Romulan ale to the admiral as a birthday gift. When Kirk comments that the drink is illegal in Federation space, McCoy replies that he only uses it for medicinal purposes. With difficulty, the captain reads a label on the bottle and realizes the drink is from 2283, two years ago. McCoy explains that Romulan ale takes a long time to ferment and, taking the bottle from Kirk, pours the drink into two beer mugs. Meanwhile, Kirk opens another of Dr. McCoy's gifts - a pair of antique 18th century gold-rimmed eye-glasses. Kirk has an allergy to Retinax V - the treatment McCoy would normally prescribe for the captain's eye condition - so McCoy gave him a pair of spectacles, instead. Together, they drink from the beer mugs, Kirk discovering that Romulan ale is a potent beverage. Lost for words, the captain wonders what he should say. When McCoy suggests "thank you", Kirk repeats the phrase. As they continue to drink the ale, McCoy attempts to persuade Kirk to get back into a command position aboard a starship.
A planet in the Ceti Alpha system.
Meanwhile, Commander Chekov is on board the USS Reliant. As the vessel heads toward a planet in the Ceti Alpha star system, the commander makes a log entry.
- "Starship log, stardate 8130.4. Log entry by First Officer Pavel Chekov. Starship Reliant on orbital approach to Ceti Alpha VI, in connection with Project Genesis. We are continuing our search for a lifeless planet, to satisfy the requirements of a test site for the Genesis experiment. So far, no success."
Captain Clark Terrell orders the helm officer to maneuver the Reliant into a standard orbit of the planet and Mister Beach reports on the results of the surface scan. Ceti Alpha VI has a limited atmosphere, dominated by craylon gas, sand and high velocity winds - in short, it is incapable of supporting lifeforms. Chekov fears that the planet may not pass the requirements for the Genesis experiment. He explains that the Reliant has detected a minor energy flux reading on one dynoscanner, which could indicate the presence of life. When Terrell suggests that the scanner may be out of adjustment, Chekov theorizes that the energy flux could simply be a particle of preanimate matter. The captain orders Commander Kyle to contact Dr. Carol Marcus, the inventor of Project Genesis, using the comm-pic. Perhaps the source of the energy flux is something that can be transplanted off the planet. However, Chekov believes that Marcus' response is inevitable.
Regula I, in orbit of Regula.
Near the Mutara Nebula, the space station Regula I slowly continues its orbit of Regula, a barren planetoid. Aboard the station, Carol Marcus is inquisitively wary. She warns Chekov and Captain Terrell that if even a microbe is found on the surface of the planet, Reliant will have to continue its search. When she cautiously permits an away team from the starship to beam down, Terrell enthusiastically interrupts, indicating that he and Chekov will go. Carol Marcus gazes at her son, David, who deactivates the Comm-pic.
Walking through a corridor, David assures his mother that Project Genesis will be successful. He tells her not to worry and opines that she will be remembered in the same breath as Newton, Einstein and Surak. Carol Marcus reacts with mock outrage at her son's supposedly disrespectful comment. As they stop walking, David asks his mother if she will team up with him for a game of bridge following their dinner. After she gives an indefinite answer, Carol Marcus sees that something is bothering her son. David reveals that he feels nervous every time the crew of Regula I become involved with Starfleet. He fears that Project Genesis could be used as a weapon of mass destruction, killing life rather than creating it. Recalling an "overgrown boy scout" that his mother once knew, David begins to say something before Carol Marcus interrupts him. She maintains that James Kirk was never a "boy scout" and walks into another room.
As the starship Reliant continues its orbit of a planet in the Ceti Alpha system, Captain Terrell and Commander Chekov beam down to the planet's surface.
Background Information
Publicity shot of the Enterprise.
- Several items were cut from the original script draft, including the revelation that Saavik was of joint Vulcan and Romulan lineage (something picked up by the Pocket TOS series of novels, including "The Pandora Principle"), and a relationship between Saavik and David Marcus. Both remained in the novelisation.
- Cadet Peter Preston's relation as nephew to Scotty was removed from the theatrical release, but was included in a televised version broadcast by ABC. The scene was restored in the Special Edition DVD release.
- Leonard Nimoy had intended Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan to be his final appearance as Spock, however, Harve Bennett suggested the "Remember" sequence as a possible get-out clause, should Nimoy decide to return to the role.
- This is the first apparance of the red jacket uniform.
- Many of the outer space footage in the first half of the movie are reused footage from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. These include the Klingon battlecruisers in the Kobayashi Maru sequence, the Enterprise's departure from drydock and footage of her going to warp.
- The Regula I space laboratory is a reuse of the orbital office complex model from Star Trek: The Motion Picture - turned upside down.
- The film was released in a Director's Edition DVD format in 2002. See Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Director's Edition) for more details.
- The events of the film were novelized by Vonda N. McIntyre, see Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (novel).
- This can be looked upon as a update version of novel Moby Dick Kahn being Captain Ahab even down to his dying curse, while Kirk is Moby Dick.
Memorable quotes
- "What's in this one -- Klingon aphrodesiacs?"
-- Kirk, opening McCoy's second present
- "Get your command back, Jim... before you become a part of this collection. Before you really do grow old."
-- McCoy
- (In Vulcan)"He's not what I expected."
"What did you expect, Savvik?"
"He's so -- so human."
"None of us is perfect, Savvik."
-- Savvik and Spock
- (Sulu)"You did it!"
"I did nothing, except get caught with my britches down! I must be getting senile. Lieutenant -- you go right on quoting orders!"
-- Kirk
- "Ah, Kirk, my old friend. Do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us 'Revenge is a dish that is best served cold'? It is very cold... in space.'--Khan
- "He's highly intelligent, but inexperienced. This pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking." --Spock
- "KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" --Kirk
- "I don't like to lose."
-- Kirk to Savvik
- "You lied."
"I exaggerated."
--Savvik and Spock on Enterprise damage reports
- "No, Kirk -- you can't get away. From Hell's heart... I stab at thee. For hate's sake I spit my last breath... at thee."
-- Khan, quoting Melville (Moby Dick) as he dies
- (cadet)"Sir-- the mains are back on line!"
"Bless you, Scotty -- Go, Sulu!"
-- Kirk, ordering warp speed
- "No, Jim -- you'll flood the whole compartment!"
"He'll die!"
"Admiral -- he's dead already."
(pause)"It's too late, Jim."
--McCoy, Kirk, Scott (regarding Spock)
- "Don't grieve, admiral... It's logical... The needs... of the many... outweigh--"
"The needs of the few."
"Or the one... I never took... the Kobiyashi Maru test... what do you think of my solution, admiral?... I have been... and will continue to be... your friend. Live long... and prosper."
--Spock's "last" words with Kirk
Links and References
Cast
- William Shatner as James T. Kirk
- Leonard Nimoy as Spock
- DeForest Kelley as Leonard McCoy
- James Doohan as Scotty
- Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov
- George Takei as Hikaru Sulu
- Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
- Bibi Besch as Carol Marcus
- Merritt Butrick as David Marcus
- Paul Winfield as Captain Terrell
- Kirstie Alley as Saavik
- Ricardo Montalban as Khan Noonien Singh
- Judson Scott as Joachim
- Ike Eisenmann as Peter Preston
- John Vargas as Jedda
- John Winston as Kyle
- Paul Kent as Beach
- Nicholas Guest as Cadet
- Russell Takaki as Madison
- Kevin Sullivan as March
- Joel Marstan as Crew Chief
- Teresa E. Victor as Bridge Voice
- Dianne Harper as Radio Voice
- David Ruprecht as Radio Voice
- Marcy Vosburgh as Computer Voice
References
Regula, Ceti Alpha VI, General Order 12, Battle of the Mutara Nebula, "Amazing Grace", Tricorder, Starbase 173, Ceti Alpha V, Retinax V, Romulan ale, USS Reliant, Moby Dick, Genesis Device, Treaty of Organia, Ceti Alpha system, Vulcan language, Earth Spacedock, K't'inga class, Crewman, Sickbay, Kobayashi Maru, Kobayashi Maru scenario, Mutara Nebula, Medical tricorder, A Tale of Two Cities, Prefix code, Katra, Ceti eel, Neutral zone, Augment, Tau Ceti, Altair VI, Tau Ceti IV, Phaser type-2, Project Genesis, Gamma Hydra sector, Antares system, Antares maelstrom, Tactical situation monitor, Gamma Hydra, Regula I, Midshipman, Starfleet Corps of Engineers, Genesis Planet, Federation tug, Symbiotic lifeform, Altair, Starbase 375, Starbase 257, Gravitic mine, Radiation poisoning, Log buoy, Scotland, Bible, Tiberian bat, Bagpipes, Photon torpedo, Orbital office complex, Bridge, Kraylon gas, Dynoscanner, Auto-destruct, Funeral, Birthday, Phaser emitter
External Links
- Filming Locations
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at Wikipedia
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at the Internet Movie Database
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