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The Devil in the Dark

This Side of ParadiseEpisode ListErrand of Mercy

EPISODE DATA

Title ---------------------------- The Devil in the Dark
Writer / Producer --------------------- Gene L. Coon
Director ------------------------------- Joseph Pevney
Original Air Date --------------------- March 9, 1967
Order of Filming ----------------------------------- 26th
Order of Broadcasting --------------------------- 25th
Filmed -------------------- Mid & Late January 1967


REGULAR CAST

Captain James T. Kirk ------------ William Shatner
Lieutenant Cmdr. Spock ---------- Leonard Nimoy
Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy ---- DeForest Kelley
Lt. Cmdr. Montomery Scott ------- James Doohan


GUEST CAST

Chief Engineere Vanderberg ---------- Ken Lynch
Ed Appel --------------------------------- Brad Weston
Schmitter -------------------------------------- Biff Elliot
Lt. Cmdr. Giotto ------------------------ Barry Russo
Sam -------------------------------------------- Dick Dial
Horta --------------------------------- Janos Prohaska
Engineer #1 ------------------------ George E. Allen
Guard --------------------------------------- Jon Cavett
Security Guard ------------------------ Eddie Paskey
Lt. Osborne --------------------------- Frank Da Vinci
Lewis ------------------------------------ Davis Roberts

STORY SYNOPSIS

The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives to investigate reports of an unknown monster deep in the mining tunnels of Janus VI. The being is apparently destroying machinery and killing the miners, and has the ability to burrow through solid rock. Janus VI is a source for the rare mineral, pergium.

Soon after the landing party arrives on the planet's surface, a reactor pump is stolen and the colony is in jeopardy from fluctuating life support functions. However, this convinces Spock that they are dealing, not with a mindless monster, but with an intelligent lifeform.

Kirk and Spock, along with members of the ship's security team, enter the mines to find the creature. They discover a large, rock-like creature that burrows easily through the stone walls, as a mole might burrow through dirt. Wounded in a phaser blast, the bulky creature manages to escape through the stone wall.

They continue pursuit and eventually Kirk is trapped by the creature. When it doesn't attack, Spock attempts a Vulcan mind meld with the entity and discovers that it is, in fact, an intelligent being. A native of the planet, the creature is normally peaceful, and called a Horta. It doesn't mind sharing the planet with the miners, but when the men broke into the Horta's hatchery and unknowingly destroyed many of her eggs, it attacked to protect its remaining unborn children.

With Spock acting as interpreter, the miners explain that they thought the eggs were some king of silicon nodules and that no hostility had been meant.

McCoy treats the silicon-based creature with a trowel and patch material, and heals it. An alliance is formed between the Horta and the miners; the young, newly-hatched Hortas will mine the pergium at a far faster rate than the humans could and the miners will be extremely rich. Kirk retrieves the missing reactor and the landing party leaves the inhabitants of Janus VI living in peaceful co-existence.





THE DEVIL IN THE DARK

Click the name of the WAVs to listen

Total WAVs: 31


(1) Three -------------------- 15.8 KB
Chief Vanderberg - Schmitter

Does it make sense to leave a guard alone??
It would make more sense to post guards
in teams of 2 (or more!)


(2) Crisp --------------------- 18.3 KB
Chief Vanderberg


(3) Discovered --------------- 9.20 KB
Mr. Spock

Very logical Mr. Spock.


(4) Body -------------------- 11.6 KB
Dr. McCoy - Chief Vanderberg

From the way they described Schmitter before,
I didn't think there was ANYTHING left but a
stain on the ground!!


(5) Nodule ------------------- 24.4 KB
Mr. Spock - Chief Vanderberg


(6) Death -------------------- 20.1 KB
Captain Kirk

Not much of a choice.


(7) Fantasies ---------------- 6.82 KB
Dr. McCoy

I don't really think you can accuse Spock of that.


(8) Amusement -------------- 27.1 KB
Mr. Spock - Captain Kirk


(9) Kiss ---------------------- 20.1 KB
Captain Kirk - Scotty


(10) Silicone ----------------- 16.5 KB
Mr. Spock


(11) Wounded --------------- 7.43 KB
Captain Kirk


(12) Die --------------------- 24.4 KB
Captain Kirk - Mr. Spock


(13) Knowledge -------------- 19.5 KB
Captain Kirk - Mr. Spock


(14) Expendable ------------- 19.0 KB
Captain Kirk


(15) 2228.7 ------------------ 72.4 KB
Mr. Spock - Captain Kirk

Humor in the middle of a crisis - well done!


(16) Trouble ----------------- 12.1 KB
Captain Kirk - Mr. Spock


(17) Reactor ----------------- 10.4 KB
Scotty

It doesn't make any sense that an important
mining colony would rely on an outdated pump
for its heat and air.  If the mineral they mined was
that important they would have a well maintained,
state-of-the-art system with a backup as well.

Heat and clean air are all-important on a
planet with a poison atmosphere.

I know, I know . . . without that situation there
wouldn't have been much of an episode.

I just thought I'd point it out to you.


(18) Watched ---------------- 5.04 KB
Mr. Spock


(19) Separate --------------- 22.6 KB
Captain Kirk - Mr. Spock

Kirk says that he will go right and Spock will go left,
but if you watch the scene, Kirk goes left
and Spock goes right!!


(20) Collapse ---------------- 22.6 KB
Mr. Spock


(21) Way -------------------- 6.82 KB
Mr. Spock


(22) Talk -------------------- 25.7 KB
Horta - Captain Kirk


(23) Over ------------------- 3.77 KB
Captain Kirk


(24) Patient ----------------- 14.9 KB
Captain Kirk - Dr. McCoy


(25) Bricklayer --------------- 29.9 KB
Dr. McCoy - Captain Kirk

One of McCoy's famous lines.


(26) Tunnel ------------------ 22.6 KB
Chief Vanderberg - Captain Kirk


(27) Cure -------------------- 9.20 KB
Dr. McCoy


(28) Refreshing -------------- 43.8 KB
Captain Kirk - Mr. Spock


(29) Rich -------------------- 10.4 KB
Captain Kirk

Kirk has stated elsewhere that they don't
use money in the 23rd century.  How come he
says here that they're going to be very rich?
Doesn't "getting rich" assume some sort of
monetary system?


(30) Revolting --------------- 46.7 KB
Chief Vanderberg - Captain Kirk - Mr. Spock


(31) Insulted ---------------- 94.9 KB
Dr. McCoy - Mr. Spock - Captain Kirk

A great ending to a great episode!
Lots of classic Trek episodes had humorous endings.


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