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Title --------------------
Plato's Stepchildren
Writer -----------------------
Meyer Dolinsky
Director --------------------
David Alexander
Original Air Date ---------
November 22, 1968
Order of Filming -----------------------
67th
Order of Broadcasting -----------------
65th
Filmed ---------- Early
& mid September 1968
Captain James T. Kirk --------
William Shatner
Lieutenant Cmdr. Spock ------
Leonard Nimoy
Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy --
DeForest Kelley
Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery Scott -- James Doohan
Lieutenant Uhura ------------
Nichelle Nichols
Nurse
Christine Chapel ---------
Majel Barrett
Alexander --------------------- Michale
Dunn
Parmen ------------------------ Liam
Sullivan
Philana -------------------- Barbara
Babcock
Eraclitus ------------------------- Ted
Scott
Dionyd ---------------------- Derek
Partridge
Spock's stunt double ------ Armando Gonzales
Kirk's stunt double ---------------- Jay Jones
"Plato's Stepchildren"
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Parmen, the Platonian
philosopher-king, calls his people "Plato's Children," although they
are now so far removed from ancient Greek ideals, they sometimes think
of themselves more as
Plato's stepchildren.
|
The Sons of Socrates
France ---------------------
The Decendants
Italy ----------- Humiliated by
Superior Force
Japan ------------ Magical Powers of
Kironide
Portugal -----------------------
Plato's Heirs
When the U.S.S. Enterprise
receives a distress call from the planet Platonius, Kirk, Spock and
McCoy beam down to the planet's surface. There they find the planet's
leader, Parmen, with a badly infected leg. The Platonians, while
powerful psycho kinetics, have no resistance against physical injury.
As Parmen's wife tells them, a cut or break in the skin can literally
cause death. The only resident of Platonius that doesn't have "the
power" is Alexander, a dwarf, who is everyone's jester and slave.
When Parmen's wound has
healed and
the landing party prepares to leave, they find the U.S.S. Enterprise's
controls are frozen. Parmen has decided that it would be beneficial for
them to have a resident doctor and tries to convince McCoy to remain.
When he refuses, Parmen and the others try to convince him by
subjecting Kirk and Spock to several humiliating scenarios. Still the
doctor refuses and the three officers are locked away to ponder their
plight.
After questioning
Alexander, McCoy
determines that the Platonians probably got their mental powers from
eating the local foods. Something about Alexander's metabolism has kept
him from acquiring those powers as well. McCoy prepares concentrated
doses of kironide, the substance in the local food, and injects it into
Kirk and Spock. Alexander, given the chance, refuses an injection. He
doesn't want the same powers that his masters have.
As they discuss their
next move,
the shimmering of a transporter beam appear in the room and Lieutenant
Uhura and Nurse Chapel appear. Without a word, they are jerked out of
the room, as if controlled with invisible strings, and disappear. Kirk
comments grimly that the men were apparently not entertaining enough
for the Platonians.
Later, Uhura and
Christine join the
other officers, dressed in sparkling gowns and lavish makeup.
Christine's is even vaguely Vulcan with slanted eyebrows and partially
covered ears. What follows is a series of "games" designed to humiliate
the U.S.S. Enterprise crew members and entertain the Platonians. McCoy,
seated in a place of honor beside Parmen, is expected to accept the
leaders offer to stay and serve as their physician.
Kirk and Spock are
forced to fight
each other and Spock is made to sing "Maiden Wine" to the two women.
Finally, Spock is paired on a loveseat with Christine, while Kirk
shares one with Uhura. They are forced to make advances on the women.
The play gets nasty then, as Kirk and Spock take up whips, which they
snap at their respective partners. By now, however, the doses of
kironide are beginning to take effect and both officers now resist the
Platonians powers and throw down their weapons.
Kirk tells Parmen that
they can
recreate this power whenever they want and if the Federation finds that
Parmen and his people have fallen back to their old ways, there will be
trouble. With this, Kirk calls for the U.S.S. Enterprise to beam them
aboard ... along with Alexander, who will be coming with them to start
a new life.
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Click the name of the
WAVs to listen
Total WAVs: 29
Alexander
Captain
Kirk - Alexander
(3)
Help --------------------- 21.9 KB
|
Alexander
- Philana
(4)
Vain --------------------- 52.6 KB
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Philana
- Mr. Spock
Nice going Spock -
you insulted her!
(5)
Size --------------------- 50.0 KB
|
Captain
Kirk - Alexander
(6)
Buffoon ------------------ 16.3 KB
|
Alexander
(7)
Nobody ------------------ 41.9 KB
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Alexander
- Captain
Kirk
Dr.
McCoy - Mr. Spock - Captain
Kirk
Spock pays McCoy a
rare compliment.
(9)
Harmony ----------------- 27.2 KB
|
Parmen -
Mr. Spock
Dr.
McCoy - Parmen
Parmen is a very
arrogant guy!
Captain
Kirk - Mr. Spock
Oh man, what can
you say about this?
(12)
Slave ------------------- 71.4 KB
|
Captain
Kirk
This is almost
painful to listen to.
(13)
Injure ------------------- 17.5 KB
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Mr.
Spock - Captain
Kirk
(14)
Healthy ----------------- 52.1 KB
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Dr.
McCoy - Mr. Spock
(15)
Anger ------------------- 49.5 KB
|
Mr.
Spock - Captain
Kirk - Dr. McCoy
Spock has a major
struggle with his emotions
in this episode. Remember, Vulcans HAVE
emotions, they just choose to surpress them.
(16)
Killed ------------------- 14.5 KB
|
Mr. Spock
(17)
Hatred ------------------ 21.6 KB
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Mr. Spock
Poor Spock.
(18)
Enemy ------------------ 21.6 KB
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Alexander
Captain
Kirk
(20)
Flush ------------------- 7.68 KB
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Mr. Spock
(21)
Ladies ------------------ 16.8 KB
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Parmen
(22)
Bitter ------------------ 189.0 KB
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Mr. Spock
Actually, this
isn't too bad!
It won't make the top 40 but it's ok.
(23)
Fickle ------------------- 16.0 KB
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Eraclitus
- Dionyd
(24)
Crawl ------------------- 15.0 KB
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Nurse
Chapel
(25)
Love -------------------- 29.5 KB
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Dionyd -
Eraclitus
These guys are
annoying!
(26)
Ability ------------------ 22.9 KB
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Captain
Kirk
(27)
Power ------------------ 42.9 KB
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Alexander
You tell 'em
Alexander!
Parmen -
Captain
Kirk
Captain
Kirk
I wonder what ever
happened to Alexander.
I'm surprised no one has ever written his story.
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