STAR TREK: #16 The Menagerie, Part I + II, 1966

Director: Marc Daniels
Writer: Gene Roddenberry
The episode was made adding new footage to the first pilot "The Cage"

Captain Kirk: William Shatner
Science Officer, First Officer, Cmdr. Spock: Leonard Nimoy
Dr. Leonard "Bones" Mc Coy: DeForest Kelly
Lt. Sulu: George Takei
Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott: James Doohan
Lieutenant Uhura: Nichelle Nichols
Yeoman Rand: Grace Lee Witney

Captain Christopher Pike: Jeffrey Hunter
Injured Pike: Sean Kenney
Com. Jose I. Mendez: Malachi Throne
Miss Piper: Julie Parrish
Yeoman J.M.Colt: Laural Goodwin
Security Guard: Brett Dunhan
Chief Humbolt: George Sawayaa

Stardate 3012.4

The U.S.S. Enterprise is called to Starbase 6, where Commodore Mendez takes them to Captain Christopher Pike, the former commander of the Enterprise, who is severely injured. The captain is unable to communicate except of answering "yes" or "no", which is indicated by a light in his moving seat. He's completely paralyzed, crippled and unable to move. While Spock, who has served under Pike's command, stays with his former captain. Kirk and McCoy move to Mendez' office expecting to know why they were summoned. To their amazement, Mendez asks them what they came for. 

In the meanwhile, Spock manages to abduct captain Pike and brings him on board of Enterprise, where he, showing faked orders to the crew, takes command of the ship and heads for Talos IV (s.: #1 "The Cage"). The consequence for contacting Talos Iv is: Death penalty. Kirk and Mendez pursue the Enterprise in a shuttle. The pursuit is a hopeless task - the shuttle can't obviously outrun the Enterprise. Soon they are running out of fuel, Spock knows that and stops to pick them up, then he gives himself up as a prisonner. A court-martial against Spock is convened with Commander Mendez and Captain Kirk, who sees no chance to prevent it. It is a long hearing full of tension since not only Spock's career is at stake. 

During the hearing, video material is used which has not been seen before - the events on Talos IV at the time the Enterprise has been there with Captain Pike and Spock - a lieutenant at the time. The Talosians worked with telepathy arranging for a disfigured woman a life in health and well being. They had hoped to convince Pike to stay with them, but he had decided otherwise at the time. In the end the whole court hearing proves to be one of the Talosians' illusions. Again Pike is asked whether he wants to stay with them now. This time he answers "yes" since his illness is a severe, terminal and heavy burden to carry. Spock has been that loyal to his former Captain that he had risked his career and even his life to give him the chance to life the way he wants with the Talosians. All charges against Spock are dropped by Star Fleet Command.

Pictures courtesy of All Star Trek and www.trek5.com