STAR TREK: #2 Where No Man Has Gone Before 1966

Writer: Gene Roddenberry
Dir.: James Goldstone
Writer: Samuel A. Peeples
Music by: Alexander Courage

Captain Kirk: William Shatner
Science Officer, Mr. Spock: Leonard Nimoy
Physicist Lieutenant Sulu: George Takei
Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott: James Doohan
Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell: Gary Lockwood
Dr. Elizabeth Dehner: Sally Kellerman
Dr. Mark Piper: Paul Fix
Communications Officer Alden: Lloyd Haynes
Yeoman Smith: Andrea Dromm

Stuntman for Kirk: Dick Crocket
 

Stardate 1312:4 

The Enterprise beams a flight recorder on board. It is the recorder of the Valiant, which operated in the area nearly 200 years ago. It reveals that the ship had encountered an energy barrier and the crew had concentrated on finding out about ESP. One survivor had recovered from the injuries during their encounter with the barrier. Soon the Enterprise approaches the same barrier and, when they make contact, some crewmen die and two become unconscious: Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell and psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Dehner. Out of the energy field again, they are examined and Mitchell eyes are found to shine silver. The ship has suffered serious demage in its warp engines, too. 

During a game of chess Kirk asks Spock: "Have I ever mentioned you play a very irritating game of chess, Mr. Spock?" and Spcock wonders: "Irritating? Ah, yes, one of your Earth emotions."  Later Spock begins: "The fact that one of my ancestors married a human female..." and is interrupted by Kirk: "Terrible, having bad blood like that!" 

Soon Mitchell develops abilities he did not have before: He understands text he could not comprehend before, his reading speed has multiplied and he frightens Dr. Dehner by causing his heart to stop for more than a minute, making her think he's dead. The tremendous change and his distress with the changes show in Mitchell's hair, because he's turning more and more grey. Spock finds out that both share one thing in common: An extremely high level in ESP – the topic the crew of the Valiant had been intereted in, before it was destroyed. 

Immediately a crisis meeting is held with the officers. Sulu informs them that Mitchell's abilities are increasing at an enormous rate, becoming a threat to the crew. Spock suggests to prevent the Enterprise to experience the same fate as the Valiant - by killing Mitchell as long as it is still possible. Dr. Dehner does not see this danger and accuses Spock to be inhuman. Since the Enterprise is close to Delta Vega, which mineral sources would help repairing the ship and no one is living there, Kirk decides to leave Mitchell on the planet, because he has killed a memeber of the crew. Maenwhile Dr. Dehner is beginning to show the same symptoms, only developing them at a slower rate. 

By now Mitchell has been transported to the surface of the planet and declares that he is a God. Spock suggests that Kirk should take a phaser rifle along. Down on the planet neither this nor a power field can stop Mitchell any more. A fight begins between Kirk and Mitchell as Mitchell realizes that Kirk decided to kill him - a tough decision since Mtchell was his friend and he would have prefered any other decision, but none is possible. Dr. Dehner is now aware of the danger Mitchell has become to all of them and helps Kirk, who would have had no chance against his powers. She too dies in her successful attempt.

"There might still be hope
for you, Mr. Spock"

Pictures courtesy of www.trek5.com