1991 - STAR TREK VI: The Undiscovered Country

Prod.: Ralph Winter and Steven-Charles Jaffe 
Executive Prod.: Leonard Nimoy
Story by: Leonard Nimoy, Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal
Dir.: Nicholas Meyer

Captain Kirk : William Shatner
1st Officer, Commander Spock: Leonard Nimoy
Dr. McCoy: De Forest Kelly
Commander Scott: James Doohan
Commander Uhura: Nichele Nichols
Commander Sulu: George Takei
Commander Chekov: Walter Koenig
Commander Chapel: Majel Barett
Sarek: Mark Lenard

Chancellor Gorkon: David Warner
Valeris: Kim Cattrall
Federation President: Kurtwood Smith
Kerla: Paul Rossilli
Klingon Ambassador: John Schuck
Azetbur: Rosana De Sotho
Chang: Christopher Plummer
Admiral Cartwright: Brock Peters

Music: Cliff Eidelman

Stardate: 9521.6

An enormous explosion shakes a part of the galaxy. It is felt first by Commander Hikaru Sulu in the com of the Excelsior: Praxis, a Klingon moon has exploded. Two months later a classified briefing is held at Federation headquarters. There the CNC informs the senior officers that the Klingon Empire has left only 50 years to survive. He introduces the Federation's special officer to explain the situation: Spock. Spock tells the meeting that Praxis exploded because of over-mining and insufficient safety precautions. The deadly pollution of their ozone leaves them a chance of survival for approximately 50 Earth years. He reveals that he has opened a dialogue with Chancellor Gorkon last month at the behest of the Vulcan ambassador: A dialogue in which the chancellor of the Klingon High Council proposes negotiations. 

"Negotiations for what?" Admiral Cartwright wonders. "Negotiations to dismantle the bases and space stations along the Neutral Zone" It is discussed whether offering the Klingons a safe heaven jeopardizes the Federation. Most present, including captain Kirk, do not trust the Klingons while Spock tries to convince them to end nearly 70 years of hostility – which the Klingons can no longer afford. It is now imperative to bring chancellor Gorkan safely to Earth. This task is given to the crew of the Enterprise. In vain Kirk tries to avoid this and learns that Spock has vouched for him and the Enterprise. The meeting is dismissed by the CNC, who again reminds everybody that this meeting was classified. "We volunteered!" Kirk barks when everybody has left and both of them are left alone. Answering with an "old Vulcan proverb" Spock says: "Only Nixon can go to China". Spock is sure: "There is a historical opportunity here." "Don't believe them, don't trust them!" says a desperate Kirk "They are dying." "Let them die!"

Let them die?

Three months before retirement the crew are on their way to the Enterprise. They meet Lt. Valeris, a Vulcan trainee (best of her class) on board. Privately in his room Kirk speaks into the captain's log 9522.6: "I have never trusted Klingons and I never will. I can never forgive them for the death of my boy." Turning around he notices Valeris standing in the door. She's come to remind him that they are close to the rendezvous and to share that she's honored to serve under him. Kirk returns the compliment: She has maneuvered the ship well out of space dock. In Spock's room she also gets a compliment: "You have done well, Valeris." Spock says while lighting an oil candle. "As a sponsor of the academy I followed your carrier with satisfaction. And as a Vulcan: You have exceeded my expectations." Standing in front of a Chagall, Valeris asks Spock about the painting. Spock explains the Chagall fiction: "The expulsion from paradise" "Why keep it in your quarters?" "It is a reminder that all things end." As Valeris uses the chance to speak freely, she makes Spock aware of the turning point history is taking now. "You must have faith" Spock tells her. "Logic is the beginning not the end ... This will be the final voyage on this vessel as a member of her crew ..." Spock offers her a glass to drink and asks her to replace him. Taking the glass Valeris says: "I could only succeed you, Sir." And they share the cup. 

Via intercom all officers are called to the bridge. The Klingon Bird of Prey got close. As the official greetings between Gorkon and Kirk are exchanged, Kirk invites the Klingon officers for dinner (which comes as a surprise to Spock) and Gorkon accepts the invitation. As they arrive they all seem to respect Spock and the Chancellor is glad to see him personally at last. Using serviettes and carefully trying to stand their own position while attending to the "rules" both parties begin to dine. "To the undiscovered country" chancellor Gorkon proposes a toast. Everybody seems startled and Grokon adds: "To the future" This toast is met by all. "Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1" Spock confirms. Gorkon tells him he should have read Hamlet in the Original: Klingon! This breaks a part of the ice and the Klingons laugh, reciting Hamlet in Klingon. Dr. McCoy now toasts on Gorkon: "To one of the architects of the future!" Kirk is asked whether he intends to give up Star Fleet now. Before Kirk knows what to say, Spock steps in to his aid: "The captain feels that Starfleet's mission has always been one of peace". 

When the subject "Human rights" comes up, the chancellor's daughter states that even this is racist. "The whole Federation is a human club" "To be or not to be" is the question Chang makes clear: Every Klingon fears that this will be the end of their culture. "We need breeding room!" Kirk quips: "Earth, Hitler, 1938" while Spock suffers on the other end of the table. "Well. . . I see that we have a long way to go" Gorkon summarizes the situation. The dinner has ended and the part. "We must have this again some time", Kirk tries to be polite. "You don't rust me" Gorkon faces Kirk. "If there is going to be a 'Brave New World' our generation is going to have the hardest time going to live in it." Kirk remains quiet. They part. Kirk only swallows when Chang adds: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." 

Everybody is relieved when they have left and all leave Spock standing alone. Dropped to bed a tired Kirk hears the intercom: "Captain Kirk, please, join me on the bridge!" Dragging himself to the bridge, he finds Spock who has discovered an enormous amount of neutral radiation. Suddenly two shots are fired and hit the chancellor's ship. They loose gravity. Scotty checks the data banks: According to their banks the Enterprise has not fired. Meanwhile two people wearing magnetic boots materialize in the Klingon ship and shoot several Klingons – including chancellor Gorkon. "Have you not a shred of decency, Kirk?" Chang asks him when they have restored gravity on the Bird of Prey. "We have come in peace!" A very speechless Kirk wonders how to react. "We have not fired!" Kirk finally manages to say. "Captain, "Spock sadly reports: "According to our data banks we have." The bird of Prey is ready to attack. "Shields up?" Valeris asks. Chekov confirms: "The shields, captain!" 

"We surrender" Kirk orders and Uhura rushes to tell the Bird of Prey. "We surrender," Uhura repeats trying to inform the Klingons. "And tell them we are coming unarmed!" Kirk makes sure. "I am responsible for getting you into this, I will go," Spock tells the captain. "No, I'll go" Kirk insists. "You are responsible for getting me out of this." In case they might need medical help Dr. McCoy goes along. "Have you lost your mind?" are the first words Kirk and McCoy hear when they materialize. Dr. McCoy offers medical help and they are lead to the dying chancellor Gorkon. Blood stains all over the place they lift the chancellor onto a table. McCoy does all he can to revive him when he seems dead. For a short moment he succeeds. "Don't let it end this way, Captain!" the faint voice of the chancellor tells Kirk. Then Gorkon dies. Chang arrests both for being responsible for the assassination. 

Captain Spock takes command over the Enterprise and orders Uhura to ask headquarters for advice. As Valeris cannot believe he's not firing at the Klingons. Spock makes clear that this won't either save both men nor would it help to establish peace. He tells the crew that they are able to monitor the captain's movements. First of all Spock is investigating the events: It is imperative to find out whether the ship has fired the torpedoes or not. When Spock has left, Valeris tells Uhura and Chekov a story where French workers have thrown their sabots (their boots) into the machine to make production stop because they feared unemployment. Both wonder and Valeris has to explain that the word "sabotage" derives from that event. Suddenly Uhura detects a failure in the system and Chekov exclaims: "Wonderful! ... ah ... bad!" 

In his office the president of the Federation is met by the Romulan, the Vulcan and the Klingon ambassadors. The Klingon ambassador is furious: They have come in peace and now their chancellor is dead. Though the president does not believe that Jim Kirk has torpedoed the Klingon ship, he has to allow the Klingon chancellor to make both men stand trial for the assassination. "This president is not above the law" he tells the Klingon ambassador. When the Klingon has left Starfleet command approaches the president with a suggestion: To get both out by a military action. Though knowing that these men have literally saved the planet the president does not give his consent. He cannot afford to jeopardize the peace. Now he gets a call from the chancellor's daughter: She's chancellor in place of her father and warns them that any try to rescue the prisoners will be considered an act of war and that she prefers a neutral place for the next meeting which will be kept secretly. The president agrees. 

On the Enterprise Scotty shows Spock that every torpedo is still where it is supposed to be. The data banks on the bridge instead have indicated that they have fired. "One computer is lying" he says and shares his suspect with Scotty: The main computer might have been tempered with. Valeris joins them and informs both that Gorkon's daughter succeeded her father. She and Scotty suspect her to have killed her father. "I bet she didn't shed a bloody tear" Scotty is sure. "Hardly conclusive, Mr. Scott, since Klingons have no tear - glands" Spock inquires about any news coming from headquarters. "Mrs. Uhura experiences technical difficulties, Sir" she answers. Spock is familiar with this statement - and accepts it. "Curious" he says. "In 24 hours we'll agree this conversation did not take place." "A lie? ", Valeris wonders. "An omission." Spock needs time to find his friends. "I'll know precisely where he will be" Spock shares with both. 

A huge hall with one row of seats above the other in a circle around them – in this court Kirk and McCoy are facing trial. Accused for the assassination of chancellor Gorkon their defense lawyer seems to try everything, but Chang leads the accusations. He summarizes the events. While the trial is aired everywhere Spock seems interested when he learns about the magnetic boots. Chang points out that McCoy was incompetent to treat a Klingon. Now the excerpt of Kirk's log is played. All listen to "I have never trusted Klingons and I never will ... " Finally Kirk honestly states that those are his words and later he is forced to agree that he is responsible for his crew's actions - whether he can confirm the attack or not. They are guilty. Because of the oncoming peace talks they will not be killed (very much to the dismay of the Klingons present) but they are to serve a lifelong sentence in the dilithium mines on the penal asteroid Rura Pente. The announcement is heard on the Enterprise. 

Fully aware of the situation Spock concentrates on the torpedo. The shot is watched again. "The ancestors of mine maintain that, if you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." "What does that mean?" Uhura asks. "It means that if we can not have fired these torpedoes, someone else did." Together they work out a possibility: It might have been a cloaked Bird of Prey just beneath them. Whether the assassins have come from here or another ship - the computer was tempered with. The search for two gravity boots is on. On the icy asteroid Kirk and McCoy are brought to the dilithium mines. In the introduction they are told: Only a shield prevents beaming. Otherwise punishment means exposure to the surface – nothing can survive. Inside the prison (mine) they meet a Lady who saves Kirk from his first encounter with a strong, tall inmate who wants his coat. And she tells them that there is an award on their heads. 

On board Spock and Valeris search for the boots. Meeting Scotty Spock says: "Uh, Mr. Scott. I understand you are having difficulty with the warp drive." Scotty denies any problems. So Spock has to explain that – if they'd return to Starbase - they will not find Kirk or McCoy. "About a week, Sir." Scotty suddenly estimates the time needed for repairs. On Rura Pente Kirk has another fight. A huge alien nearly has got him down. Only as Kirk kicks against his knees - not knowing he has hit the alien's genitals - the alien drops down in pain. At night Kirk reflects his feelings. He realizes that he was used to hating Klingons. "No more Neutral Zone- Spock was right!" he shares with McCoy. Suddenly they are approached by the Lady again. She offers a way to get them out of the prison. "No one has ever escaped from Rura Pente" she says. It would be Kirk's part to get them away before they freeze. After a kiss she tells Kirk: "Go to lift 7 in the morning for mining duty!" 

Captain Sulu is approached by a crew member of the Excelsior. His ship is asked to assist in finding out the whereabouts of the Enterprise. Obviously the Enterprise does not respond to orders making it return to Starfleet base. Without hesitation Sulu makes sure they have no idea at all about the location of the Enterprise. Searching the Enterprise for clues, Chekov finds Klingon blood at the transporter. Now all uniforms are searched. Kirk and McCoy meet the Lady again. She really manages to get them passed the guards, and through an escape tunnel they make it outside. By changing her shape and appearance various times she is revealed to be a form changer. For outside she has even brought warm clothes along. In this moment Uhura finds their signal on the surface of the asteroid. Spock had put a signal onto his captain's uniform and orders preparations now to beam them up. As the ship is detected from the guards on Rura Pente, Uhura manages to answer in Klingon and saves the situation - with the help of Scotty and Chekov. 

On the surface the Lady even has a torch with her and is able to provide a fire as soon as they are outside the shield. She is a Cameloid, a "shapeshifter" as Kirk remarks. "Now it's your turn" she says and - gets a blow from Kirk. When she is down Kirk explains: An accident was not good enough. She has lit the fire to tell the guards where they are. What might be her reward when they are killed? "A full pardon – which does not cover this" she honestly answers and changes herself into a likening of Kirk. McCoy gets closer and gets knocked down. "I can't believe I kissed you!" Kirk says. "Must have been your lifelong ambition." The other "Kirk" answers. Now the guards got to them. "Kill him!" "Kirk" calls out. "Kill him, you idiot, not me!" Kirk shouts - and the Cameloid is killed. ("No witnesses") Before the guard is about to kill both, he begins to explain who's behind the plot, because they are going to die anyway. In this moment Kirk and McCoy are beamed on board, the phasers of the guards coming too late. 

Having saved their lives Spock gets a great "thank you": "You diabolic son of a ..." Kirk does not finish his sentence. "Couldn't you have waited two seconds?" "Captain?" "He was just about to explain the whole thing!" "Do you want to go back?" Chekov wants to know. "Absolutely not!" McCoy exclaims. "It's cold" Kirk adds. By chance Scotty finds the uniforms and the magnetic boots. Chang gets notice of the escape. He does not want Kirk to find out the place of the conference and plans to interfere with the Enterprise. Spock informs Kirk: "The Klingons have a new weapon. A Bird of Prey can fire uncloaked." On their way through the ship they are found by Scotty presenting them the uniforms. In this moment they come across two dead bodies after they opened a door: The owners of the uniforms as Scotty points out. "First rule of an assassination: Kill the assassins." Kirk quotes. 

Getting an idea Kirk takes Spock aside and talks to him. "It's possible" Spock agrees. Soon the names of the two dead persons are mentioned to be in sick bay. And indeed: A person approaches the two sleeping people covered under a blanket. As soon as the person is close to one of the beds in sick bay, Spock switches on the light of the bed he is lying on and sees Valeris pointing a phaser at him. Spock challenges her to shoot, but Valeris does not want. Now Kirk uncovers himself from under the blanket of the other bed. Showing as much deep disappointment and anger a Vulcan can show Spock beats the phaser out her hand. Valeris stands the hearing on the bridge. She is convinced that she is the only one saving the Federation because Klingons cannot be trusted. And she does not give up easily. Kirk confronts her with the excerpt of his personal log. She had been standing in his door while he had dictated it. But Valeris does not give away any names of co spirants "I do not remember". "A lie?" Spock asks. "A choice" Valeris answers. "Spock" Kirk does not need to say more. 

Spock approaches Valeris and forces a mindmelt on her. "Emmar, Carthwright ... " he finds. "Who else?" "... Chang ... the Romulan ambassador " and other names he finds. "Where is the peace conference?" ... Spock tries to get deeper into her mind. Though still controlled, Valeris cries out in agony. Spock goes even deeper – into the deepest of her mind. They share the deepest pain and innermost thoughts. Even Valeris seems surprised about what they have seen. "It is not there" Spock answers. "Then we are dead!" Scotty fears. "I've been dead before" Spock dryly responds and says that the Excelsior knows where the conference will be held. Kirk asks captain Sulu for assistance. Knowing what he risks Captain Sulu gives him the information and promises to be on the lookout for a Bird of Prey which can fire while cloaked. From Valeris they learn that there is only the prototype which is equipped with the new weapon. The conference is scheduled for today at Camp Kidomon near the Romulan boarder. 

Kirk visits Spock in his quarters. "You are right: It was my arrogant presumption which got us into this 'situation'" Spock begins to share his thoughts. "You and the doctor might have been killed." "The night is young" Kirk goes to Spock's desk and smells what is in the glass on the side table. He puts it down after he has smelled its contents. "You are a great one for logic. I am a great for rushing in where angles fear to tread. We're both extremists. Reality is probably somewhere in – between." "I was prejudiced for her accomplishments as a Vulcan." "A sentient being had to die before I understood how prejudiced I was." "Is it possible that we two, you and I, have grown so old and so inflexible that we have outlived our usefulness?" Spock asks. "Would that constitute a joke?" "It wasn't your fault." "I was responsible." Kirk: "For no actions but your own!" "That was not what you said at your trial." "It was as captain of the ship. Human beings ..." "But, Captain, we both know I am not human." "Spock, you want to know something? Everybody is human." "I find that remark ... insulting." "Come on, I need you on the bridge!" 

The conference at Camp Kidomon has already begun; the president is addressing the meeting. When the Enterprise gets closer to the planet they know: The Bird of Prey is there – cloaked. "Close enough to beam down?" "Not yet, captain, in two minutes." Suddenly a voice is heard: "I can see you, Kirk. Can you see me?" "Chang!" Kirk remembers the voice. Chang goes on. He believes that he as well as Kirk are both not meant to live in times of peace, that both want to meet as warriors. The Enterprise is hit. Kirk orders the ship to go backwards. The ship is hit again and again. Uhura suggests to catalogue ashes anomalies "Well, the thing needs to have a tail pipe!" and Spock thinks of tracing the gas. "Doctor, would you care to assist me on performing surgery on a torpedo?" Spock wants to know." The doctor gives him a smile and a "Fascinating". They retrieve the torpedo. Spock and McCoy open it and find a detector to the origin, Kirk orders: Fire!" and the torpedo is sent. With the words: "To be or not to be." Chang watches its approach. The explosion hits the cloaked Klingon ship. 

Meanwhile Sulu and the Excelsior have arrived. Both USSs fire at the point of the explosion. The Klingon ship is destroyed. At the gathering the assassins are ready. Kirk and his officers beam down and brake into the hall. The moment the phaser is shot at the president Kirk throws himself onto the man and both escape the laser beams. McCoy arrests the Romulan ambassador and Cartwright orders the men to be arrested. "Arrest yourself!" Spock orders the Admiral as he gets through the crowds taking Valeris with him. The moment the assassin aims at Valeris McCoy attacks him from the back and he is thrown through the window – right into the conference hall. Again Kirk jumps onto the president – in case that jeopardy was aimed at him. It is discovered that the "Klingon" was an Earther in disguise. When it becomes quiet Gorkon's daughter wants to know what this is all about. "It is about the future, Madam Chancellor. " Kirk says. "Some people think the future is the end of history. Your father called the future 'the Undiscovered Country'. People can be very frightened to change." "You restored my father's faith." she answers. Hearing this all members of the council applaud in agreement. 

Back on the Enterprise all crew is relieved. Uhura admits that – in the beginning – she too felt as Valeris did. Sulu and crew send their regards and both ships part. Now Uhura gets the new orders from Starfleet: The Enterprise is due to get back to space dock – to be decommissioned. A long quietness fills the bridge. Then Spock says: "If I were human, I might say something like 'Go to hell' ... if I were human." And Chekov adds: "Course set, Captain?" ... "Second star to the right!" Captain's log stardate 9529.1: "This is the final cruise of the Starship Enterprise under my command. This ship entered history and will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity we will commit our future. They will continue the voyage as we have begun and journey to all these undiscovered countries: Boldly going where no man – no one – has gone before.