- While Captain Kirk investigates whether an actor is actually a presumed dead mass murderer, a mysterious assailant is killing the people who could identify the fugitive.
- Captain Kirk is informed by his old friend, Dr. Thomas Leighton, that the head of a Shakespearean acting troupe (known as Anton Karidian) was once known as "Kodos the Executioner". Having seized power as Governor of Tarsus IV, Kodos had 50% of his colony (4000+ people) killed when the food supply was destroy by an infestation, rather than have so many starve, not knowing that help was en route. Of the nine witnesses who could potentially identify Karidian as Kodos, only Kirk, Leighton, and a young crewman on the USS Enterprise, Kevin Riley (whose family was killed on Tarsus IV), survive. Kirk dismisses Leighton's accusations until the latter turns up murdered, and Riley almost dies of poisoning while alone in an engineering sector where no one else is present, which Riley and others view as some sort of punishment although it was really Kirk's misguided attempt to protect Riley. The other eyewitnesses have all died. Spock tells Bones that on each occasion the acting troupe was in close proximity. When finally challenged directly by Kirk, Karidian dramatically declines to confirm or deny anything but never asks who Kodos was and seems aware, although there is no reason he should be, of the details of what happened on Tarsus IV. Complicating things are Karidian's beautiful daughter, Lenore, an actress in the troupe. And who's really behind the murders?—Tony-B4 (updated by Rms125a@hotmail.com)
- The Enterprise is summoned to a planet by an old friend of Captain Kirk, one Dr. Thomas Leighton. They arrive to find they have been summoned under false pretenses. Dr. Leighton believes that the head of a touring company of Shakespearean actors, Anton Karidian, is, in fact, "Kodos the Executioner", who killed over 4,000 people as Governor of Tarsus IV. Kirk and Leighton are two of only nine survivors who actually met Kodos. Kirk finds no resemblance, but as he looks into the case, he finds that Karidian has no history prior to Kodos' supposed death. Karidian rather dramatically (although not perhaps for an actor) declines to confirm or deny anything when questioned directly by Kirk but IS aware of the details of what happened on Tarsus IV. A complication is Kirk's attraction to Karidian's beautiful daughter, Lenore, an actor in the troupe. Leighton is found murdered, leaving Kirk and Kevin Riley (who almost dies of poisoning) as the only surviving witnesses, making the captain the next potential victim.—garykmcd/robertms
- Enterprise is visiting colony Cygnia Minor to meet Dr. Thomas Leighton (William Sargent), who has discovered synthetic food that will ward off the threat of famine from humanity. But turns out Thomas had called Kirk to accuse an actor Anton Karidian of being the mass executioner Kodos. Kodos was suspected of killing 4000 people, but the authorities now ascertain that he is dead. Kodos was the Governor of planet Tarsus IV 20 yrs ago and declared martial law and killed 50% of the population. He did after the food supply on Tarsus was destroyed by a fungus. Kodos split the population into 2 parts, 1 would get rationed food supply and the other was put to death. Anton is part of the travelling stage troupe that performs cultural plays all over the galaxy for the last 9 yrs. No info on Anton is available from 20 yrs ago. Thomas wants Kirk's help to capture Kodos.
Captain Kirk suspects Anton of secretly being the former mass murderer Kodos the Executioner, who slaughtered thousands on the planet where Kirk lived with his parents when he was a teenager. On board also is Kevin Riley (Bruce Hyde), whose family too fell victim to Kodos. Kirk observes the acting troupe performing "MacBeth", but cannot determine Kodos' identity positively. Kirk attends a cocktail party given by Thomas, which has invited Anton and Lenore. Anton doesn't attend, so Kirk decides to seduce Lenore. But then Thomas is found dead just outside the party venue. Kirk is now determined to find Konos. Kirk arranges for the pick up for the acting troupe to be diverted and offers to drop them to their next venue via the Enterprise.
Spock is curious about the theatre troupe on Enterprise and figures out the link between Kirk, Kodos, Anton and Riley (by re-searching on the ship's library computer). Kirk and Riley are the only eye witnesses alive who can identify Kodos, 7 are dead and every time the theatre company was playing nearby. The actor's daughter, Lenore (Barbara Anderson) (is 19 yrs old), dressed smartly in a short white fur dress, is escorted by Kirk through the ship, finally ending in the small observation deck after hours. The lead actor, an older gentleman named Anton Karidian (Arnold Moss), when questioned by Kirk, does not confess, but explains why he think "Kodos" did what he did. There was no food on that planet, and no hope unless some were killed off. They had no idea a supply ship was about to arrive. How Karidian knows the details of what happened at all is not explained and Kirk does not press him. Kirk subjects Anton to a voice analysis, but its not an exact match to Kodos, yet it is very close.
Lieutenant Riley, who is working in a minor engineering control room (upon orders from Kirk) is nearly poisoned. We see a hand slipping something into his milk. Riley recovers from the attempted poisoning while the acting troupe puts on a performance of Hamlet. Riley seeks revenge on Karidian for killing Riley's parents. He is stopped by Captain Kirk. Anton had hear them argue, and goes to Lenore. But Lenore assures Anton that she has silenced 7 and the last 2 will be silenced today. Anton is disappointed that her daughter has brought more blood on his hands. Suddenly there is Lenore, with a weapon grabbed from a crewman and aimed at Kirk. It wasn't Karidian killing potential witnesses, it was his mad daughter, trying to "protect" her father. She fires at Kirk, but Karidian/Kodos steps in front of him. Lenore accidentally kills her father. Kirk grabs her, disarms her, and later learns from McCoy that Lenore no longer remembers anything including killing her father.
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