Star Trek (TV Series)

Plato's Stepchildren (1968)

William Shatner: Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

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Quotes 

• Captain James T. Kirk : Alexander, are there other Platonians like you?

  Alexander : [defensively]  What do you mean "like me?"

  Captain James T. Kirk : Who don't have the psychokinetic ability.

  Alexander : [relieved]  I thought you were talking about my size, because they make fun of me for my size. But, um, to answer your question, I'm the only one who doesn't have it. I was brought here as the court buffoon. That's why I'm everybody's slave, and I have to be at ten places at once, and I never do anything right.

  Spock : How does one obtain the power?

  Alexander : As far as I know, it just comes to you some time after you're born. They say I'm a throwback. And I am, and so are you... Sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Don't worry about it. We're happy without it.

  Alexander : You know, I believe you are! Listen, where you come from, are there are lot of people without the power and my size?

  Captain James T. Kirk : Alexander, where I come from, size, shape or color makes no difference. And nobody has the power.

• Captain James T. Kirk : You're half dead, all of you! You've been dead for centuries. We may disappear tomorrow, but at last we're living now, and you can't stand that, can you? You're half crazy because there's nothing inside - nothing! - and you have to torture us to convince yourselves you're superior.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [upon seeing Uhura and Nurse Chapel beamed down and forced into another room]  I guess we weren't sufficiently entertaining.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [to McCoy, who has decided to stay]  Bones, I know you're trying to do the right thing, but if any one of us escaped, Parmen knows that Starfleet would never let this planet go unpunished. Sacrifice yourself by agreeing to stay, and you sign our death warrants.

  Alexander : Eh, he's right. I should've warned you. They were treating you the same way they treat me, just like me, only you fight them. All the time, I thought it was me, my mind that couldn't even move a pebble. They even told me I was lucky they bothered to keep me around at all, and I believed them!

  [gets angry] 

  Alexander : The arms and legs of everybody's whim! Look down! Don't meet their eyes! Smile! Smile! These great people. They were gods to me! But you showed me what they really are. And now, I - I know, don't you see? It's-it's not me. It's not my size. It's them! It's them! It's them!

  [smashes a clay pot] 

• Alexander : [brandishing a sharp piece of the pot he just smashed]  I'm gonna... I'm gonna cut them.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Alexander...

  Alexander : I'm gonna cut them, Parmen first. And they'll all get infected, but this time, listen, whatever they say, don't... don't save them. Let them die!

  Captain James T. Kirk : Give it to me!

  Alexander : At least let me give them a taste of what they gave me! Please. They're gonna kill you, anyway! You know that!

  Captain James T. Kirk : [reassuringly]  In that case, what's the point in you dying too, Alexander?

  [Alexander relents] 

  Captain James T. Kirk : Give it to me...

  Alexander : [gives Kirk the pot fragment]  Tha... That's the first time anybody ever thought of my life before his own.

• Captain James T. Kirk : This Utopia of theirs is one of the best-kept secrets in the galaxy. Screening themselves from our sensors, locking us into orbit, all this - adds up to a pattern.

• Captain James T. Kirk : We've showed our good faith, now you show yours. I want the ship released immediately.

  Parmen : The amenities, Captain. Allow me to remind you that I am the head of this principality. Guests do not come barging in here, making demands and issuing orders.

• Parmen : Uncontrolled, power will turn even saints into savages, and we can all be counted upon to live down to our lowest impulses.

  Captain James T. Kirk : You're very good at making speeches, Parmen. Just make sure that this one sinks in. Now move aside.

• Captain James T. Kirk : Who are the inhabitants of this planet?

  Alexander : Oh, Platonians. I'm sure you've never head of us. Our native star is Sahndara. Millennia ago, just before it went nova, we managed to escape. Our leader liked Plato's ideas - Plato, Platonius. See? In fact our present philosopher king, Parmen, sometimes calls us Plato's children, although we sometimes think of ourselves more as Plato's stepchildren.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [forced to sing and dance along with Mr. Spock]  I'm Tweedledee, he's Tweedledum.

  Spock : Two spacemen marching to a drum.

  Captain James T. Kirk , Spock : We slithe among the mimsey toves and gyre among the borogoves.

• Parmen : In my own defense, allow me to say that my illness was more profoundly disturbing than I myself realized. I am sure, Captain, that you, too, have been out of sorts and have been driven to fits of temper and rage. Unlike you, however, what I think and feel, whether for good or ill, is instantly translated into reality. So please, find it in your heart to forgive me.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Certainly.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [slowly crawling on his belly towards Parmen]  Being your slave... what should I do but tend upon the hours and times of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend nor service to do till you...

  Dr. McCoy : [shouting]  Stop it! Don't do this to him, Parmen.

• Captain James T. Kirk : Kirk to Enterprise. Mr. Scott, prepare to beam us up. I have a little surprise for you: I'm bringing a visitor aboard.

• Spock : [trying to control his rage]  Captain...

  Captain James T. Kirk : Yes, Spock.

  Spock : Do you still feel anger toward Parmen?

  Captain James T. Kirk : Great anger.

  Spock : And you, Dr. McCoy?

  Dr. McCoy : Yes, Spock. And hatred.

  Spock : Then you must release it, gentlemen, as I must master mine. I might have seriously injured you, Captain, even killed you. They have evoked such great... hatred in me. I cannot allow it to go further.

  [gets up, walks to a table] 

  Spock : I must... master it. I must... control...

  [crushes an object with his bare hand]