- Plasus: Gentlemen, one of our planet's most incomparable works of art: my daughter Droxine. Captain James Kirk.
- Captain James T. Kirk: A pleasure, Madam.
- Droxine: Indeed yes, Captain.
- Plasus: And First Officer Spock.
- [Spock bows his head very slowly]
- Droxine: I have never before met a Vulcan, sir.
- Mr. Spock: Nor I a work of art, Madam.
- Droxine: You only take a mate once every seven years?
- Mr. Spock: The seven-year cycle is biologically inherent in all Vulcans. At that time, the mating drive outweighs all other motivations.
- Droxine: And is there nothing that can disturb that cycle, Mr. Spock?
- Mr. Spock: Extreme feminine beauty is always disturbing, Madam.
- Mr. Spock: [voiceover] This troubled planet is a place of the most violent contrasts. Those who receive the rewards are totally separated from those who shoulder the burdens. It is not a wise leadership. Here on Stratos, everything is incomparably beautiful and pleasant. The high advisor's charming daughter, Droxine, particularly so. The name Droxine seems appropriate for her. I wonder, can she retain such purity and sweetness of mind and be aware of the life of the people on the surface of the planet? There, the harsh life in the mines is instilling the people with a bitter hatred. The young girl who led the attack against us when we beamed down was filled with the violence of desperation. If the lovely Droxine knew of the young miners' misery, I wonder how the knowledge would affect her.
- Droxine: Mr. Spock, I thought you had accompanied Captain Kirk to the rest chamber?
- Mr. Spock: Your movements awakened me.
- Droxine: My apologies. I did not realize they would disturbe you.
- Mr. Spock: Only Vulcan ears would find the noise discernable.
- Droxine: [with shy, intense interest] It seems that Vulcans are fascinatingly different, in many ways.
- Mr. Spock: The same may be said of Stratos inhabitants.
- Droxine: Vulcan eyes are very discerning, too.
- Droxine: [continuing] I hear that, intellectually, Vulcans are as highly evolved as Stratos city dwellers.
- Mr. Spock: [moves to face her] We do... pride ourselves... on our logic.
- Mr. Spock: Allow me to point out that a first officer is more expendable than either a doctor or a captain.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Officially, yes, but this mission is strictly unofficial. Nobody's to have any part in it, any responsibility for it but myself. That's an order, Spock.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Mr. Spock, let's get that zenite delivered. I believe we only have three hours left.
- Mr. Spock: Two hours, fifty nine minutes, to be exact, Captain.
- Vanna: It's hard to believe that something which is neither seen, nor felt, can do so much harm.
- Captain James T. Kirk: That's true. But an idea can't be seen or felt, and that's what's kept the Troglytes in the mines all these centuries, a mistaken idea.
- Vanna: Would all the Troglytes wear these masks?
- Captain James T. Kirk: Yes. I'll see to it that the Federation engineers construct them.
- Vanna: Suppose Plasus does not agree?
- Captain James T. Kirk: Plasus is not the whole government.
- Vanna: That is true, but the City Counsel will not listen to Troglytes.
- Captain James T. Kirk: As soon as the zenite is delivered to Merak II, I'll come back. I'll request permission to mediate for the Troglytes. Vanna, you must trust me. I give you my word.
- Vanna: Centuries ago, Stratos was built by leaders that gave their word... that all inhabitants would live there. The Troglytes are still waiting.
- Captain James T. Kirk: The zenite can be delivered in a few hours. You won't have long to wait now.
- Vanna: Hours can be centuries, just as words can be lies.
- Vanna: We're sealed in!
- Captain James T. Kirk: Completely.
- Vanna: But soon the atmosphere will go. We'll die!
- Captain James T. Kirk: Die form something that can't be seen? You astound me, Vanna.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Believe me, sir, I have neither the time nor the desire to return here. Only answering your charges against me will force me back.
- Plasus: Something's upsetting you, Droxine.
- Droxine: No, Father.
- Plasus: What is it? Tell me.
- Droxine: No, really, I'm not upset. I was just standing here looking into space and wondering whether or not he would return.
- Plasus: He will never return. I have seen to that.
- Droxine: But the zenite is so important to him. He must have it.
- Plasus: It will be delivered. If we have to kill every Troglyte below, it will be delivered.
- Droxine: By that time, it may be too late. Perhaps he does have a method?
- Plasus: He knows nothing, except how to destroy our power and our society. I forbid you ever to speak of Captain Kirk, even to think of him.
- Droxine: I wasn't thinking of Captain Kirk. It's the one with those exquisitely-shaped ears. His name is Spock. He's the one I was thinking about. Did you know that he has the most incredibly sensitive hearing? Why, I almost believe that if I stood here and called out to him, he would hear my invitation to come and visit with us for a little while longer.
- Plasus: Oh, he's no better than his friend.
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Vanna attacks Kirk with a knife while he is resting] You again...
- [Takes a moment to gather this unusual, however pleasant, situation]
- Vanna: [Disgusted] You sleep lightly, Captain!
- Captain James T. Kirk: Yes. Duty is a good teacher.
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Softly, yet pointedly] I see you've changed your dressmaker.
- Vanna: [unmoved] Release me!
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Surprised, at first, by her coldness] So you can attack me again?
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Attempting to be affectionate] That would be foolish...
- Vanna: [Coolly, coldly] Call the guards... if you're afraid, Captain.
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Smoothly, with interest] I'm not afraid. In fact, I find this rather enjoyable.
- Vanna: [Fiercely] I do not!
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Disappointed, yet smooth] All right. I'll make a deal with you. You answer some questions... and I'll let you up.
- Vanna: [sighs, exasperated] What questions?
- Captain James T. Kirk: [Intently] Your word, first.
- Vanna: [Closes eyes. Sighs] I will answer.
- Droxine: Vanna...?
- Vanna: [coldly] Droxine...
- Droxine: Why have you come here?
- Vanna: [spiteful] To welcome our honored guests... as I was taught to do when I served in your father's household.
- Droxine: Has she injured you, Captain?
- Captain James T. Kirk: Oh, no. Not at all. In fact, her visit was quite enlightening.
- [referencing Vanna]
- Droxine: Oh...?
- Captain James T. Kirk: Yes, it seems the Troglytes are under the impression that the Enterprise is here to intimidate them.
- Droxine: [turns to intercom, pushes button] Send a sentinal to the rest chamber immediately.
- Vanna: [coldly] It is not impression, Captain. It is the truth!
- Captain James T. Kirk: We're here to get the zenite consignment, and that's it.
- Droxine: The complete separation of toil and leisure has given Ardana this perfectly balanced social system, Captain. Why should we change it?
- Mr. Spock: The surface of the planet is almost unendurable. To restrict a segment of the population to such hardship is unthinkable in an evolved culture.
- Droxine: The surface is marred by violence, like the Troglytes. Here on Stratos, we have completely eliminated violence.
- [Cut to Vanna, publicly bound to a torture device, as Stratos City Dwellers stroll casually by]