Friday's Child (episode)

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This article is written
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This article is written
from the Real World
point of view
"Friday's Child"
TOS, Episode 2x03
Production number: 60332
First aired: 1 December 1967
Remastered version aired: 6 January 2007
← 33rd of 80 produced in TOS →
← 40th of 80 released in TOS →
← 15th of 80 released in TOS Remastered →
← 40th of 726 released in all →
Written By
D.C. Fontana

Directed By
Joseph Pevney
3497.2 (2267)
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The Enterprise becomes involved in a local power struggle on planet Capella IV, where the Klingons want mining rights.

Contents

[edit] Summary

[edit] Teaser

The USS Enterprise approaches Capella IV, the home of the Capellans and a rich source of the rare mineral topaline. Topaline is vital to the life support systems of certain colonies. Kirk's assignment is to obtain mining rights. McCoy, who visited Capella years ago, briefs the senior officers; among other things, he reveals that Capellans have a complex structure of taboos, and that they can anger easily.

Beaming down, the landing party of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Grant is immediately accosted by a party of Capellans led by Maab. Also in the party is Kras, a Klingon. Grant reacts too quickly, drawing his phaser, which prompts immediate retaliation: one of the warriors with Maab throws his kligat, which hits Grant, killing him instantly.

[edit] Act One

"Captain's log, stardate 3497.2. Planet Capella lV. The rare mineral, topaline, vital to the life-support systems of planetoid colonies, has been discovered in abundance here. Our mission: obtain a mining agreement, but we've discovered a Klingon agent has preceded us to the planet. A discovery which has cost the life of one of my crewmen."

Maab demands the landing party surrender their weapons and instruments as a show of good faith.

The landing party must wait for a period of time, but is then taken to see Akaar, who is Teer, or leader, of the Ten Tribes of Capella. In this meeting, the Klingon attempts to gain the diplomatic upper hand, but McCoy's knowledge of Capellan culture trumps his efforts. The Klingon sneers at the Federation's offer, claiming that Capellans believe only the strong should live, just as Klingons do. Kirk retorts that the highest of Federation laws states that Capella belongs to the Capellans, and will never be taken from them, and that Klingon space is full of worlds that learned not to trust the Klingons the hard way. Maab is enthusiastic, believing that competition for the mineral can only help Capella. Akaar notes thoughtfully that in all their dealings, Earthmen have never lied to Capellans. Maab warns him that there are those who will not bargain with Earthmen, which Akaar interprets as challenge.

A fight breaks out between Capellans – an armed coup. Both Maab and Akaar are involved. During the fracas, Kirk, Spock and McCoy race to the main tent to find their gear, only to discover Kras engaged in the same search. Overpowering him, Kirk learns he was sent in a small scout ship to negotiate the mineral rights. His people need topaline, too. Before Kirk can learn more, the fight outside is ended, and Capellans burst into the tent, demanding Kirk free Kras. Then Maab enters, declaring himself the new Teer – Akaar died in the fighting. Eleen, Akaar's pregnant wife, enters the tent. Maab trips her and she burns her arm in the fire. Because she carries an heir, Maab must kill her to solidify his rule, but when he is about to do so, Kirk interferes, sparking another melee that ends with Eleen and the landing party imprisoned together. When Kirk snatched Eleen away from Maab's descending blade, he violated a taboo: no man may touch the wife of a Teer. She demands to see Kirk die before she herself is killed.

In orbit, the Enterprise has received a distress call from the SS Deirdre, a small freighter. She claims she's under attack; the Enterprise must investigate. This strands the landing party on Capella.

[edit] Act Two

"Captain’s log, stardate 3498.9. Lieutenant Commander Scott in temporary command. We were forced to leave Capella to come to the aid of a Federation vessel under attack by a Klingon vessel. We were unable to contact our landing party before we were forced to answer the distress signal. Our inability to reach the landing party is strange. And... I am concerned."

Eleen and the landing party have been imprisoned together to await Maab's decision. Eleen is in a great deal of pain, and McCoy intends to help her. During this distraction, Kirk and Spock overcome their guards and escape to the hills with Eleen. They recover their communicators but not their phasers.

In space, the Enterprise has been unable to locate the SS Deirdre, which is strange, since its top speed is well under that of the Enterprise.

"Captain’s log, stardate 3499.1. Before leaving the Capellan encampment, we managed to retrieve our communicators. Our phasers were not to be found. We've fled into the hills, yet we know the Capellans will eventually find us. By scent alone, if necessary. And we've learned one thing more. The girl, Eleen, hates the unborn child she is carrying."

The landing party, with the reluctant Eleen, has taken refuge in a narrow canyon with a wide but defensible entrance and a narrow chute-like exit. Kirk proposes to block the entrance with a sonic disruption; two communicators together can produce a sympathetic vibration. This will cause a rock slide, sealing the entrance and buying time, as the Capellan search party will be forced to go around the hills to the other side.

[edit] Act Three

During the confusion, Kras manages to retrieve a phaser from one of the fallen warriors.

Kirk discovers a cave in which the landing party seeks refuge; Eleen will shortly give birth, and McCoy needs a place where the birth can occur. Kirk and Spock leave McCoy there to supervise the birth, while they search for weapons.

Unable to discover the source of the distress call, Scotty pulls the microtape and realizes how he has been duped: the SS Deirdre called for the Enterprise by name -- and there's no way a freighter would have known the Enterprise was ordered into this sector. Clearly, the intent was to lure the Enterprise from Capella IV. To be sure, Scotty plans to complete the search pattern.

By the time Kirk and Spock have weapons fabricated, Eleen has given birth. When Kirk and Spock leave to reconnoiter, she hits McCoy with a rock and escapes. Kirk and Spock have fabricated bows.

Completing the search pattern, the Enterprise sets a course back to Capella. Immediately, they receive another distress call, this time from the USS Carolina. Scotty ignores it. Then a Klingon ship intercepts them – sitting in space, establishing a line and daring them to cross it.

[edit] Act Four

A confrontation develops between the warriors, who have found their way to the chasm's other entrance, and the landing party, who have placed themselves in the rocks overlooking the cut. Then Eleen appears. She lies to Maab, telling him all the Earthmen, and her infant son, are dead. Maab has been previously told differently, but chooses to accept her story. Kras, however, is determined to force a confrontation. He insists on verifying the story, evidently a breach of his word. During the ensuing battle, the Capellans are introduced to the bow and arrow, a weapon they never developed. Kras manages a standoff; to break it, Eleen proposes to flee as a distraction. Maab elects to return her life to her, which forfeits his own. He accosts the Klingon and is destroyed; but Keel is ready, and kills the Klingon.

As the confrontation is about to conclude badly, Scotty and a rescue party appear and demand the Capellans' surrender. McCoy appears from the hills with the new Teer, Leonard James Akaar. Eleen signs the mining agreement as regent for the new Teer, and the Federation team departs.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"Look, I'm a doctor, not an escalator."

- McCoy


"Say to yourself: 'The child is mine, the child is mine, it is mine'."
"Yes... it is yours.'"

- McCoy and Eleen


"How did you arrange to touch her, Bones? Give her a happy pill?"
"No, a right cross."
"Never seen that in a medical book."
"It's in mine from now on."

- Kirk and McCoy


"Perhaps to be a Teer is to see in new ways. I begin to like you, Earth man, and I saw fear in the Klingon's eye."

- Maab


"...Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
"I know the saying. It was invented in Russia."

- Scott and Chekov


"What Maab has said is true, our customs are different. What the Klingon has said is unimportant, and we do not hear his words. (I just called the Klingon a liar.)"

- McCoy


"One of us must get him [the Klingon]"
"Revenge, Captain?"
"Why not..."

- Kirk and Spock


"The child was named 'Leonard James Akaar'!?"
"Has a nice ring to it, don't you think, James?"
"Yes, I think it's a name destined to go down in galactic history, Leonard. What do you think, Spock?"
"I think you're both going to be insufferably pleased with yourselves for at least a month... sir."

- Spock, McCoy, and Kirk


"Fortunately, this bark has suitable tensile cohesion."
"You mean it makes a good bowstring."
"I believe I said that."

- Spock and Kirk


"I am unaware of any state of war between our peoples, captain... or is it your policy to kill Klingons on sight?"
"He was young... and inexperienced!"

- Kras and Kirk, after Lt. Grant is killed

"Oochi woochi coochi coo, Captain?"

- Spock when McCoy coos to the baby

[edit] Background Information

  • The set panel to the left of the science station was removed for this episode. Chekov can be seen with his hand draped over the left edge of the station; an edge that shouldn't exist. In the next episode, "Who Mourns for Adonais?", wider shots show that the workstation counter top continues unbroken when the set piece is in place.
  • In the footage seen in the briefing room of Dr. McCoy's previous visit to Capella IV, he is seen wearing his present day Enterprise tunic, rather than a TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" era tunic, which would have been appropriate for that time period.
  • Leonard James Akaar has appeared as a Starfleet admiral in several of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novels that take place after the end of the events depicted on screen.
  • The footage seen on the briefing room screen in the teaser is identical to scenes of warriors hunting down Kirk and company later on in the episode.
  • A sequence in the blooper reel shows William Shatner entering the tent too quickly when Tige Andrews is looking for his weapon and exclaiming, "Oh, shit!"
  • Lots of dialog looping was used in this episode because of the outdoor setting. Some of the dubbing was crammed together, nearly on top of other lines.
  • By preventing Maab from killing Eleen, thereby allowing her unborn son to become Teer of the tribes, Kirk and company would appear to be in flagrant violation of the Prime Directive.
  • For his first four appearances in the series, including this episode, Walter Koenig wore a Beatle-style wig, which he absolutely detested. In one interview, he made joking and uncomplimentary references to that wig. By "The Apple", he seems to have discarded it.
  • This was Robert Bralver's first appearance of many in the series, often as a stunt performer or uncredited extra.
  • This episode marks the debut of Sulu's personal scanner at his helm position. In its first appearance, the device dramatically unfolds and emerges from inside the helm console. In his written adaptations of the episodes, James Blish refers to the device as a "gooseneck viewer."
  • Grant is the only Enterprise crewman killed in this episode.
  • This episode may possibly have been aired as a repeat, one week before "Assignment: Earth" first aired, as Stephen Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek lists the episode as airing 3-22.
  • Stephen Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek also features some excellent behind-the-scenes photos from this episode, filmed in late May 1967. In their book Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, Robert H. Justman and Herbert F. Solow include a shot from the production of Shatner and Nimoy reading the contemporary "Mad" magazine 'Star Trek' spoof, "Star Blecch".
  • The name of this episode appears to derive from the old children's rhyme, "Friday's Child" ("Friday's child is loving and giving").
  • "Capellans" was also the name given to the aliens in Jerry Sohl's 1953 novel The Transcendent Man, though the connection seems unintentional: The aliens in that book were closer in style to the Organians. Capella itself is the brightest star in the constellation of Auriga, the charioteer.

[edit] Production History

[edit] Remastered Information

The original Capella

...and the remastered planet

Original warship

...and the remastered warship

  • The remastered version of this episode premiered in syndication the weekend of 6 January 2007. Among new shots of the Enterprise herself, several new, more realistic views of Capella IV from space were inserted into the episode. Also notably changed were the phaser effects, Chekov's sensor readout (now far more realistic), and the establishment of the Klingon ship on screen as a D7 class.

[edit] Video and DVD releases

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Starring

[edit] Guest Star

[edit] Also Starring

And

[edit] Featuring

[edit] References

Capella IV; Carolina, USS; Deirdre, SS; kligat; Klingon scout ship; magnasite-nitron tablet; signal booster; sympathetic vibration; Teer; Ten Tribes; topaline

[edit] External link


Previous episode produced:
"Metamorphosis" 		Star Trek: The Original Series
Season 2 		Next episode produced:
"Who Mourns for Adonais?"
Previous episode aired:
"Journey to Babel" 		Next episode aired:
"The Deadly Years"
Previous remastered episode aired:
"The Corbomite Maneuver" 		TOS Remastered Next remastered episode aired:
"Wink of an Eye"
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