Most fans can remember that one of the biggest debates around JJ Abrams Star Trek movie was about if it would (or should) include William Shatner. The film makers spoke of how they tried to find a way, but in the end felt it wouldn’t work. However, JJ Abrams revealed that Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman did write a scene for Shatner, and today we have that scene for you to read.

Putting Shatner into Star Trek (2009)

TrekMovie received the scene below from one of our trusted sources and it has been verified to be the scene written for Shatner (but never shown to Shatner). The “Alternate Scene B” actually creates alternative versions two scenes from the end of the movie: the moment between Spock Prime (Nimoy) and Spock (Quinto) in the hangar, plus the award ceremony with Kirk (Pine), Pike (Greenwood) and the Commandant (Tyler Perry).





Including Shatner would have made alternatives to these ending scenes

Shatner would have played Kirk, but would have appeared as a recording. The timing of the recording is not stated, but would have have been before Star Trek Generations and therefore not violate the canon that Kirk was killed in Generations. JJ Abrams has often noted that dealing with Kirk’s death was one of the hindrances of including him in the new Star Trek.



Shatner in "Star Trek Generations" (1994), his last time in the chair

The Scene

Here it is…

—————————

ALTERNATE SCENE B

SPOCK PRIME

Then I ask that you do yourself a

favor… put away logic, and do what

feels right. The world you’ve inherited

lives in the shadow of incalculable

devastation… but there’s no reason you

must face it alone.

And from around his neck, he removes the PENDANT that

until now, we’ve only caught glimpses of. Places it on

the table beside his younger self. The feeling in his

eyes is profound…

SPOCK PRIME (CONT’D)

This was a gift to me. Representing…

a dream. One we were unable to fulfill.

(softly)

The way you can now.

And moves to the door. Stops. Offers the VULCAN SALUTE:

SPOCK PRIME (CONT’D)

As my customary farewell would appear

oddly self serving, I will simply say…

good luck.

Their eyes hold. Spock turns, disappearing into the

corridor. Young Spock stares at the empty doorway a

beat, his mind a jumble of thoughts. Looks to the

pendant… and realizes it’s a HOLO-EMITTER . After

considering a beat, he hits an activation button and a

MOVING HOLOGRAPHIC MESSAGE materializes before him:

CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK. WILLIAM SHATNER . As always,

brash, wry, confident — and SINGING:

KIRK/ SHATNER

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to

you…

(stops, grins)

I know I know, it’s illogical to

celebrate something you had nothing to do

with, but I haven’t had the chance to

congratulate you on your appointment to

the ambassadorship so I thought I’d seize

the occasion… Bravo, Spock — they tell

me your first mission may take you away

for awhile, so I’ll be the first to wish

you luck… and to say…

(beat, emotional)

I miss you, old friend.

… and we’re PUSHING IN on Young Spock, taking in the

image of Kirk’s future self, the message, but above all —

the clear, unquestionable friendship these two men had…

INT. CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS

As Spock Prime walks off down the corridor, he passes

right by a man conferring with a nurse — the man pauses,

turns… it’s SAREK. Suddenly overcome by a feeling that

the stranger who’s just passed him is… oddly familiar.

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)

I suppose I’d always imagined us…

outgrowing Starfleet together. Watching

life swing us into our Emeritus years…

INT. STARBASE ONE – HANGAR – ETERNAL NIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING — glass walls reveal THE ENTERPRISE at

dock, UTILITY CRAFTS floating around it, repairing.

Standing at attention in rows, THE ENTERPRISE CREW —

over four hundred of them wearing DRESS UNIFORMS — TRACK

DOWN the faces, all proud:

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)

I look around at the new cadets now and

can’t help thinking… has it really been

so long? Wasn’t it only yesterday we

stepped onto the Enterprise as boys?

That I had to prove to the crew I

deserved command… and their respect?

And we STOP ON YOUNG KIRK. Composed, focused, proud. A

man. And to every fan’s delight, finally wearing his

YELLOW SHIRT . The FEDERATION COMMANDANT stands at a

podium:

COMMANDANT

This assembly calls Captain James

Tiberius Kirk…

Kirk breaks from formation, pivots, marches down the

hangar — past UHURA… SULU… CHEKOV… SCOTTY. All

Beaming. Notably absent, is Spock. Kirk ascends the

stairs, snaps to attention:

COMMANDANT (CONT’D)

Your inspirational valor and supreme

dedication to your comrades are in

keeping with the highest traditions of

service and reflect utmost credit to

yourself, your crew, and the Federation.

By Starfleet Order 28455, you are hereby

directed to report to Commanding Officer,

USS Enterprise, for duty as his relief.

Kirk turns. Walks to… PIKE. In a wheelchair now,

wearing an ADMIRAL’S UNIFORM. Overnight, his hair’s

turned totally grey — but despite his trauma, his

pride’s overwhelming. They SALUTE each other:

KIRK

I relieve you, Sir.



PIKE

… I am relieved.

He opens a BOX in his lap — glorious in repose, a MEDAL:

PIKE (CONT’D)

And as Fleet Admiral, for your… unique

solution to the Kobayashi Maru, it’s my

honor to award you with a commendation

for original thinking.

Pike containing a smirk, pins the medal to Kirk’s

chest…

PIKE (CONT’D)

(a touch choked)

Congratulations, Captain.

KIRK

Thank you, Sir.

Kirk turns to the crowd. Eyes shining. WILD APPLAUSE.

OUR MUSIC SOARS. Bones leans in to Sulu, rolling his

eyes:

BONES

… Same ship, different day.

As Kirk rejoins his crew for hugs and congratulations, we

go to the BACK of the hangar… SPOCK PRIME. Watching.

Moved beyond words. He turns and leaves them to it… as

he goes…

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)

I know what you’d say — ‘It’s their turn

now, Jim…’ And of course you’re

right… but it got me thinking:

INT. STARFLEET HOSPITAL – EARTH – DAY

Our montage comes full circle as we END on Kirk’s

transmission:

KIRK/SHATNER

Who’s to say we can’t go one more round?

By the last tally, only twenty five

percent of the galaxy’s been chartered…

I’d call that negligent. Criminal even —

an invitation. You once said being a

starship captain was my first, best

destiny… if that’s true, then yours is

to be by my side. If there’s any true

logic to the universe… we’ll end up on

that bridge again someday.

Stops, grins. Because this is the part he needs to say

most…

KIRK/SHATNER

Admit it, Spock. For people like us, the

journey itself… is home.

Young Spock’s face. Lost in feelings that flood through

him.

—————————

But would Bill have done it?

Even if the Abrams team had decided to go ahead with this scene, there is no guarantee that Shatner would have done it. He had stated he “does not do cameos” and the above scene appears to fall into the cameo category. Abrams had also stated that this “no cameos” position of Shatner’s was part of their decision process not to include him in the film. Now that the scene is public, maybe Bill will make another one of his video blogs about it. One thing is for sure, this is not the last word on Shatner and the new Star Trek…there is still the sequel.