

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

Suffering through his first infliction of pon farr, the Vulcan biological mating urge, Spock must return to Vulcan to marry his betrothed or he will die. However, when the Enterprise arrives at Vulcan, complications at the ceremony may endanger Captain Kirk as well. (Season Premiere)

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Summary

Teaser

Dr. McCoy notices that Spock is growing restless and has stopped eating, and decides to discuss this with Captain Kirk in the corridor outside Spock's quarters. As the two men discuss this, they come upon Spock's quarters, in time to see the first officer throwing Nurse Christine Chapel out of his quarters and physically flinging the Vulcan plomeek soup she has specially prepared for him after her. After this outburst, he demands that Captain Kirk grant him a leave of absence on his home planet Vulcan.

Act One

Captain Kirk is baffled by Spock's behavior, but orders the Enterprise to Vulcan. However, a priority message forces him to change course to Altair VI in order to be on time for the planetary President's inauguration ceremony, which is to take place a week earlier than planned. When Kirk later asks Ensign Chekov how late they would be if they diverted to Vulcan, the puzzled navigator reveals that they are already on course for Vulcan, as ordered by Commander Spock. When questioned by Kirk in a turbolift, Spock is visibly confused and says he does not remember doing this, though he admits that if Chekov says he did, he must have.

Kirk orders Spock to sickbay, where McCoy examines him and finds that he is suffering from extreme stresses resembling those produced by high levels of adrenaline in Humans. McCoy informs Kirk that Spock will die from this condition within eight days at most if he is not taken to Vulcan.

Act Two

Upon hearing this news, Kirk confronts Spock in his quarters. As Kirk walks in, Spock is looking at a picture of a Vulcan girl and turns the screen off immediately. Spock says he cannot tell the captain the cause of his problem because it is a deeply personal affair, and that no "outworlder" may know except those that have been involved. Kirk eventually persuades Spock to reveal that his problem is "Vulcan biology," which Kirk correctly infers to mean Vulcan reproduction.

Spock explains to Kirk that, like the giant eel-birds of Regulus V or the salmon of Earth, Vulcans must also periodically return home to mate. Vulcans do not typically discuss this mating cycle even among themselves, instead cloaking it in archaic ritual, as it is shameful for such a logical race to be overcome by urges so powerful as to strip them of their intellect and veneer of civilization. Spock has reached his time, the pon farr, and if he doesn't return to Vulcan immediately to mate, he will die. Kirk jeopardizes his career by disobeying a direct order to the contrary from Admiral Komack of Starfleet, and proceeds with all possible speed to Vulcan.

Nurse Chapel visits Spock in his quarters to tell him they are going to Vulcan. Spock notices she has cried and asks for plomeek soup.

Upon the arrival of Enterprise at Vulcan, Vulcan Space Central establishes contact. A beautiful Vulcan woman appears on the viewscreen, and she exchanges formal greetings with Spock. When asked by Lieutenant Uhura who she is, Spock states that she is "T'Pring, my wife," much to the shock of Kirk, McCoy, and especially Chapel.

Act Three

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down to the surface of Vulcan, to the ancestral lands of Spock's family. This is their first time on Vulcan, and McCoy states he now understands the phrase "hot as Vulcan."

Spock explains to his companions that he actually has not seen T'Pring since they were both seven years old: at this age, Vulcan children enter into arranged marriages during a ritual ceremony. Spock further clarifies that while he earlier called T'Pring his "wife," this childhood bond does not have an exact correspondence with Human pairing, as it is "less than a marriage, but more than a betrothal." He explains that a bonding ceremony was held when they seven years old, where they touched and "felt each other's thoughts," so when the time came they both would be drawn to Koon-ut-kal-if-fee due to the psychic bond. It is unclear if this bonding ceremony in childhood is a mind melding ceremony or if some other form of Telepathy is used. (See: Telepathic mating bond)

As Spock's friends, Kirk and McCoy are invited to witness the marriage ritual – the koon-ut-kal-if-fee. The mistress of ceremonies is T'Pau, whom Kirk recognizes as the only person ever to turn down a seat in the Federation Council – one of the most famous and respected Vulcans alive. Trouble starts when T'Pring announces she would rather not marry Spock. T'Pring invokes the kal-if-fee – her right to have Spock fight for her. Spock retreats to the side of the platform, hunched over and speechless. Kirk tries to speak with him; T'Pau warns him off, explaining that he is deep in plak tow.

T'Pring chooses Kirk as her champion, over the strenuous objections of Stonn, another member of the wedding party, who will not be silenced about his traditional rights until T'Pau commands "Kroykah!" (meaning "Stop!"). Stonn promptly apologizes, asks for forgiveness, and remains silent. Spock tries to protest to T'Pau, but in vain.

Both Kirk and McCoy correctly guess that Stonn is T'Pring's actual choice and would be chosen next should Kirk decline. Fearing Spock, in his current condition, is now too weak to fight Stonn, Kirk agrees to the challenge. It is only then Kirk is informed that this is to be a fight to the death and is given a Lirpa.

Act Four

The fight begins and Spock quickly demonstrates physical superiority. However, Kirk survives the first round. McCoy objects to T'Pau that Kirk isn't used to the Vulcan atmosphere and climate. He asks permission to inject the captain with a tri-ox compound to compensate. T'Pau agrees and Kirk is given the injection.

During the fight, Spock apparently strangles Kirk to death, and McCoy accompanies the captain's body back to the Enterprise. Spock, his mating urges apparently subsiding, demands to know why T'Pring took Kirk as her champion. T'Pring reveals that she did not want to be the "consort of a legend," as Spock had become to his people, and instead desired Stonn. She chose Kirk as her champion since every outcome she calculated was advantageous to her: if the human won, Kirk would not wish keep her as his bride, while if Spock won he would probably release her because she had challenged the marriage, and even if he kept her he would quickly return to space. In all cases, T'Pring would be free to have Stonn. Complimenting her logic, Spock relinquishes T'Pring to Stonn, but advises him that "having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." Spock then returns to the Enterprise, expecting to face court-martial at the nearest starbase for the murder of his commanding officer.

Back on the ship, McCoy repeatedly attempts to explain something, but Spock cuts him off, continuing to speak of his guilt and its consequences. When he tells McCoy that Scott must take command of the Enterprise, Kirk comes in behind him and playfully asks, "Don't you think you'd better check with me first?" Seeing Kirk alive, Spock betrays his joy by calling the Captain "Jim!" with a big smile, which he quickly suppresses when he realizes that Chapel and McCoy have seen it. Kirk then reveals that McCoy did not give him a tri-ox injection, but a neuro-paralyzer to simulate death.

When asked about the final outcome of the marriage, Spock explains that when he thought he had killed Kirk, he no longer had any interest in T'Pring. Kirk then receives a message from Starfleet retroactively granting him permission to divert to Vulcan, apparently per T'Pau's request.

Log entries

"Captain's log, stardate 3372.7. On course, on schedule, bound for Altair VI via Vulcan. First Officer Spock seems to be under stress. He has requested and been granted shore leave. Ship surgeon McCoy has him under medical surveillance."

Memorable quotes

"Jim, when I requested to Spock that it was time for his routine check-up, your logical, unemotional first officer turned to me and said: 'You will cease to pry into my personal matters, Doctor, or I will certainly break your neck!'."

"Spock said that?"

- McCoy and Kirk, about Spock



"It is undignified for a woman to play servant to a man who is not hers."

- Spock to Kirk and McCoy, after throwing Chapel's soup bowl



"How do you figure it, Chekov? First we're going to Vulcan, then we're going to Altair, then we're headed to Vulcan again, and now we're headed back to Altair."

"I think I'm going to get space sick."

- Sulu and Chekov, on the changing flight plans between Vulcan and Altair VI



"How do Vulcans choose their mates? Haven't you wondered?"

"I guess the rest of us assume that it's done… quite logically."

"No. It is not."

- Spock and Kirk



"But you're not a fish, Mister Spock. You're –"

"No. Nor am I a man. I'm a Vulcan."

- Kirk and Spock, on comparing salmon spawning with pon farr



"It has to do with biology."

"What?"

"Biology."

"What kind of biology?"

"Vulcan biology."

"You mean the biology of Vulcans? Biology as in reproduction? Well, there's no need to be embarrassed about it, Mr. Spock. It happens to the birds and the bees."

"The birds and the bees are not Vulcans, Captain."'

- Spock and Kirk, on the subject of Vulcan biology



"It would be illogical for us to protest against our natures – don't you think?"

- Spock, to Chapel



"Hot as Vulcan. Now I understand what that phrase means."

- McCoy, on his first visit to Vulcan



"He never told us his family was this important."

- Kirk on T'Pau's attendance at Spock's wedding



"What thee are about to see comes down from the time of the beginning, without change. This is the Vulcan heart. This is the Vulcan soul. This is our way."

- T'Pau, as the Vulcan ceremony begins



"It is said thy Vulcan blood is thin. Are thee Vulcan? Or are thee Human?"

- T'Pau, before Spock accepts T'Pring's challenge



"All of Vulcan in one package."

- Kirk to McCoy, describing T'Pau



"I can forgive such a display only once!"

- T'Pau



"Kill Spock? That's not what we came to Vulcan for, is it?"

- Kirk to McCoy, during a break in the fight



"Now be careful."

"Sound medical advice."

- McCoy and Kirk, after McCoy uses a hypospray on him



"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

- Spock to Stonn, on winning T'Pring



"Live long and prosper, Spock."

"I shall do neither. I have killed my captain and my friend."

- T'Pau and Spock, before he returns to the Enterprise



"Captain…! Jim!!"

- Spock, pleased and widely grinning after seeing Kirk alive



"There's just one thing, Mr. Spock. You can't tell me that when you first saw Jim alive that you weren't on the verge of giving us an emotional scene that would have brought the house down!"

"Merely my quite logical relief that Starfleet had not lost a highly proficient Captain."

"Yes, Mr. Spock. I understand."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Of course, Mr. Spock, your reaction was quite logical…"

"Thank you, Doctor."

"…in a pig's eye!"

- McCoy, Spock, and Kirk, regarding Spock's outburst

Background information

Story and script

Cast and characters

Sets

When McCoy emerges from the doorway in the first scene, there is no elevator set inside. The elevator is accessed from a side doorway for this episode. This was probably done in advance of the next episode filmed, " The Doomsday Machine ", to show the wrecked condition of Matt Decker's starship. When the landing party beams onto the Constellation , the door is open at the end of this same corridor and no turbolift is inside. In " The Ultimate Computer ", a turbolift is located right outside sickbay and the one at the corridor terminus is not utilized. Set drawings indicate the doorway at the end of that corridor did not regularly contain an elevator, however.

", to show the wrecked condition of Matt Decker's starship. When the landing party beams onto the , the door is open at the end of this same corridor and no turbolift is inside. In " ", a turbolift is located right outside sickbay and the one at the corridor terminus is not utilized. Set drawings indicate the doorway at the end of that corridor did not regularly contain an elevator, however. A change in this season is thick painted stripes across the corridor floors.

This is the first episode of the second season to offer a look at the further-expanded sickbay that now includes McCoy's new office. In " The Deadly Years " more beds in the infirmary section of the sickbay are added.

" more beds in the infirmary section of the sickbay are added. This is the first time Spock's quarters are seen fully. A very brief shot of his quarters is seen in " The Menagerie, Part I ", with a tricorder and red glass statue seen behind him to make the room look different from the Kirk's quarters set. Here, a large statue with blinking lights, red curtains and objects resembling molecular models are seen, among other "Spockian" decor.

", with a tricorder and red glass statue seen behind him to make the room look different from the Kirk's quarters set. Here, a large statue with blinking lights, red curtains and objects resembling molecular models are seen, among other "Spockian" decor. The statue in Spock's quarters appears to be the same statue seen outside the door of the ruins in " The Man Trap ". It later appeared in his quarters in " The Paradise Syndrome ", " The Tholian Web ", and " The Way to Eden ".

Production

Other information

Reception

Production timeline

Video and DVD releases

Remastered information

The remastered version of "Amok Time" first aired during the weekend of 17 February 2007. In addition to new space sequences showing the Enterprise arriving at the planet Vulcan, a sequence was inserted showing digital representations of Kirk, Spock and McCoy walking over a large natural outcropping to Spock's family ceremony site. This is the first instance in the remastered edition episodes in which original sequences have been replaced with all-new computer-generated shots. Shots of the Vulcan landscape also featured a glimpse of the city of ShiKahr from Star Trek: The Animated Series. The background in the image of a young T'Pring was updated to resemble the entrance set seen in T'Pol's mother's house in "Home".

Starring

Also starring

And

Guest star

Also starring

And

Featuring

Uncredited co-stars

Stunt doubles

Phil Adams as stunt double for William Shatner

Dave Perna as stunt double for Leonard Nimoy

Stand-ins

References

3rd century; 2230; 2237; adrenaline; advice; ahn-woon; Aldebaran shellmouth; "all right"; Altair VI; Altair VI president; Altair system; answer; atmosphere (aka air); "at the outside"; audio; authority; bee; behavior; betrothal; biocomp; biology; bird; "the birds and the bees"; blood; body; body function; "brought the house down"; bloodstream; "Bones"; bowl; career; "carry on"; cavern; confidential; central viewer; champion; choice; civilization; climate; commanding officer; commission; compliments; consort; Constitution-class decks; course; cowardice; creature; crime; custom; day; death; demonstration; divorce; doctor; dream; Earth; eel-birds; emotion; emotional pressure; eye; face; faking death; fasting; Federation Council; Federation starship attendees; "fighting chance"; Finagle's Law; first name; fish; flight plan; fracture; friend; friendship; Grayson, Amanda; hailing frequency; hand; harm; heart; heat; honor; Human; hypospray; "in a pig's eye"; inauguration; "in case"; insanity; insight; kah-if-farr; kal-if-fee; klee-fah; Klingon Empire; koon-ut-kal-if-fee; kroykah; land; landing party; law; leave of absence; legend; light day; lirpa; logic; madness; marriage; marriage party; maximum warp; mind; Mind meld; "mind the store"; minute; mission; name; nature; neck; neural paralyzer; "of course"; office; Outworlder; permission; person; phrase; place; plak tow; plomeek soup; plot; pon farr; present condition; president; property; quarterly physical; Regulus V; reproduction; ritual; sailor; salmon; Sarek; schedule; Scott, Montgomery; Sector 9; sedan; servant; ship surgeon; ShirKahr; shore facility; shore leave; solar day; soul; space sick; speed; standard orbit; "stand by"; starbase; Starfleet channel; Starfleet Command; strangulation; stream; stress; surface; tear; Telepathy; Telepathic mating bond; temperature; "thank you"; thing; thought; tradition; tray; tri-ox compound; Vulcan; Vulcans; Vulcan ceremonial ground city; Vulcan language; Vulcan lute; Vulcan salute; Vulcan Space Central; wedding; week; "what the devil"; wife; word; year

Unreferenced materials

Endeavour, USS; Excalibur, USS; Westervliet



