William Shatner credited as playing...
Captain James T. Kirk
- Dr. McCoy: [as an old man enters the room] Gentlemen, I believe we have a visitor.
- Old Man: [bows, then passes out bits of herbs] For strength. Many of us have felt the power of our Oracle. This has been of benefit.
- Dr. McCoy: Tastes like an ancient herb derivative.
- Old Man: You are... not of Yonada.
- Captain James T. Kirk: No, we're from outside your world.
- Old Man: Where... is outside?
- Captain James T. Kirk: Up there. Outside, up there, everywhere.
- Old Man: So they say, also.
- Old Man: [winces in pain] Many years ago, I climbed the mountains, even though it is forbidden.
- [winces again]
- Captain James T. Kirk: Why is it forbidden?
- Old Man: I am not sure.
- Old Man: [another wince] But things are not as they teach us. For the world is hollow, and I have touched the sky!
- Captain James T. Kirk: [to McCoy] You seem to be the special favorite.
- Mr. Spock: Indeed, Doctor. The young lady did show a marked preference for your company.
- Dr. McCoy: Well, now, nobody can blame her for that, can he?
- Captain James T. Kirk: Personally, I find the lady's taste questionable; but she obviously prefers you, and you obviously don't seem to mind.
- Nurse Christine Chapel: I am a nurse first, Dr. McCoy, and a member of the crew of the Enterprise second.
- Dr. McCoy: You're excused! You may return to your quarters.
- Nurse Christine Chapel: No, I'm sorry, Doctor! I have called the Captain, and I'll wait until he comes!
- Captain James T. Kirk: [enters] What's the emergency?
- Dr. McCoy: [loudly] I said you're excused, Nurse!
- Dr. McCoy: [quietly] Please, Christine. I promise you I'll give the Captain a full report.
- [Nurse Chapel exits]
- Captain James T. Kirk: That was quite a scene.
- Dr. McCoy: I've just completed the standard physical examinations for the entire crew.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Excellent. What's the emergency?
- Dr. McCoy: The crew is fit. I found nothing unusual, with one exception.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Serious?
- Dr. McCoy: Terminal.
- Captain James T. Kirk: What is it?
- Dr. McCoy: Xenopolycythemia. It has no cure.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Who?
- Dr. McCoy: He has one year to live at the most.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Who is it?
- Dr. McCoy: The ship's Chief Medical Officer.
- Captain James T. Kirk: You?
- Dr. McCoy: I'll be most effective on the job in the time left if you'll keep this to yourself.
- Natira: [stiff and formal] For what reason do you visit this world?
- Captain James T. Kirk: We come in friendship.
- The Oracle of the People: [loud thunderclap] Then learn what it means to be our enemy, before you learn what it means to be our friend.
- [the landing party is immediately electrocuted into unconsciousness]
- Mr. Spock: Incredible as it may seem, these people have no idea they're living on a spaceship.
- Captain James T. Kirk: I wonder how many generations have lived out their lives, and... been buried here, without ever knowing that their world is hollow?
- Captain James T. Kirk: [entering the transporter room with Spock to find McCoy ready to beam over with them] Dr. McCoy, Mr. Spock and I will handle this.
- Dr. McCoy: Without me, Jim? You'd never find your way back.
- Mr. Spock: Captain, informing these people they're on a ship may be in violation of the Prime Directive of Starfleet Command.
- Captain James T. Kirk: No. The people of Yonada may be changed by the knowledge, but it's better than exterminating them.
- Mr. Spock: Logical, Captain.
- Captain James T. Kirk: And the three billion on Daran V.
- Mr. Spock: Also logical, Captain.
- Captain James T. Kirk: [narrating] Captain's log, stardate 5476.4. We are on a parallel course with Yonada. It is still on a collision course with Daran V. Our failure to correct its course, and the critical nature of Dr. McCoy's illness, made the extraordinary event of contact with Starfleet Command imperative.
- Mr. Spock: [studying the inscriptions on a door] The writing is definitely Fabrini, Captain. I recognize it.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Fabrini... Didn't the Fabrini sun go nova and destroy its planets?
- Mr. Spock: Yes. Toward the end, the Fabrini people lived underground as these people do, to protect themselves.
- Captain James T. Kirk: Some of them must have been put aboard this ship and sent to another planet. And these... are their descendants.
- [Spock has removed the obedience device from McCoy]
- Natira: [about McCoy] He is not part of our people. You've released him from his vow of obedience.
- Captain James T. Kirk: We have freed him, from the cruelty of your Oracle.