Girls in Space

After an Ion Storm threatens the Enterprise, Kirk sends Commander Ben Finney outside with an umbrella. However, with the ship safe, time then runs out to get Finney back and Kirk is left with no choice but to sacrifice his crewman in order to save the rest of the ship. When discussing his actions, he states that he went to yellow alert, then red alert and, only then, jettisoned the pod that resulted in the death of Finney.

Later, the Enterprise calls in at Star Base 11 for one of their exquisite cheese and wine parties. However, when Commodore Stone reviews the computer log he discovers that the pod was jettisoned while still at yellow alert, suggesting that Finney wasn’t given fair warning that he was about to be vaporised. Oh Kirk, you’re in trouble now.  I feel a Court Martial coming on.

The inhabitants of Starbase 11 are not happy to see Kirk. Finney was a much-loved part of their community. His daughter, Jamie, in particular, seems very angry at Kirk for some undisclosed reason.  Probably the dead Dad thing.  After receiving a slap from her, Kirk gives off a look that seems to say “Stop it at once Jamie – you’re not too big to go over my knee.” Steady.

Kirk visits the starbase bar and runs into a former squeeze by the name of Ariel, who, as it turns out, is going to be prosecutor in Kirk’s Court Martial.  Is it me, or is this somewhat of a conflict of interest?  Just a tad, perhaps?

Kirk’s own lawyer is Samuel T Cogley, a man with a healthy mistrust of computers.  He should get an iMac.  They’re great.

In court, Kirk pleads not guilty. Dan dan daaaaaan!!

Spock, a Personnel Office and McCoy testify. Each attempting to convince the Commander of Kirk’s innocence.  However it is all redundant because of the damning video footage, recorded by the ship’s computer.  It clearly shows Kirk jettisoning the pod on yellow alert.

Spock believes that the computer is broken after he beats it at chess. He argues that this isn’t possible because he programmed the computer with everything he knows about chess so the best he could hope for is a draw. Alas, poor Spock, your logic is flawed. It assumes you will never get better at chess. If you had programmed it years ago, it makes sense that you would be able to beat it later on, after working on your game. (Also, as an aside, there is evidence that Spock is not a very good chess player.  In previous episodes, Kirk beats him and he thinks they’re playing Ker-Plunk.)

Only 3 people would have the technical skill to reprogram the computer: Kirk, Spock and Finney. Meaning only one possible explanation:  Finney is alive.

The trial moves location to the Enterprise and the entire crew are told to leave the ship.  Even the Engineering crew!  Then, using futuristic microphone technology, the sound of one heartbeat is picked up for the court to hear.

Kirk goes to Engineering alone.  Who should he find there?  Finney, alive and well.  And mental.  He’s always been jealous of Kirk’s success and wanted to frame him.

With no Engineering crew, the Enterprise is in a slowly declining orbit.  Only Finney can unlock the controls.  A savage fight breaks out between Kirk and Finney, but in the end it takes Kirk telling him that his daughter is on board to make him comply.

The story is, at the end of the day, enjoyable.  Even if the whole Courtroom fiasco was a waste of time.  Also, near the end, Kirk’s lawyer disappears from the ship to bring Jamie on board, but we never actually see him again. I’d have liked to have seen Kirk thank him for his efforts.  I need closure!

Cast:
William Shatner as James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy as Spock
DeForest Kelley as Leonard H. McCoy
Nichelle Nichols as Uhura

Guest Cast:
Percy Rodriguez as Commodore Stone
Elisha Cook Jr. as Samuel T. Cogley
Joan Marshall as Lt. Areel Shaw
Richard Webb as Lt. Comm. Ben Finney
Alice Rawlings as Jamie Finney

Creative Staff:
Director:  Marc Daniels
Teleplay By: Don M. Mankiewicz and Stephen W. Carabatsos
Story By: Don M. Mankiewicz

Official Episode Guide