Plato's Stepchildren (Episode)
| Series | Star Trek |
| Season | 3 |
| Episode | 10 |
| Production Number | 67 |
| Release Date | 22 Nov 1968 |
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Stardate 5784.0: Platonians use psychokinetic power to toy with the crew.
Answering a distress call from the planet Platonius, Dr. McCoy beams down with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock to aid the stricken Platonian leader, Parmen. Although Parmen and his people have no resistance to physical disease, they are powerful telekinetics. After McCoy cures their leader, the Platonians attempt to persuade him to stay — and when he refuses, they enslave the landing party. The Platonians' diminutive jester, Alexander, befriends Kirk and attempts to help, but is powerless to interfere because of his lack of telekinetic powers. Parmen forces Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to undergo humiliating experiences, some of which drive the Vulcan to his psychological breaking point. Uhura and Chapel are also beamed down and forced to enact bizarre charades with Kirk and Spock to amuse the Platonians.
McCoy determines that the chemical substance kironide is responsible for the Platonians' powers. He mixes a concentrated batch of the substance, but Alexander refuses the injection, not wishing to possess the same type of powers as the other Platonians. Kirk and Spock take the dosage and develop the power, canceling out the effectiveness of Parmen's deadly pranks. The landing party leaves Platonius, taking Alexander, who will depart at a nearby Federation outpost to begin a new life.
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Related Data
Credits
Created by
Gene Roddenberry
Starring
William Shatner
Also Starring
Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
and
DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy
Written by
Meyer Dolinsky
Directed by
David Alexander
Produced by
Fred Freiberger
Co-Producer
Robert H. Justman
Executive Producer
Gene Roddenberry
Associate Producers
Edward K. Milkis
Gregg Peters
Guest Star
Michael Dunn as Alexander
Liam Sullivan as Parmen
Barbara Babcock as Philana
James Doohan … Scott
Nichelle Nichols … Uhura
Majel Barrett … Nurse Chapel
Ted Scott … Eraclitus
Derek Partridge … Dionyd
Story Consultant
Arthur H. Singer
Music Composed and Conducted by
Alexander Courage
Art Director
Walter M. Jefferies
Director of Photography
Al Francis
Film Editor … Bruce Schoengarth
Unit Production Manager … Gregg Peters
Assistant Director … Gil Kissel
Set Decorator … John M. Dwyer
Costumes Created by … William Ware Theiss
Photographic Effects … Vanderveer Photo Effects
Sound Effects Editor … Douglas H. Grindstaff
Music Editor … Richard Lapham
Re-Recording Mixer … Gordon L. Day, C.A.S.
Production Mixer … Carl W. Daniels
Script Supervisor … George A. Rutter
Recorded by … Glen Glenn Sound Co.
Casting … Joseph D'Agosta
Makeup Artist … Fred B. Phillips, S.M.A.
Hair Styles … Pat Westmore
Gaffer … George H. Merhoff
Head Grip … George Rader
Property Master … Irving A. Feinberg
Special Effects … Jim Rugg
A Paramount Production
In Association With
Norway Corporation
Executive Vice President in Charge of Production
Douglas S. Cramer
