The Savage Curtain (Episode)

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The Savage Curtain

"The Savage Curtain" (TOS 77)

Series	Star Trek
Season	3
Episode	22
Production Number	77
Release Date	7 Mar 1969
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Stardate 5906.4: Kirk and Spock are forced into a battle of good and evil.

While surveying the planet Excalbia, which appears to consist of nothing but a lava-like surface, the Enterprise is scanned by a powerful energy source from the surface. Soon afterward, an entity who resembles and claims to actually be Abraham Lincoln appears in space and requests to be beamed aboard. Against McCoy, LeonardMcCoy]]'s recommendation, Kirk and Spock welcome Lincoln with the full ceremonies due a visiting head of state, then accept his invitation to visit Excalbia. There, a rock-like being named Yarnek appears and announces that the Enterprise landing party will participate in a battle between good and evil, so that the Excalbians can learn about these concepts. On the side of good are Kirk, Spock, Lincoln, and Surak, the Vulcan who united the people of his planet and taught them to suppress their emotions and live in peace. On the side of evil are Zora, a merciless criminal scientist, Genghis Khan, the tyrant warlord of ancient Earth, Colonel Green, an unprincipled, aggressive Human warlord, and Kahless, the Klingon who set the mold for the Klingon Empire. Yarnek threatens to destroy the Enterprise if Kirk and Spock do not participate. After both sides conceive plots and counter-plots, only Kirk, Spock, Genghis Khan, and Zora are left alive. Satisfied, Yarnek returns Kirk and Spock to the Enterprise.