The Empath (Episode)
| Series | Star Trek |
| Season | 3 |
| Episode | 12 |
| Production Number | 63
|
| Previous | Is There In Truth No Beauty? (TOS62) |
| Next | The Tholian Web (TOS64) |
| Released | 6 Dec 1968 |
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Stardate 5121.0: The landing party is used to test an empathic race.
The Enterprise journeys to the Minaran system to rescue Federation researchers Dr. Linke and Dr. Ozaba before the Minaran star goes nova. Captain Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy discover recordings that show the missing scientists literally disappearing from their posts. While trying to discover what happened, the three are also seized and materialize in the presence of their abductors: Lal and Thann. Kirk and crew discover that Linke and Ozaba are dead, their bodies preserved in huge containers. The only other living being present is Gem, a young woman who cannot speak. Kirk and McCoy are taken one at a time and experimented on by Lal and Thann, resulting in terrible injuries, and they discover that Gem is an empath who can absorb their injuries and pain into her own body.
When McCoy is gravely injured, Kirk is prevented from helping him or urging Gem to cure him. Although she knows that his injuries may kill her, Gem begins to cure McCoy. The entire, apparently senseless series of brutalities is revealed as a test to determine whether or not Gem's race is worthy of being saved from a disaster that will soon engulf her entire star system, which also contains a second inhabited planet. This is the only method that Lal and Thann could devise to determine which planet's population to save, as they lack the means to save both. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are returned to the Enterprise.
Image Gallery
Minara
Minara II
Surface of Minara II
Minara II outpost
Interior of Minara II outpost
Gem
Hadley
Lal
Dr. Linke
Dr. Ozaba
Thann
tricorder
Vian device
Vians
torture
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
Joyce Muskat
Directed by
John Erman
Produced by
Fred Freiberger
Co-Producer
Robert H. Justman
Executive Producer
Gene Roddenberry
Associate Producers
Edward K. Milkis
Gregg Peters
Guest Star
Kathryn Hays as Gem
Co-Starring
Alan Bergmann as Lal
James Doohan … Scott
George Takei … Sulu
Davis Roberts … Dr. Ozaba
Jason Wingreen … Dr. Linke
and
Willard Sage … Thann
Story Consultant
Arthur H. Singer
Theme Music by
Alexander Courage
Additional Music Composed and Conducted by
George Duning
Director of Photography
Jerry Finnerman
Art Director
Walter M. Jefferies
Film Editor … Donald R. Rode
Unit Production Manager … Gregg Peters
Assistant Director … Gil Kissel
Set Decorator … John M. Dwyer
Costumes Created by … William Ware Theiss
Photographic Effects … Westheimer Company
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
