“Turnabout Intruder”

Stardate: 5982.5-5930.3
Episode: 79
Original US Airdate: 3 June 1969 [This was, of course, in the midst of the summer rerun season. It is likely this episode was pre-empted on 28 March 1969 by news coverage of the death of former US President Dwight Eisenhower.]

Star Trek's third and final season began with a brain-napping ("Spock's Brain") and ended with a soul-napping in the final episode of the series, "Turnabout Intruder", featuring Kirk's craziest former beau, a dead tribble, and classic Shatneresque overacting.

Summary

While en route to Beta Aurigae to conduct gravitational studies, the Enterprise receives a distress call from a scientific expedition on Camus II. The ship's landing party finds only two members of the group still alive: Dr. Janice Lester, the expedition's leader and a former girlfriend of Kirk's; and Dr. Arthur Coleman, the medical officer and Dr. Lester's current lover. Janice's hatred of Kirk and jealousy of his career achievements lead her to use an alien device she had found on Camus II to exchange bodies with Kirk. The new "Kirk" then tries to strangle "Janice," but the rest of the landing party and Dr. Coleman return before "Kirk" can finish.

After beaming back aboard the Enterprise, "Kirk" removes Dr. McCoy form "Janice"'s case and replaces McCoy with Dr. Coleman, who keeps "Janice" sedated. "Kirk" then has the ship change course for the Benecia Colony (planning to abandon "Janice" there). When "Kirk"'s erratic behavior cause Spock and McCoy to become suspicious, McCoy orders "Kirk" to undergo a physical, while Spock decides to talk to "Janice" in sick bay. "Janice" asks Spock to use a Vulcan mind meld to confirm "her" identity, and Spock learns that Kirk's mind is indeed in Dr. Lester's body. Spock tried to help "Janice" escape from sick bay, but the two are stopped by security guards and "Kirk."

"Kirk" begins court-martial proceedings against Spock. The Enterprise first officer firmly testifies to his belief that the mind of Captain Kirk has been transferred to the body of Dr. Janice Lester and the person claiming to be Kirk does not belong in charge of the ship. During the proceedings, "Kirk" becomes hysterical, arousing the suspicions of other crew members. Scotty and Dr. McCoy are recorded in the hallway during a recess talking about how they will vote; afterward "Kirk" charges them with mutiny and orders the death penalty. The rest of the crew then realize something is seriously wrong and refuse to obey "Kirk"'s commands.

When the transference weakens temporarily, "Kirk" convinces Dr. Coleman to kill "Janice" (who is being held in the brig with Spock, McCoy, and Scotty). Dr. Coleman arrives too late, however, and the transfer breaks, returning Kirk's and Janice's minds to their respective bodies. Frustrated and still insanely jealous of Kirk, Dr. Lester collapses. Dr. Coleman, who still loves her, asks to be allowed to take care of her.

Notable Bits

"Kirk" filing "his" nails in the captain's quarters--every starship commander should be as well-groomed

The court-martial, with Scotty as Perry Mason, a surprisingly angry Spock, and "Kirk"'s arm-twitching rage

Dr. Lester's pathetic whimpering as she is led off by Dr. Coleman

Quotable Quotes

Lester: "We could've roamed among the stars."
Kirk: "We'd have killed each other."

Dr. Coleman: "You couldn't [kill Kirk] because you love him! You want me to be his murderer."
"Kirk": "'Love'? Him? I love the life he led, the power of a starship commander. It's my life now."

"Janice" (just before being sedated): "Bad dream...bad dream."

Spock (to security guards): "I have a few questions to ask [Dr. Lester]."
Guard: "Did the captain order it, sir?"
Spock: "Why should he? They are my questions, therefore I am ordering it, lieutenant."

"Janice" (on the witness stand at the court-martial): "Most of all, [Dr. Lester] wanted to murder James Kirk, a man who once loved her. But her intense hatred of her own womanhood made life with her impossible."

Spock: "I expect only to reveal the truth."
"Kirk" (ranting): "And with the truth revealed that I am not really the captain, and knowing that she would not be allowed to serve as the captain, then you would be the captain--it is inevitable!"

Spock (to "Kirk"): "You are not Captain Kirk. You have ruthlessly appropriated his body, but the life entity within you is not that of Captain Kirk, you do not belong in charge of the Enterprise, and I shall do everything in my power against you."

Spock (after "Kirk" has called a recess in the court-martial): "Yes, sir. An immediate vote before our chief witness can be left to die on some obscure planet with the truth locked inside of her."

Scotty (to McCoy, apparently cataloging Kirk's vices and emotional range): "I've seen the captain feverish, sick, drunk, delirious, terrified, overjoyed, boiling mad. But up to now, I have never seen him red-faced with hysteria."

Dr. Coleman: "I will not murder for you."
"Kirk": "Then do it for yourself!"

Kirk: "Her life could have been as rich as any woman's. If only...if only..." (last dialog ever spoken on Star Trek)

Trivia

"Janice" cites events from the episodes "The Tholian Web" and "The Empath" to convince Spock of "her" true identity.

Camus II is mentioned in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Legacy."

The Benecia Colony was previously mentioned in the first-season episode "The Conscience of the King" (as the Karidian Players' next stop). However, "Benecia" is not pronounced the same in that episode (accent on the third syllable instead of the second), so it may have been an entirely different site.

Blooper

Chekov protests that General Order 4 is the only exception to Starfleet's prohibition against the death penalty--it's actually General Order 7 (the order forbidding contact with Talos IV).

Censorship (of a sort)

The Sci-Fi Channel's airings of "Turnabout Intruder" omit "Janice"'s using a broken glass to sever her restraints in sick bay and "Kirk"'s knocking out "Janice" when the latter runs into sick bay seeking Spock and McCoy.

Observations

Why would Dr. Coleman help the woman he loves exchange bodies with a man? According to The Star Trek Concordance, Dr. Lester "promises Coleman the position of ship's surgeon if he will kill Janice-K, Spock, McCoy and Scotty." The only problem with this is that it isn't explicitly mentioned in the episode (at least not on the DVD).

Video Captures

(From the "Turnabout Intruder" DVD; click thumbnail to see full-sized picture)

Dr. Coleman, Kirk, and McCoy check on Dr. Lester's condition	Dr. Lester awakens	Dr. Lester examines her "catch"	The mind transfer begins	Title screen
"You had your chance, Captain Kirk"	"Kirk" admires "his" new body	"Kirk" tries to strangle "Janice"	Back on board the Enterprise	"Kirk", Dr. Coleman, and "Janice" in sick bay
"Kirk" on the bridge	[Blooper] That doesn't seem to be Mr. Chekov in the navigator's chair, does it?	"Kirk" orders a course change	Communications Officer Lieutenant "Lisa"	McCoy scolds a well-manicured "Kirk"
"Kirk" making a point (pun intended)	"You are insane, Dr. Lester"	Nurse Chapel offers a drink to "Janice"	"Janice" has other plans for the drink	Spock and McCoy discuss the captain's condition
"Spock! Bones! Help me!"	"Kirk" attacks "Janice"	"Kirk" gets a physical	"In the pink, as usual."	Spock questions "Janice" in sick bay
"Kirk" faces the Robbiani dermal-optic test	Spock mind-melds with "Janice"	"Kirk" and McCoy make up--for the moment	"Kirk" and McCoy arrive as Spock helps "Janice" escape from sick bay	Mr. Scott questions Spock at the court-martial
"It is mutiny! Deliberate, vindictive, insane at its base!"	Mr. Scott and Dr. McCoy discuss the situation	Chekov and Sulu discuss the situation	The crew refuse to carry out "Kirk"'s orders	The transference weakens temporarily
"For a moment, I thought that I was up on the bridge."	"Kirk" discusses killing "Janice" with Dr. Coleman--note the (presumably deceased) tribble in the background	The transfer finally breaks	"I've lost to the captain! I've lost to James Kirk!"	"I want you dead!"
Dr. Lester is led off by Dr. Coleman and Dr. McCoy	Back to work

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