Scene 4: A false entry
[ TOR’S OFFICE — likely downstage (Most dialogue in Scene 4 occurs here; it should be off-center in anticipation of set-changes in Scene 5.) ]

Tor is seated in her office behind a desk, and Kirk stands facing a records interface screen that Tor also observes. Tor's costume includes a tiny earpiece, though it needn't be easily visible at first.

[ Optional (likely second-tier upstage): HOSPITAL — Optionally, two or more open hallways might appear, in the manner of a second-story interior overlooking a hospital foyer on M-11. This would display busy Hospital Workers performing routine medical and administrative tasks. Among the visible rooms would be Pike’s Quarters. Another would be a hallway with signs indicating passage to an unseen Transporter Room. In actions marked HOSPITAL below, Spock’s efforts to abduct Pike and transport him to the enterprise would be pantomimed. ]

KIRK

[0:10] Zuna—Commodore—Spock received a message from Starbase M-11, urging us to come here.
[0:20] Entered the same in his log. That’s all the proof I need.

TOR

[0:26] And what do these records show?

[pointing to the display, and rising to leave her desk]

No message sent from here. Nothing received.

KIRK

[0:35] Records can be changed. I have complete confidence in my First Officer.

TOR

[0:41] Spock is extremely loyal to his former Commander.

KIRK

[0:46] As a Vulcan you'll agree I'm sure that for Spock, loyalty is as natural as breathing! That goes for his present Commander as well as his past.

TOR

[0:59] He is, of course, half-human.

KIRK

[1:03] Which automatically makes him...what—less trustworthy?

TOR

[1:09] Your words, Jim.

Kirk is about to protest, but is interrupted by Tor's communicator. She raises one hand calmly to Kirk, touching her earpiece with the other while answering the call.

TOR

[1:17] Yes…Yes, it’s urgent. Expedite the request.

[to Kirk]

[1:24] Excuse me, Captain.

As Tor exits her office, McCoy enters. [ Optional: HOSPITAL — Spock induces temporary paralysis in a Hospital Worker and then enters a nearby room undetected. ]

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

McCOY

[to Kirk]

[1:35] Any news, Jim?

[ Optional: HOSPITAL — Spock issues (unheard) orders to unsuspecting staff members, who at first act confused, and then reluctantly consent. ]

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

KIRK

[1:38] Nothing makes sense, Bones. How could Pike send a message in his condition?

McCOY

[1:46] I tried to question him— He’s agitated himself into a near coma. He keeps saying “no, no, no!”…“No” to what?

KIRK

[2:04] Do we know how long he has to live?

McCOY

[2:07] He'll live as long as we will. Blast medicine, anyway! That man can think whatever we can—hope, love, dream like we can.
[2:24] But his body is gone.

 

[ Optional: HOSPITAL — Staff enter to find Pike’s quarters are empty. ]

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

KIRK

[2:33] Bones...could this have anything to do with Spock?

[ Optional: HOSPITAL — Hospital Workers investigating the empty room hail their superiors. ]

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

VOICE ON INTERCOM

[speaking]

[2:42 -- spoken lines not in recording] Dr. McCoy, please report to the Transporter area. You’re needed in sick bay aboard the Enterprise.

McCOY

[2:47] What is it?

VOICE ON INTERCOM

[2:49 -- not in recording] Sorry, Doctor, at the moment that’s all we have.

McCOY

[pausing before exiting…remembering the prior conversation.]

 

[2:55] Jim, forgetting how well we both know Spock, the fact that he’s Vulcan means he’s incapable of this kind of--

KIRK

[3:05] But he’s half-human—

 McCOY

[3:08] And that half is totally submerged! To be caught…it would humiliate him. Jim, what’s come over you? Spock would never make a false entry in the log—

Enter Tor, unseen by Kirk.

KIRK

[3:22] There’s a false entry in the log right now!

Tor arches an eyebrow; Kirk is embarrassed, having now appeared to take her side in the previous argument.

[ Optional: HOSPITAL — Hospital Workers stiffen as Dr. Ibn-Sina enters Pike’s Quarters. After a moment taking it in, Pike’s Quarters go dark. Transporter Staff emerge from the Transporter Room, disturbed and agitated. ]

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

VOICE ON INTERCOM

[3:30 -- not in recording] Doctor McCoy, can you confirm? The issue is marked “urgent.”

McCOY

[3:41] I’m on my way.

[to Kirk, but glancing at Tor, aware of their tension]

[3:44] Probably a hangnail! I’ll beam up—

[thumbs toward the sky, and rolling his eyes]

and let you know.

Exit McCoy.

KIRK

[3:56] Commodore Tor, I grant you the situation is bizarre, but my instincts tell me that if—

TOR

[4:04] Your instincts are not enough, Captain.

KIRK

[4:09] With you—will they ever be?—

TOR

[darting a warning glance, but continuing coolly]

[4:16] What I mean, Captain, is that your faith in Spock is one-sided.

KIRK

[ Optional: M-11 TRANSPORTER ROOM — pantomime, OR via cutaway on an upper stage level, OR via proxy imagery — Enter Spock, and a Crew Member, pushing Pike, into position to be transported. ]

[ TOR'S OFFICE ]

[moving toward her]

[4:25] Zuna, I—

TOR

[4:30] Captain please. Let’s confine ourselves to facts.

Scene 5: Mutiny

[ Optional: M-11 TRANSPORTER ROOM —— Spock, Crew Member, and Pike vanish as they are beamed to the Enterprise. ]

[ ENTERPRISE TRANSPORTER ROOM — if the optional upstage, second-tier HOSPITAL is present, with the "M-11 TRANSPORTER ROOM" the ENTERPRISE TRANSPORTER ROOM would likely be a transformation of that set structure. Otherwise, it could occupy any large portion of the stage darkened during previous dialogue in TOR’S OFFICE, which must remain intact downstage right or left during ongoing dialogue between Tor and Kirk. ]

Spock, Crew Member, and Pike, are beamed into the Enterprise Transporter Room.

[The effect could be produced by leaving the actors stationary in the former set, obscuring them with lighting effects during a darkened set-transformation, and then illuminating them again in the new set. Or if M-11 TRANSPORTER ROOM is not present, a technique similar to that used in scene 1 could be used.]

Spock and Crewmember descend to nearby transporter room controls during subsequent dialogue in TOR's OFFICE.

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

Ensign 1 enters as Kirk and Tor continue; the gravity of their conversation increases.

TOR

[4:52] You must accept from evidence before you that it isn’t physiologically possible for Captain Pike to have delivered a message, or even to have instructed another to do so.

ENSIGN 1

[entering with salute]

[5:07] Commodore, the documents you requested.

TOR

[5:10] Thank you. [To Kirk] Jim, I had these brought in by hand for your benefit. A long standing tradition forbids digital distribution.

TOR

[To Ensign 1]

[5:21] Did my authorization pass?

ENSIGN 1

[5:24] Aye aye commodore.

[ ENTERPRISE TRANSPORTER ROOM]

SPOCK

[5:29] Spock here--we've beamed aboard. Sulu, report our coordinates.

SULU

[via intercom]

[5:37] Ninety two, oh six, four one two. We’re out of orbit, Mr. Spock. It seems strange with nothing to do.

SPOCK

[5:52] The Enterprise knows where it’s going, Mr. Sulu.

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

She hands the document to Kirk. Tor nods to dismiss Ensign 1, who salutes and exits. Kirk opens the folio.

TOR

[6:01] Do you know anything about this planet, Jim?

The BRIDGE of the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE. Enter Spock , self-possessed and confident; he walks to the captain’s seat, and turns his gaze toward the audience as though into the space stretching before him.Officers and crew operate controls as a monitor display of Pike’s brain image indicates his presence on board. Sulu, Uhura, and other crew members are at their stations, but they are idle, as the ship is running itself. A large screen indicates the ship’s movement through the galaxy at increasing speed.

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

KIRK

[6:16] Only what every ship’s captain knows under General Order Four: “No vessel, under any circumstances is to visit Talos IV-”

TOR

[6:30] And to do so is to commit high treason, punishable by the only Federation death penalty. Only Starfleet Command knows why.
[6:52] This file names the only Earthship that’s ever been there.

KIRK

[opening the report, then in shock]

[6:59] The Enterprise!

[ BRIDGE ]

SULU

[7:05] What’s wrong with the Captain? He seemed fine when he beamed down.

SPOCK

[7:10] Exhaustion, Mr. Sulu. Starfleet Command thought it best he stop and rest for awhile.

[ TOR’S OFFICE ]

KIRK

[turning the pages]

[7:20] Commanded by Captain Christopher Pike…

TOR

[7:25] With a science officer named Spock.

Enter Dr. Ibn-Sina, running.

IBN-SINA

[7:40] Captain Pike. He’s gone!

Tor is paged on the intercom. Lights and other indicators put M-11 on high alert.

TOR

[into the intercom]

[7:48] Tor here!

VOICE ON INTERCOM

[7:50] Commodore, the Enterprise—it’s out of orbit! It refuses to acknowledge our signal!

TOR

[8:01] Prepare a shuttle!

Exit Tor and Kirk, resolutely.

[ BRIDGE — now fully lit and occupying full stage, possibly as minor features indicating Tor’s office are removed. ]

SULU

[8:07] With all due respect, Lieutenant, may I inquire about our mission…?

SPOCK

[8:17] I regret Starfleet Command elected to keep certain things from you Lieutenant. That’s all I can say.

UHURA

[to Spock, while reaching toward controls]

[8:31] We’re being hailed on a secure channel, sir—

SPOCK

[8:36] Maintain radio silence, Lieutenant.

Uhura interrupts her work to look quizzically at Spock. Enter McCoy, with a sense of urgency.

McCOY

[8:43] What in blazes is going on here, Spock? This medical call from the ship. I’ve checked everywhere and—

SPOCK

[8:51] —and no one on the Enterprise made such a call.

McCOY

[gesturing toward Pike]

[8:58] Is—is that Captain Pike!? Your explanation had better be–

SPOCK

[9:04] I’m sorry about the deception, Doctor. Starfleet Command thought it necessary.

UHURA

[9:11] Sir, scanners detect an object following us, about the size of a shuttlecraft.  But at this speed they could never catch us.

SPOCK

[9:22] Security, to the bridge. Computer! Identify the object.

COMPUTER

[speaking]

[9:28 -- not in recording] Object is a Class F Shuttlecraft. Duranium metal shell; ion engine power.

SPOCK

[9:32] Computer! Activate tractor beam and lock onto the shuttlecraft.

COMPUTER

[speaking]

[9:38 -- not in recording] Locked on.

SPOCK

[9:40] Execute program “Able Seven Baker.”

McCOY

[9:50] I’ve been trying to think who might be after us in a shuttlecraft. But I can’t be right…can I, Mr. Spock?

Enter Security Guards.

SULU

[10:05] Sir, the Enterprise has just come to a dead halt.

McCOY

[10:12] Spock…what have you done?

SPOCK

[into microphone]

[10:17] Stand by to bring Captain Kirk and Commodore Tor aboard.

[to Dr. McCoy]

[10:23] You are the senior officer present, Doctor. I submit myself to you for immediate arrest.

MCCOY

[10:32] You…what?

SPOCK

[10:35] The charge is mutiny. I received no orders to take command.

MCCOY

[10:41] Spock! Are you out of your mind?

Enter Kirk and Tor.

KIRK

[10:49] Sulu, prepare for new course instructions. Spock, I need an explanation.

TOR

[10:57] Guards! To the Bridge!

SULU

[10:59] I can’t comply, Captain. My control is disabled. We are now preparing for warp speed.

KIRK

[11:06] Computer, abort current commands and hold position! And tell whoever gave that order to—

SULU

[11:14] No one gave that order, sir. Spock has the computer running the ship. We can’t disengage…

TOR

[11:24] Spock! Relinquish control of this vessel, or face charges of treason.

SPOCK

[11:34] I cannot, Commodore.

TOR

[11:37] Spock. State your intentions or face immediate confinement to the brig.

 

SPOCK

[11:44] I will not speak, until my trial.

KIRK

[11:50] Uhura, send a distress beacon and request assistance from Starfleet command.

UHURA

[11:58] Aye aye Captain.

KIRK

[11:59] Scotty do you read me?

SCOTT

[12:01] Aye sir.

KIRK

[12:02] Access to Enterprise control has been suspended. Find away around it fast.

SCOTT

[12:09] I’ll get right to it, Captain.

Enter Security guards, who take Spock in custody.

UHURA

[12:12] Captain, all communications are disabled. And it seems the ship’s computer won’t cancel Spock’s commands.

KIRK

[12:22] Computer! Disengage from helm!

COMPUTER

[speaking]

[12:26 -- all remaining lines are spoken and not recorded] Unable to comply.
[12:30] Current task is locked for the next 46 hours and 52 minutes.
[12:36] I cannot disengage until the vessel reaches its destination.

KIRK

[speaking]

[12:40] Which is?

COMPUTER

[12:43] Talos IV.

(END OF ACT I.)