And the Children Shall Lead
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 11 October 1968
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 5029.5
- DIRECTED BY
- Marvin Chomsky
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 60
WRITTEN BYWritten by Edward J. Lakso
On Triacus the adults of a science expedition are dead, but their children seem strangely cheerful. Once aboard the Enterprise, they have a powerful new friend.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise answers a call from the scientific expedition on Triacus and finds the adults dead, apparently by their own hand, while their five children play happily, unmoved by the tragedy. McCoy suspects a form of amnesia. Brought aboard, the children secretly summon the Gorgan, a glowing being who urges them to take control. Using powers he gives them, the eldest, Tommy, creates illusions that turn the crew against their own duties and convince them the ship is still orbiting Triacus. In fact the Enterprise is heading for Marcus XII, a world of millions the Gorgan intends to dominate. From the expedition's records, Spock learns the Gorgan is an ancient evil disturbed by Professor Starnes's survey. Kirk and Spock show the children recordings of their parents, and as grief finally breaks through, the children lose their powers. The Gorgan's form decays and vanishes, and the ship sets course for a starbase where the children can be cared for.
- 01The Gorgan was played by Melvin Belli, a celebrated personal injury lawyer known as the “King of Torts”. His son Caesar plays Steve.
- 02Craig Huxley, then known as Craig Hundley, had played Kirk's nephew Peter in “Operation – Annihilate!”. He later invented the Blaster Beam heard in Star Trek film scores.
- 03When Tommy garbles Kirk's orders, some of William Shatner's lines were recorded and played back in reverse.