The Apple

"The Apple" is a second season episode of '. It is episode #38, first broadcast on October 13, 1967 and repeated July 12, 1968. It was written by Max Ehrlich, and directed by Joseph Pevney.

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Quick Overview: The crew of the Enterprise visits a mysterious paradise controlled by computer.

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On stardate 3715.3, the starship USS Enterprise arrives at Gamma Trianguli VI, a planet that appears to be a tropical paradise. Captain James T. Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Lt. Chekov, and Mr. Spock, along with several survey personnel, beam down to the surface to have a look.

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They discover a world of poison dart-shooting plants, unstable explosive rocks, and bizarre lightning storms that appear out of cloudless skies. One of the crewmen is killed when he accidentally steps on an exploding rock, and then Spock is hit by a plant dart when he steps to block them from hitting the Captain. Spock is stunned, and McCoy rushes over to assist; injecting him with serum to counteract the poison. Spock later recovers.

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Realizing there is too much danger, Kirk orders an immediate beamout, however Mr. Scott reports that the ship's power systems are being drained by an unknown energy field emanating from the planet. The Enterprise's transporters don't have enough power to beam anyone back.

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As the stranded party figures out what to do, Kirk notices they are being watched. He attacks their "observer", finding it to be a shy, and frightened primitive humanoid who wears glitter and colorful paints on his skin. Kirk promises not to hurt the curious man and holds him for questioning. The man calms down and identifies himself as Akuta, chief of the people known as the "Feeders of Vaal". Spock notices that Akuta appears to be in some kind of communication with someone, and points out the small antenna on Akuta's head.

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Meanwhile, Mr Scott calls down to inform Kirk that the Enterprise is being held in orbit around the planet by some kind of tractor beam and is unable to break away. Kirk asks Akuta about this "Vaal", and requests to be taken to meet him. Akuta agrees and leads the landing team to a large stone dragon head carved into the side of hill. Akuta points to the structure and indicates that it is Vaal.

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The head appears as a kind of doorway. Spock's tricorder indicates that it leads down into the planet. The structure is also protected by a powerful force field. The temple appears to be some type of sophisticated computer, possibly built by an ancient civilization. Spock also concludes that it may be the source of the energy draining field that is affecting the Enterprise.

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Akuta then leads the party to meet his people. They appear as young men and women, but all have a curious, childlike mentality. Kirk points out that the tribe doesn't seem to have any children and asks Akuta why. Akuta doesn't know what a child is, saying that Vaal has forbidden love and copulation, and provides them with "replacements" as they are needed. McCoy scans the tribe and is shocked when he discovers they are ageless and all in perfect health. The party later observes them as they perform a ritualistic "feeding" of Vaal.

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Later, some women of the tribe come forward to look over their new guests. Seana is attracted to Mr. Spock, while Chekov has an eye for Martha, who he later seduces and makes out with. A tribal couple observe Chekov and Martha and try to imitate their kissing. Vaal is angered by this and radios instructions to Akuta, telling him to gather his people and kill the strangers who have trespassed here. Akuta rounds some of his men and instructs them to kill the landing party by bashing skulls with their clubs.

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The landing party goes to Vaal to investigate the structure. Vaal defends itself by striking Spock with a lightning bolt. The Feeders then attack, surrounding the landing party and killing a crewman. The landing party fights them off pretty easily however, and detains them, preventing them from feeding Vaal.

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Vaal becomes weakened and loses its hold on the Enterprise. Kirk orders the ship's weapons to target the structure and fire. The ship blasts the dragon head with phasers and the structure is destroyed. Akuta and his people are finally free and the tribe soon sets off to discover birth, death, and the normal everyday ways of life.

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Spock compares what the Captain has done to giving the primitive people the equivalent of the apple of knowledge and driving them from their Garden of Eden, but Kirk maintains that Spock's resemblance to the Devil is much more apparent than his own.

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October 13: October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years). There are 79 days remaining....

1967: 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar....

July 12: July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 172 days remaining....

The Apple related Images and Photos (experimental)

The Apple	The Apple Girl	The Apple Market	The Apple 1980
The Apple Blossom Fairy	The Apple Gatherers 1880	Disney Enchanted The Apple Paper Giclee Print	Baby Sleeps in Its Cradle Among the Apple Blossom Unaware of the Danger That
Apple	Apple c.1983	Apple c.1983	Apple Tart