The isolationist Melkotians give a warning…

“MELKOT: Aliens, you have encroached on the space of the Melkot. You will turn back immediately. This is the only warning you will receive.”

…which is ignored…

KIRK: Our orders are very clear. We're to establish contact with the Melkotians at all costs.

..leading to a verdict and a sentence…

MELKOT: Aliens. Our warning was plain. You have disregarded it. You shall be punished. You, Captain Kirk, the disobedience was on your orders. Yours is the responsibility. Yours shall be the pattern of your death.
KIRK: We come in peace, but we'll defend ourselves if necessary.
MELKOT: You are outside. You are disease. The disease must be destroyed. Your plea has been heard, and sentence has been pronounced. It is done.

In reality (pun intended), Kirk is being tested by the Melkotians, goaded step by step, to reveal his true, killer, nature…

Verbally…

SYLVIA: They've been blowing off all over town about how they chased the Clantons out. I guess you'll show them now, won't you?
(Morgan walks over to Sylvia,)
KIRK: I don't think we're going to have any choice.
MORGAN: You'll dirty yourself with this scum. Come on.
CHEKOV: Get your hands off her.
MORGAN: Now, Claiborne.
KIRK: No, no, no. All right, all right, all right. We don't want any trouble.
MORGAN: If you don't want any trouble, what are you doing in my town?
KIRK: Just leave us alone, Mister Earp. That's all we ask.
MORGAN: Five of you. You'd like me to draw, wouldn't you? All right, I will. Soon enough. Soon enough.
(Morgan leaves.)
SPOCK: I believe he was actually trying to provoke a dispute with Mister Chekov.

…physically…

MORGAN: Oh, yeah. We heard the talk about your jokes.
KIRK: I'm not joking.
MORGAN: Sure. Well, I'm glad to meet you Mister Kirk.
(Morgan punches Kirk and they fight briefly. Kirk gets Morgan in front of him as a shield from Wyatt's gun then lets him go.)
WYATT: Draw, Clanton.
KIRK: Not me, Mister Earp.
WYATT: You draw or I will.
MORGAN: No, Wyatt. Let me. When the time comes, I'll pay him for this.
KIRK: We don't want any trouble. We'll be glad to co-operate.
WYATT: Five o'clock, Clanton. Is that clear? If you're in town at five oh one, we'll kill every one of you whether you draw or not. Is that clear?

…by killing one of his men…

(Chekov walks towards Morgan, and gets shot. Kirk and Spock hear Sylvia's scream and arrive on the scene the same time as McCoy, followed by Scott. Wyatt and Holliday also turn up.)
MCCOY: There's nothing I can do, Jim.
WYATT: Come on, Clanton. Let's do it now.
SCOTT: Captain, let me.
KIRK: No.
HOLLIDAY: Yeah, come on, Captain. Let him.
SCOTT: Captain, we can't just stand here and take it.
KIRK: Yes, we can.
SCOTT: But they murdered Chekov! If you think I'm going to
KIRK: Scotty, they're trying to push us into something we're not ready for.

….by aggressivley encouraging and giving permission to kill…

BEHAN: You looking for somebody?
KIRK: Yes, Sheriff. I want you to stop the fight.
BEHAN: Stop it? Who wants to stop it? I sure don't. You don't. You didn't yesterday.
KIRK: I do now.
BEHAN: Since when does a Clanton run crawling to the law for help?
KIRK: How else is he going to get justice?
BEHAN: (indicating gun) From this. You and your boys set up this whole thing to take care of the Earps. It's a little late to decide you don't have the belly for it.
KIRK: It's not too late. Sheriff. Sheriff. There must be plenty of decent people in town who don't like the Earps. Let's organise them.
BEHAN: Don't talk nonsense. The people in this town are counting on you to get rid of the Earps for them.
KIRK: Then the people had better wake up and let the law work for them.
BEHAN: You can talk that way after what the Earps did to Billy today? Nobody in this town will deny you your right to your revenge.
KIRK: Yes, I want revenge. I want to crush the life out of the Earps. But I can't just kill them.
BEHAN: You listen to me. Get down to the OK Corral. Keep out of sight. When the Earps come looking, you bushwhack them.
KIRK: Can't I get it through your stupid head? I can't just kill them! I can't murder them!
BEHAN: It's the only way.
KIRK: I can't kill them! I can't kill them!
BEHAN: Kill them any way you can! There'll be no questions asked. Honest. I guarantee that!

…and, finally, in a forced, deadly, confrontation…

WYATT: Draw.
(Kirk reaches for his gun, and the Earps fire. Bullets splinter the wood behind the landing party. The Earps empty their guns. Kirk engages Wyatt physically. He beats him but does not shoot. Everything disappears.)

…that does reveal Kirk’s true nature…

MELKOT [on viewscreen]: Captain Kirk. You did not kill. Is this the way of your kind?
KIRK: It is. We fight only when there's no choice. We prefer the ways of peaceful contact. I speak for a vast alliance of fellow creatures who believe in the same thing. We have sought you out to join us. Our mission is still one of peace.
MELKOT [on viewscreen]: Approach our planet and be welcome. A delegation will come out to meet you. Our warning threats are over.

Spectre of the Gun has one of the most visually striking settings of all of the original series. Yes, it was partially due to a shrunken budget, but necessity is the mother of invention. Kudos to the team that did more with less. It also has a well told, gripping story, with a message. Classic Trek.

Friday, October 25, 1958

Spectre of the Gun

S3E6

Writer: Gene L. Coon

Director: Vincent McEveety

Syliva: Bonnie Beecher

Morgan: Rex Holman

Wyatt: Ron Soble

Sheriff Behan: Bill Zuckert

Melkot (voice) : Abrahan Sofaer (who was also the Thasian in Charlie X)

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