"Bread and Circuses" Line-by-Line!

Kirk: What era?

 

Spock: No sign of atomic power as yet, but far enough along for radio communications, power transportation, an excellent road system.

 

Uhura: Captain, both amplitude and frequency modulation being used. I think I can pick up something visual. It's a news broadcast using a system I think they once called video.

 

SPOCK: Television was the colloquial term.

 

KIRK: Put it on the screen.

 

UHURA: Aye.

(A black and white image of people watching as police in crash helmets arrest someone. There is a car in the foreground. Very 1950s or 60s.)

 

VOICE (on viewer): Today police rounded up still another group of dissidents. Authorities are as yet unable to explain these fresh outbreaks of treasonable disobedience by well-treated, well-protected, intelligent slaves. Now turning to the world of sports and bringing you the taped results of the arena games last night. (a sword fight) The first heat involved amateurs. They're petty thieves from City Prison. Conducted, however, with traditional weapons, it provided some amusement for a few moments. In the second heat, a slightly more professional display in the spirit of our splendid past, when gladiator Claudius Marcus killed the last of the barbarians, William B. Harrison, in an excellent example of...

(The picture of an old Roman fight with net and short sword is lost.)

 

Uhura: Transmission lost, Sir. Shall I try to get it back?

 

KIRK: Slaves and gladiators. What are we seeing, a twentieth-century Rome?

 

Spock: Captain, the one described as the barbarian is also listed here. Flight Officer William B. Harrison of the SS Beagle. At least there were some survivors down there.

 

KIRK: Ready the transporter room, Mister Spock. We're beaming down.

After opening credits

[Hillside]

(The landing party of three is beamed onto a ridge, nicely silhouetted against the clear blue sky.)

KIRK: You could have selected a more convenient place, Mister Spock.

 

Spock: But hardly more practical, Captain. Close to the city we located, but not populated. We should not be observed.

The landing party makes their way down the slope. Spock uses his tricorder.

Spock: Fascinating. This atmosphere is remarkably similar to your 20th Century. Moderately industrialized pollution containing substantial amounts of carbon monoxide and partially consumed hydrocarbons.

 

MCCOY: The word was smog.

 

SPOCK: Yes, I believe that was the term. I had no idea you were that much of a historian, Doctor.

 

MCCOY: I am not, Mister Spock. I was simply trying to stop you from giving us a whole lecture on the subject. Jim, is there anything at all we know about this planet?

 

KIRK: The SS Beagle was the first ship to make a survey of this star sector when it disappeared.

 

SPOCK: Then the Prime Directive is in full force, Captain?

 

Kirk: No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet.

 

MCCOY: No references to space, or the fact that there are other worlds, or more advanced civilizations.

 

KIRK: Let's go.