"The Devil in the Dark'' Line-by-Line

[Cavern]

Finishing Spock (off camera): Kill it!

KIRK: I thought you were the one who wanted it kept alive, captured if possible.

 

SPOCK: Jim, your life is in danger. You can't take the risk.

 

KIRK: It seems to be waiting.

 

Spock: I remind you it's a proven killer. I'm on my way. Spock out.

 

[Cavern]

KIRK: (sitting down) Well, what do we do, just talk it over? (The creature turns to show it's wound from their last encounter.) Well, you can be hurt, can't you? We just sit here? It's your move. (Spock comes running in and takes aim) No, no! Don't shoot. Come on over, Mister Spock.

(He does so, and squats by the Captain.)

 

SPOCK: Fascinating. It's made no moves against you?

 

KIRK: No. It seems to be waiting. I tried talking to it, but it didn't do any good. (Spock points at a pile of silicon nodules.) Yes, they're all through here, all over the place. Thousands of them.

 

SPOCK: Yes, I see.

 

KIRK: Does it means something to you?

 

SPOCK: Possibly the answer, Captain, but I'm not certain. Captain, you are aware of the Vulcan technique of the joining of two minds.

 

Kirk: You think you can get through to that thing?

 

Spock: Possible.

 

Kirk: Mr Spock,.... I know it's a terrible personal lowering of mental barriers, but if theres a chance......

 

SPOCK: I'll try.

(Spock approaches the creature which backs away. He clips his phaser to his belt and is able to get closer. He raises his hands and establishes a 'no-contact' meld)

SPOCK: Ahh! Pain! Pain! Pain! (he breaks the meld and staggers back) That's all I got, Captain. Waves and waves of searing pain. It's in agony.

(The creature climbs onto a rock ledge and etches letters into it.)

 

KIRK: "No kill I." What is that, a plea for us not to kill it, or a promise that it won't kill us?

 

SPOCK: I don't know, Captain. Evidently, it gained an immediate knowledge of us from its empathy with me. In my brief contact with the creature's mind, I discovered it is a highly intelligent, extremely sophisticated animal. In great pain, of course, because of its wound, but not reacting at all like a wounded creature. It calls itself a 'Horta'.

 

KIRK: A Horta? A Horta?! Mister Spock, we need that retardation mechanism. You must re-establish communications with it.

 

SPOCK: Captain, it has no reason to give us the device, and apparently every reason for wishing us off this planet.

 

KIRK: Yes, I'm aware of that. If we could only win its confidence. Doctor McCoy, this is Captain Kirk.

 

McCoy (off camera): Yes Captain?