Arena: I'm losing my mind!

[Captrek]

Arena: What are they saying?

In Arena, when we hear the voiceover of the first captain’s log, we see Kirk and Spock talking but can’t hear what they’re saying. Anyone know what they’re saying? It looks like it might be possible to read lips for a lot of it.

It starts at about the 3:05 mark of the episode on YouTube.

 

[StarryEyed]

One of the Trek books mentions "nattering and groomishing." In such a situation, one actor will say, "natter, natter, natter" while the second will respond with, "groomish, groomish."

Or some such variant.

 

[Christopher]

One of the Trek books mentions "nattering and groomishing." In such a situation, one actor will say, "natter, natter, natter" while the second will respond with, "groomish, groomish."

Grommishing, actually. That's from David Gerrold's The Trouble With Tribbles behind-the-scenes book (or was it The World of Star Trek?). But it's more something extras do in a crowd scene. Probably, either Shatner and Nimoy were improvising or there was dialogue in the script that was left out of the final edit.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

^^^The latter.

From the November 3, 1966 Final Draft. After Kirk tells Lang and O'Herlilhy and (it's Molton in the script, I think it was Kelowitz in the aired episode) to look for survivors, etc. we have the following, which I will not try to reproduce in standard script format:

The others leave as per their instructions. O'Herlihy bends to examine some of the wreckage as Spock and Kirk study the tricorder.

SPOCK: The human population of the Cestus Three outpost is listed as five hundred twelve. I get readings of less than half a dozen... widely scattered.

KIRK: The others are all dead?

SPOCK: They do not register.

O'HERLIHY: Captain!

O'Herlihy indicates some of the wreckage.

O'HERLIHY: Some of this was caused by something like phasers. But this... some kind of an internal explosion.

SPOCK: CAPTAIN!... Impulses from that direction. Very weak. Possibly a survivor.

KIRK: Come on, Bones.

The four of them move in the direction indicated by Spock, Kirk leading; all phasers ready.

TRUCKING SHOT THROUGH RUBBLE

KIRK: Who sent the message inviting us down here, Spock?

SPOCK: The answer to that will solve many mysteries, Captain. Obviously, someone who wanted you and your top tactical aides on the surface.

KIRK: Why?

McCOY (reacting off): Captain... over there.

End of script excerpt.

So I imagine it was some of the above dialogue. In this draft, the teaser does not end until after Kirk calls the Enterprise, tells Sulu to keep the screens up, etc.. I think I detail that in my review of the script, located by following the link below.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Christopher]

^Wow, I'm not surprised they cut that. It's all fairly redundant exposition.

 

[scotpens]

One of the Trek books mentions “nattering and groomishing.” In such a situation, one actor will say, “natter, natter, natter” while the second will respond with, “groomish, groomish.”

Grommishing, actually. That's from David Gerrold's The Trouble With Tribbles behind-the-scenes book (or was it The World of Star Trek?). But it's more something extras do in a crowd scene.

I thought it was “rhubarb, rhubarb.”

 

[Christopher]

^That too. There are various ones in use, so I gather.

 

[plynch]

also "Watermelon and pistachio nuts."

 

[Chrisisall]

Re: Arena: What are they saying?

In Arena, when we hear the voiceover of the first captain’s log, we see Kirk and Spock talking but can’t hear what they’re saying. Anyone know what they’re saying?

Nothing. Nothing at all.
It's all in your cordrazine hallucination.

 

[Gojirob]

I'll have to take a listen on my headphones off the BD. Once, while listening to TNG's 'Haven' through headphones, the reception scene had actual discernible background conversation.

 

[Forbin]

The one I'm familiar with from local theater is "Peas and carrots, peas and carrots..."

 

[plynch]

The one I'm familiar with from local theater is "Peas and carrots, peas and carrots..."

On Bizzarro world me say keys and parrots. And eat them both.

 

[FormerLurker]

Love the flavor?

 

[Therin of Andor]

But it's more something extras do in a crowd scene.

In the 70s, Australia had a very naughty, sometime comedic, late-night soap opera, "The Box", set in a TV station. One time, the actors playing actors were ordered by their "director" to say numbers to each other during a scene where they wouldn't be heard over some music to be added later.

The scene went like this:

Male: "Hello there 1 2 3 4."

Ditzy female: "Hello yourself 5 6 7 8."

Male: "Take a dip in the pool with me 9, 10, 11, 12?"

Ditzy female: "Yes, all right, we could 69 in there."

 

[22 Stars]

I think Siskel and Ebert used to just say 'and blah and blah and blah' over the closing credits after the balcony was closed.

 

[Captrek]

They should say something like “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet...”