On-Screen Documents

[GSchnitzer]

Yes, that diagram was actually created in color for "Space Seed" using existing plane fuel pump reservoir blueprints. (The black and white image comes from an old fanzine reproduction of the image.)

All the detains can be found in in article by Dr. Dave Tilotta ("alchemist") at Star Trek History:

http://www.startrekhistory.com/article4.html

First off, I think the spoken dialog in which Mendez refers to "a half-Vulcan science officer named Spock" was merely a rhetorical way of saying, this is the exact same guy as your first officer.

. . . Then I think the prop document was written with two references to that unique-to-Star-Trek phrase as an in-joke, in that it exactly quotes the dialog. It wasn't meant to be readable on TV.

This. Mendez was simply driving the point home that "this man, who is now your second-in-command, is the same guy who served under Captain Pike and visited Talos IV thirteen years ago."

No one watching the episode on 1960s TV sets would have been able to read the the text on that page. I agree, the double reference to "half-Vulcan Science Officer Spock" was probably meant as an in-joke.

Thanks, Scotpens.

Here's a little-noticed document that always looked like abstract gibberish on TV, but wasn't. Scotty's technical journal:

http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/2x15hd/thetroublewithtribbleshd0449.jpg

I can't seem to find it now, but I once saw online that it's actually a Matt Jeffries drawing of a ship's phaser, colorized for this use. If I recall was like a ball-turret.

Edit: I found it. It's this, which was also used in "Space Seed" when Khan was looking at technical manuals:

http://www.trekplace.com/images/article10-pic002.jpg

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Thanks, King Daniel and Greg. I was unaware of that terrific article, and that's some deep research they did.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Perhaps there might be some reason to identify the biological origin of the 'signer' to show that the Talosian illusions didn't only affect humans. Any other "in-universe" ideas why this might be done?

I suppose it could be a compliment to the logical nature of Vulcans as well as their reputation for honesty. His being half-Vulcan lending to the integrity of the report.

Though I have to admit it was the first thing I noticed reading it and it does read as a bit "off" to have that there.

 

[T'Girl]

I think it's a little odd that Mudd's rap sheet would include a reference to "Future Police"

There are a fair number of cities and towns scatter about the Americas named "Futura." Spanish for future (one of it's meanings).

Perhaps Future is the name of Harry Mudd's home planet.

The planet Future, where it's so bright you have to wear shades.

The line reads, "Future Police Record -- Code X731248."

As opposed to Earth Police Record -- Code X731248

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think it's a little odd that Mudd's rap sheet would include a reference to "Future Police"

There are a fair number of cities and towns scatter about the Americas named "Futura." Spanish for future (one of it's meanings).

Perhaps Future is the name of Harry Mudd's home planet.

The planet Future, where it's so bright you have to wear shades.

The line reads, "Future Police Record -- Code X731248."

As opposed to Earth Police Record -- Code X731248

Harry Mudd is in the "Minority Report".

 

[Maurice]

Singling out people people by labeling them for no functional reason is in poor taste at the very least because it attached significance to something which shouldn't matter.

Captain Robert April
BD+SM Junkie Jose Slapmybottom

 

[SonOfTed]

I remember reading a review of "Star Trek" many years ago. The author described how accurate the medical documents were in "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

He sincerely liked that, even though not everything was totally readable at a quick glance, someone had taken the time to circle a few things and write notes on them. They looked like images of actual medical documents that had been reviewed by actual doctors, even if you only caught a glimpse of them.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I remember reading a review of "Star Trek" many years ago. The author described how accurate the medical documents were in "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

He sincerely liked that, even though not everything was totally readable at a quick glance, someone had taken the time to circle a few things and write notes on them. They looked like images of actual medical documents that had been reviewed by actual doctors, even if you only caught a glimpse of them.

Agreed. Pre-HDTV, pre-Internet, and before most of us even had a VCR, Dr. Dehner's ESP Rating sheet was made public in the Bantam Fotonovel of WNM (1977). It was pretty neat to see it.

 

[Amaris]

Singling out people people by labeling them for no functional reason is in poor taste at the very least because it attached significance to something which shouldn't matter.

Captain Robert April
BD+SM Junkie Jose Slapmybottom

Hmm. I need to call in Ensign Slapmybottom for his annual physical.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Hmm. I need to call in Ensign Slapmybottom for his annual physical.

Well, he sees a lot of "doctors." You have to book him a month in advance.

 

[Shik]

I like the 23rd Century racism.

Captain Christopher Pike
Half-Vulcan Science Officer Spock

While we're talking about it, what about the sexism?
Where was Number One's name on that document?

Isn't a woman's name good enough ?

She was actually captured by the Talosians and outranked Spock so her opinion should be more relevant.

It would be, except she's a woman, & it wasn't a review of a cake recipe.

 

[scotpens]

I think it's a little odd that Mudd's rap sheet would include a reference to "Future Police"

There are a fair number of cities and towns scatter about the Americas named "Futura." Spanish for future (one of it's meanings).

Perhaps Future is the name of Harry Mudd's home planet.

The planet Future, where it's so bright you have to wear shades.

It has the shiniest floors in the galaxy.

 

[Hober Mallow]

I like the 23rd Century racism.

While we're talking about it, what about the sexism?
Where was Number One's name on that document?

Isn't a woman's name good enough ?

She was actually captured by the Talosians and outranked Spock so her opinion should be more relevant.

It would be, except she's a woman, & it wasn't a review of a cake recipe.

Half-Woman First Officer Number One.

 

[F. King Daniel]

^

 

[scotpens]

Half-Woman First Officer Number One.

Hmmmm . . . I wonder, what was the other half?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ There was one Trek novel which had a kind of weird-ass backstory for Number One, that she came from some planet of genetically engineered intellectual giants or something like that, and their names are all "Number [xxx]" depending on how smart they are.

Me, I prefer the simpler version, that Number One is actually

Spoiler: New Frontier I think

Morgan Primus or Lefler or whatever the hell her last name is this week.

 

[F. King Daniel]

^ There was one Trek novel which had a kind of weird-ass backstory for Number One, that she came from some planet of genetically engineered intellectual giants or something like that, and their names are all "Number [xxx]" depending on how smart they are.

Me, I prefer the simpler version, that Number One is actually

Spoiler: New Frontier I think

Morgan Primus or Lefler or whatever the hell her last name is this week.

...and (you missed the most important bit)...

Spoiler: Morgan Primus

An immortal being, thousands of years old. And deeply fucked up.

 

[Nerys Myk]

^ There was one Trek novel which had a kind of weird-ass backstory for Number One, that she came from some planet of genetically engineered intellectual giants or something like that, and their names are all "Number [xxx]" depending on how smart they are.

Me, I prefer the simpler version, that Number One is actually

Spoiler: New Frontier I think

Morgan Primus or Lefler or whatever the hell her last name is this week.

I prefer there be no connection between characters played by the same actors.

 

[scotpens]

I seem to recall a fanfic that retconned Number One and Nurse Chapel as sisters. Or identical cousins, or something.

Hmmm . . . someone ought to come up with a parody of the Patty Duke Show theme . . .

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just don't see why "Number One" has to be anything other than what it obviously is: a way to refer to a ship's XO, as has been done for centuries.