A Loose End from Star Trek III..?

[LMFAOschwarz]

I've been giving some of my old videotapes one last watch before throwing them out. Last night, I watched Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Driving home from work today, it occurred to me: from whom did Valeris purchase the Genesis data?

I would think it had to have been someone close to the source, namely the Regula One laboratory.

 

[EnriqueH]

Kirk.

They stopped at a Starbase on the way back to Earth, and she saw him at the bar looking depressed and forlorn, and tried to help him feel better. He takes her aboard the Enterprise to his quarters. At which point, she took the data tape from Kirk's quarters.

It's probably what Kirk is thinking about when he gets into the turbolift and wipes his nose.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Kirk.

They stopped at a Starbase on the way back to Earth, and she saw him at the bar looking depressed and forlorn, and tried to help him feel better. He takes her aboard the Enterprise to his quarters. At which point, she took the data tape from Kirk's quarters.

It's probably what Kirk is thinking about when he gets into the turbolift and wipes his nose.

It's funny you mention him 'wiping his nose', as I specifically noticed that last night. I haven't seen this in ages, and it popped up in my head that that was an odd thing to do. It works somehow, but I still thought "how odd!".

 

[Gassy Man]

I've been giving some of my old videotapes one last watch before throwing them out. Last night, I watched Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Driving home from work today, it occurred to me: from whom did Valeris purchase the Genesis data?

I would think it had to have been someone close to the source, namely the Regula One laboratory.

It's supposed to be Kirk's report, presumably, so a spy in Starfleet or in the Federation could be the source.

The script for Star Trek III is pretty weak all around . . . I was very disappointed when I saw it in 1984, expecting something as literate and multi-layered as Star Trek II. Instead, I got a movie that was mostly plot-driven and not all that remarkable. The best thing about it was that the camaraderie of the characters made the thin story work, but there were so many deficiencies, from disposing Kirk's son to the oddly humorous tone to the awful Robin Curtis to Kirk now being T.J. Hooker. The movie was the first real "reset" button in Star Trek, undoing everything the previous film had so carefully set up. It was a dopey film, campy in parts. I literally groaned during Kirk's whole hammy "Klingon bastards!" scene -- he screws up his face, does that Shatneresque faux voice cracking, sucks in his gut, and says it not once, not twice, but three times -- even though some fans actually buy it all. To me, it makes "Khan!" seem like Shakespeare.

 

[EnriqueH]

I love ST III.

It was the second film I ever saw in the cinema, and I'd watch it over and over.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

It accomplished what it set out to do, bring back Spock. I'll always wonder, though, what would have happened if Leonard Nimoy had not wanted/wasn't allowed to return...

 

[Melakon]

^ They would have had enough money to grant Kirstie Alley's salary demands.

 

[BillJ]

I love ST III.

Same here. Fun movie to watch.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Was Kirstie Alley even much of a "star" at that point? What justifies a bloated salary, if not?

I'm not knocking her, just curious.

 

[starshipfan]

What I've heard over the years is that it was Kirstie Alley's agent who turned the part down unless she got more money, without consulting her. As I said, this is just what I've heard, and I can't back it up. If true though, I hope she fired them.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I love ST III.

As do I. It's my favorite of the films. Saw it 7 times in the theater. 8 if you count a screening two months ago in Philadelphia.

 

[Memory Alpha]

You mean Valkris? It's also interesting that Kirk makes the presentation of it in TSFS, but Carol Marcus does it in TWOK. The fact that it's had time to hit the black market is surely a kind of anachronism. Kirk could have messaged it to Starfleet and it could have been intercepted, I don't know, but that's still fast.

I also always thought that surely Sarek could pull some strings to get Kirk a ship to get him back to the Genesis Planet. Something about Sarek always irked me, though. I can easily see why the relationship between Spock and him was strained, or the relationship between Sarek and anybody was strained.

But all this aside, I like TSFS a lot. It's all about the bond between Kirk, Doc, and Spock, and I love it. Though they are vulnerable in this one, they come through in a big way.

 

[Melakon]

Was Kirstie Alley even much of a "star" at that point? What justifies a bloated salary, if not?

I'm not knocking her, just curious.

TWOK in 1982 was her first screen credit. IMDB shows an uncredited bit on Richard Benjamin's show Quark in 1978, and as a contestant on Match Game PM in 1979.

What I've heard over the years is that it was Kirstie Alley's agent who turned the part down unless she got more money, without consulting her. As I said, this is just what I've heard, and I can't back it up. If true though, I hope she fired them.

It's entirely possible. When Leonard Nimoy was renegotiating his contract for TOS Season 2, he was unaware his agent had asked for a salary nearly double of Shatner's, and said he nearly had a heart attack when told.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

I also always thought that surely Sarek could pull some strings to get Kirk a ship to get him back to the Genesis Planet. Something about Sarek always irked me, though. I can easily see why the relationship between Spock and him was strained, or the relationship between Sarek and anybody was strained.

He was pretty useless, wasn't he? He sets up everyone else to take all the risks, while keeping his own hands nice and clean. Oh, well, at least after all was said and done, he "spoke on behalf of the accused" (or tried to) in the next movie. I wonder if he would have done that had Kirk failed to retrieve Spock? Kirk would still have faced the same charges. Imagine being on trial for, say, burning down someone's house, and all the while the person who put the idea in your head and talked you into it in the first place just sat in the courtroom watching.

 

[EnriqueH]

I also always thought that surely Sarek could pull some strings to get Kirk a ship to get him back to the Genesis Planet. Something about Sarek always irked me, though. I can easily see why the relationship between Spock and him was strained, or the relationship between Sarek and anybody was strained.

He was pretty useless, wasn't he? He sets up everyone else to take all the risks, while keeping his own hands nice and clean.

Well, he *IS* a politician of sorts, isn't he?

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

Well, he *IS* a politician of sorts, isn't he?

True, he is, at that...

Now I'm wondering some more. When Sarek showed up at the council in ST IV, to 'speak on behalf of the accused', he was told that the council's deliberations were over. Where was Sarek up until the time he showed up? Too busy? Was his conscience bothering him, and was going to 'fess up to his part in Kirk's escapade, but realized he could have it both ways by showing up late, thereby being able to say, "Well, I tried".

Now, I don't actually believe that was his motive, but it still makes me wonder what kept him fro the council's deliberations. After all that Kirk did, a little promptness doesn't seem like too much to ask for.

 

[Memory Alpha]

Well, he *IS* a politician of sorts, isn't he?

True, he is, at that...

Now I'm wondering some more. When Sarek showed up at the council in ST IV, to 'speak on behalf of the accused', he was told that the council's deliberations were over. Where was Sarek up until the time he showed up? Too busy? Was his conscience bothering him, and was going to 'fess up to his part in Kirk's escapade, but realized he could have it both ways by showing up late, thereby being able to say, "Well, I tried".

Now, I don't actually believe that was his motive, but it still makes me wonder what kept him fro the council's deliberations. After all that Kirk did, a little promptness doesn't seem like too much to ask for.

"Forgive me, T'Lar. My logic is uncertain where my son is concerned." The priestess pauses and then continues with the ceremony and pomp. Is that the line of a politician? Yup.

Something about Sarek always rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm now putting a finger on it. He either is nowhere as influential as he puts on, or he is self-serving and unwilling to go an inch out on a limb for anyone - in other words, he plays it safe. I lean strongly toward the latter. He knew Kirk would do everything is his power and more to save Spock, so he gives him a massive guilt lecture and then disappears. Hmm. I also seem to remember him sort of standing by in TUC while the President soul-searches.

I'm not saying he's some kind of a villain or anything at all, but he is a consummate politician who plays it safe. I guess I just wouldn't want to have to count on him. If the wind is going your way, he'll be there. If not, "Well, sorry, you know."

 

[C.E. Evans]

"Forgive me, T'Lar. My logic is uncertain where my son is concerned." The priestess pauses and then continues with the ceremony and pomp. Is that the line of a politician? Yup.

It's also the line of a father wanting to save his son.

Something about Sarek always rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm now putting a finger on it. He either is nowhere as influential as he puts on, or he is self-serving and unwilling to go an inch out on a limb for anyone - in other words, he plays it safe. I lean strongly toward the latter. He knew Kirk would do everything is his power and more to save Spock, so he gives him a massive guilt lecture and then disappears.

I doubt that Sarek intended for Kirk to the lengths he did to save Spock, though. At best, he probably hoped he could do something "admiralish" to get it done, rather than something personally extremely dangerous in every conceivable way.

SAREK: Kirk...I thank you. What you have done is...
KIRK: What I have done...I had to do.
SAREK: But at what cost? Your ship...your son...

Hmm. I also seem to remember him sort of standing by in TUC while the President soul-searches.

I always thought of Sarek as being the top diplomat when it comes to Federation-Klingon matters and a senior advisor to the Federation President at the time. I think during the TOS movie era, Federation-Klingon relations were kind of a hot topic politically.

 

[EnriqueH]

It's easy to look at Sarek a bit negatively.

When we see him for the first time since Journey to Babel, he's cold, negative and ripping Kirk a new one.

In IV, there's this big thing about his rejection of Spock's career. In V, he's shown in one scene---rejecting Spock. And in VI, he's just kinda there. Then in TNG, he's an old geezer with dementia, treating everyone like shit.

So yeah, he's not really ever seen in a positive light except maybe at the end of III.

 

[Memory Alpha]

It's also the line of a father wanting to save his son.

Without doubt! I just think he should have done something more than stand on the sideline and await the outcome if that's his admittedly emotional response. At least if the audience is to empathize with him.