Chapel in the movies

[Doctorwhovian]

She's in a lot of TMP and more briefly in TVH of course (Although a larger scene with her and Sarek was cut). However, I'm curious why she didn't appear more in the other movies (Especially since Rand shows up in III and VI in addition to TMP and IV).


I know that the TWOK novelization has her as part of Enterprise's crew, but there's a lot of stuff in that novel that isn't in the film at all (and probably not the script either; the older novel adaptations did tend to put in a lot of extra stuff).

Maybe there simply wasn't room for her in the other films, or perhaps it was because of Paramount's treatment of Gene? Also if she appeared in V or VI some fans might've confused her with her TNG character, Troi's mother? Just kind of curious.

 

[Maurice]

A lot of TMP? She has one line on the bridge when Spock arrives, a single line in the exam room, a few lines in Ilia's quarters, like three lines in the Spock sickbay scene, and no lines when she pops onto the bridge at the tag.

She's nowhere in the other film scripts, nor is Rand. They did give them cameos in IV, but the dialog there isn't in the shooting script. I suspect that was Nimoy giving them a nod.

 

[Nightowl1701]

The only reason she was even in TMP was the same reason she was in TOS after being rejected along with the pilot by NBC: Gene. When Paramount chained Gene to an executive producer's desk (and told Harve Bennett "ignore everything this man says") following TMP, Majel - to her credit - chose to stand by her man and refused to appear in any of the other films. (It's not like there was room for her in the scripts anyway.) Leonard sweet-talked her into coming back for TVH since it was the 20'th anniversary, and only reluctantly cut the scene between her and Sarek when it became clear it didn't really add anything to the film.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The fan club I ran in the 80s and 90s received a letter from Gene and Majel in the lead-up to ST II (as did other clubs who corresponded with them), in which they explained Gene's misgivings with the script and that he would be indicating to fans as to his feelings on the final product by leaving off his credit if necessary. The letter explained that Majel had informed that she would be unavailable as Chapel, due to Gene's lack of involvement.

When "It's a Wrap!" was auctioning off the Paramount costumes, at least one TMP costume with Majel's tags (her medical scrubs) had been modified to match the changes made to McCoy's outfit in ST II. There is a dark haired woman in the sickbay scenes, who is probably wearing that style of outfit, but perhaps the costume people had also been anticipating Majel's cameo when they modified it.

Rand's role in ST III was added by Nimoy after the filming of ST III's principal photography. The spacedock cafeteria was filmed at ILM.

And yes, Nimoy personally requested that Chapel and Rand join ST IV. They are very definitely in the script. A set of script appendices have all the lines for the various starships' reports when the probe passes them, plus the dialogue of Chapel, Rand and other panel operators. Majel and Grace actually had a day at Majel's house, Grace told me, where they rehearsed their lines, although ultimately cue cards were used.
http://www.st-minutiae.com/academy/literature329/tvh.txt
(Scroll to end for four appendices.)

Rand was written into ST VI when she won an audience poll at a big Trek convention. It was almost Riley! Ultimately, one of Rand's scenes was given to Christian Slater - his Mom was casting director!

 

[Therin of Andor]

Leonard sweet-talked her into coming back for TVH since it was the 20'th anniversary, and only reluctantly cut the scene between her and Sarek when it became clear it didn't really add anything to the film.

10 INT. CORRIDOR 10

As we PAN Sarek INTO SHOT with COMMANDER CHAPEL,
Starfleet Medical Officer whose history in Star Trek is
known to all.

CHAPEL
Thank you for coming. It's not
going well.

SAREK
Am I to late to testify?

CHAPEL
I don't know.

Sarek raises an eyebrow, as they start out.

11 INT. FEDERATION COUNCIL CHAMBER - ANGLE ON ENTRY 11

As Sarek and Chapel enter in semi-darkness, while
events are taking place O.S. They look in wonder at:

12 SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 12

As it comes toward us, only to be wrecked and torn
apart by a series of explosions.

13 BACK TO SAREK, CHAPEL 13

Awed, seeing this for the first time.

14 ANGLE - (GIANT SCREEN) 14

As Enterprise streaks to its fiery death, watched in
LONG SHOT by Kirk and crew. Then as Kirk's face is
seen, CLOSE:

KLINGON VOICE
There! Hold the image, hold!

 

[EnriqueH]

I had been wondering about this as well.

The only reason she was even in TMP was the same reason she was in TOS after being rejected along with the pilot by NBC: Gene. When Paramount chained Gene to an executive producer's desk (and told Harve Bennett "ignore everything this man says") following TMP, Majel - to her credit - chose to stand by her man and refused to appear in any of the other films.

Is this for sure, or just an educated guess?

 

[Lance]

The only reason she was even in TMP was the same reason she was in TOS after being rejected along with the pilot by NBC: Gene. When Paramount chained Gene to an executive producer's desk (and told Harve Bennett "ignore everything this man says") following TMP, Majel - to her credit - chose to stand by her man and refused to appear in any of the other films.

Is this for sure, or just an educated guess?

See Therin of Andor's first post above.

It was widely known at the time in the fan circuit that Bennett and co were prepared to have her in the movie, but Majel turned it down out of principal in protest to Gene's being kicked upstairs. I doubt she would've been substantial in the script anyway, but still. Got to give her props that she didn't just take the money and run on this occasion...

She's nowhere in the other film scripts, nor is Rand. They did give them cameos in IV, but the dialog there isn't in the shooting script. I suspect that was Nimoy giving them a nod.

I like their little moment at the end, where they rush out to congratulate the crew after the hearing. It's a shame they don't have any (audible) dialogue in that last scene, but it's nice to see them there.

Was Rand in the script for Star Trek VI, though? Sure it's just another cameo, but her role *is* slightly more front-and-center in that one. She's in the very first scene.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Is this for sure, or just an educated guess?

One day I'll dig out the old letters they sent to ASTREX. The Roddenberrys received our newsletters for several decades and sent official letters back several times. One specifically said Majel was declining a part in ST II to stand by Gene.

Was Rand in the script for Star Trek VI, though? Sure it's just another cameo, but her role *is* slightly more front-and-center in that one. She's in the very first scene.

The role was scripted only as "Excelsior Communications Officer", and Grace Lee Whitney was voted into the part by fans at a convention, in a hands-up poll run by the ST VI publicist. In the end, it was down to Janice Rand and Kevin Riley - and Rand won. In the closing credits, note that there are two "Excelsior Communications Officer" notations, 'cos the scenes were split, at the last minute, for Whitney and Christian Slater.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Chapel has one line in TMP that cracks me up whenever I rewatch the film. When they're trying to awaken the memories of the real Lt. Ilia in the V'Ger probe, Chapel pulls out Ilia's Deltan headband and says, "Lt. Ilia once told me she wore this."

Not that she's seen Ilia wear it. No, that would make too much sense. Just that Ilia told Chapel that she wore the headband. Considering that Chapel most likely met Ilia only a few hours before she was absorbed by V'Ger (as that seemed to be the case with everyone onboard except for Decker), that must've been one scintillating conversation.

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Chapel. Say, here's a headband that I wore this one time. I'm not going to put it on right now, but I just wanted you to know that I wore it at one point in time."
"That's nice, dear. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go and do literally anything else."

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Chapel has one line in TMP that cracks me up whenever I rewatch the film. When they're trying to awaken the memories of the real Lt. Ilia in the V'Ger probe, Chapel pulls out Ilia's Deltan headband and says, "Lt. Ilia once told me she wore this."

Not that she's seen Ilia wear it. No, that would make too much sense. Just that Ilia told Chapel that she wore the headband. Considering that Chapel most likely met Ilia only a few hours before she was absorbed by V'Ger (as that seemed to be the case with everyone onboard except for Decker), that must've been one scintillating conversation.

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Chapel. Say, here's a headband that I wore this one time. I'm not going to put it on right now, but I just wanted you to know that I wore it at one point in time."
"That's nice, dear. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go and do literally anything else."

Nice observation.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

The role was scripted only as "Excelsior Communications Officer", and Grace Lee Whitney was voted into the part by fans at a convention, in a hands-up poll run by the ST VI publicist. In the end, it was down to Janice Rand and Kevin Riley - and Rand won. In the closing credits, note that there are two "Excelsior Communications Officer" notations, 'cos the scenes were split, at the last minute, for Whitney and Christian Slater.

Now, I know that Christian Slater wrangled a cameo because his mother, Mary Jo Slater, was the casting director for STVI, but how did they handle it with Grace Lee Whitley and Bruce Hyde? Did the studio confirm with both actors that they were available to reprise their roles before they did the fan vote, or did they wait & see who won the vote, and then approach the winning actor?

It seems like doing it either way would present problems. You either end up disappointing the losing actor after he/she was led to believe they might have a part in the film, or you run the risk of the winning actor not being available when you'd need them.

 

[Maurice]

Sorry, I misremembered the script bits for TVH. I've read so many drafts of these things I got that one mixed up.

 

[Maab]

10 INT. CORRIDOR 10

As we PAN Sarek INTO SHOT with COMMANDER CHAPEL,
Starfleet Medical Officer whose history in Star Trek is
known to all.

CHAPEL
Thank you for coming. It's not
going well.

SAREK
Am I to late to testify?

CHAPEL
I don't know.

Sarek raises an eyebrow, as they start out.

11 INT. FEDERATION COUNCIL CHAMBER - ANGLE ON ENTRY 11

As Sarek and Chapel enter in semi-darkness, while
events are taking place O.S. They look in wonder at:

12 SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE 12

As it comes toward us, only to be wrecked and torn
apart by a series of explosions.

13 BACK TO SAREK, CHAPEL 13

Awed, seeing this for the first time.

14 ANGLE - (GIANT SCREEN) 14

As Enterprise streaks to its fiery death, watched in
LONG SHOT by Kirk and crew. Then as Kirk's face is
seen, CLOSE:

KLINGON VOICE
There! Hold the image, hold!

Just a kindly reminder that we are still waiting for whoever has this VHS to stand up

Maab

 

[Lance]

Wow! Nice one Maab. Can't say I've ever seen that image before. I'd be genuinely intrigued to see such a deleted scene, if it still exists.....

 

[Maab]

Wow! Nice one Maab. Can't say I've ever seen that image before. I'd be genuinely intrigued to see such a deleted scene, if it still exists.....

It was first posted on The Official Deleted/Alternate Material Thread and it comes from this nice collection of deleted scenes pictures by user Pineapples101. Unfortunately he does not remember exactly where he first found the picture, probably here on TrekBBS, but I couldn't find the original poster.

Maab

 

[Therin of Andor]

When they're trying to awaken the memories of the real Lt. Ilia in the V'Ger probe, Chapel pulls out Ilia's Deltan headband and says, "Lt. Ilia once told me she wore this."

This is an artefact of the canned "Phase II" series. The answer is that Ilia isn't an emergency replacement for the woman killed with Sonak in the transporter accident, as some people assume. Obviously, Ilia had already reported to Dr Chapel, the CMO, for her physical days before, but she hasn't met the other crew yet. Maybe she helped her unpack, or visited her in her quarters?

Christopher Bennett develops Chapel's role even further in his novel, "Ex Machina". She has been working closely with the inducting of all the alien crewmembers to the ship.

 

[EnriqueH]

Yeah, that's one of the things I enjoyed about Ex Machina. We get a little more "day in the life" of this era.

 

[Therin of Andor]

how did they handle it with Grace Lee Whitley and Bruce Hyde? Did the studio confirm with both actors that they were available to reprise their roles before they did the fan vote, or did they wait & see who won the vote, and then approach the winning actor?

IIRC, it was an open vote, with people at the con suggesting numerous TOS actors whose characters would still be alive to be working with Sulu. It was reported on Usenet and GEnie. Whitney and Hyde were simply the two finalists. It was a publicity stunt at the convention; I'm fairly sure the actors weren't actually present, and had somebody "won" and didn't want to do it, no one was beholden to the decision. I do seem to remember that Bruce Hyde did a "Starlog" interview around this time.

 

[Maurice]

It's unsurprising that the quoted scene from IV was cut because it's not an "entrance" for Sarek, whereas his interrupting the Klingon Ambassador is.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

When they're trying to awaken the memories of the real Lt. Ilia in the V'Ger probe, Chapel pulls out Ilia's Deltan headband and says, "Lt. Ilia once told me she wore this."

This is an artefact of the canned "Phase II" series. The answer is that Ilia isn't an emergency replacement for the woman killed with Sonak in the transporter accident, as some people assume. Obviously, Ilia had already reported to Dr Chapel, the CMO, for her physical days before, but she hasn't met the other crew yet. Maybe she helped her unpack, or visited her in her quarters?

Christopher Bennett develops Chapel's role even further in his novel, "Ex Machina". She has been working closely with the inducting of all the alien crewmembers to the ship.

Well, the only reason people "assume" that Ilia was one of the "final crew replacements" that the Enterprise was waiting in dock for, as Kirk put it, is because that's what the movie implies, or really outright tells us, with Ilia's entrance and then with her evidently unexpected reuniting with Decker. It's Chapel's line about the headpiece that is the anomaly.