I watched "
Shore Leave" again recently. It's a fun episode, I'll give you that. Nice to see the crew outside on an Earth-like planet, and a majority of the episode was spent outside (not many did).
But what I find befuddling is how long it took Kirk to recognize that the minds of the landing party were being read to manufacture people and objects. There is absolutely no credible way someone like Finnegan would just happen to be on a remote planet, looking like he did 15 years ago. If he's an illusion, then some intelligence is on the planet manipulating his mind. And then... projecting that into the minds of everyone, so they see him too? Kirk treats Finnegan like he's Finnegan... rather than an alien or some unbelievable hallucination.
As I'd see it:
FINNEGAN: You never know when I'm going to strike, huh, Jim? (hits him on the jaw) How's this? Come on, come on. It's me, Finnegan. All right, Jimmy boy. (maniacal laughter) Go ahead, lay one on me. That's what you always wanted, isn't it? Come on. Come on.
KIRK: You are not the Finnegan I once knew. He's living far, far away from here. You're a very accurate representation of him, but... Who are you, and what's happening to my people?
FINNEGAN: I never answer questions from plebes, Jimmy boy.
KIRK: I'm not a plebe. This is today, fifteen years later. You can't be Finnegan!
FINNEGAN: I'm being exactly what you expect me to be, Jimmy boy.
KIRK: This is getting nowhere. I know you're not an illusion. Your slug across my jaw sure felt real enough. So obviously someone went to a lot of trouble to scan my mind, find my memory of Finnegan, and... "manufacture" you. Am I right?
FINNEGAN: You sure are a smart one, Jimmy boy. I guess all that studyin' paid off for ya! (
maniacal laughter)
KIRK: OK, then. Change of plans. I don't need you to be Finnegan. Please take me to your creators!
FINNEGAN: No can do, Jim.
KIRK: Why not?
FINNEGAN: It's not the way the game is played, Jimmy boy.
KIRK: OK, well, why don't I beat the tar out of you until you're unconscious, then smack your head with a large rock so I can see what you're made of. How does that sound?
FINNEGAN: That wouldn't be very sportin' of ya, Jimmy! (
throws dirt in Kirk's face, then runs off)
OK, well... I guess he wouldn't have made much progress anyway.
