Star Trek (TV Series)

For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky (1968)

William Shatner: Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dr. McCoy : [as an old man enters the room]  Gentlemen, I believe we have a visitor.

  Old Man : [bows, then passes out bits of herbs]  For strength. Many of us have felt the power of our Oracle. This has been of benefit.

  Dr. McCoy : Tastes like an ancient herb derivative.

  Old Man : You are... not of Yonada.

  Captain James T. Kirk : No, we're from outside your world.

  Old Man : Where... is outside?

  Captain James T. Kirk : Up there. Outside, up there, everywhere.

  Old Man : So they say, also.

  Old Man : [winces in pain]  Many years ago, I climbed the mountains, even though it is forbidden.

  [winces again] 

  Captain James T. Kirk : Why is it forbidden?

  Old Man : I am not sure.

  Old Man : [another wince]  But things are not as they teach us. For the world is hollow, and I have touched the sky!

• Captain James T. Kirk : [to McCoy]  You seem to be the special favorite.

  Mr. Spock : Indeed, Doctor. The young lady did show a marked preference for your company.

  Dr. McCoy : Well, now, nobody can blame her for that, can he?

  Captain James T. Kirk : Personally, I find the lady's taste questionable; but she obviously prefers you, and you obviously don't seem to mind.

• Nurse Christine Chapel : I am a nurse first, Dr. McCoy, and a member of the crew of the Enterprise second.

  Dr. McCoy : You're excused! You may return to your quarters.

  Nurse Christine Chapel : No, I'm sorry, Doctor! I have called the Captain, and I'll wait until he comes!

  Captain James T. Kirk : [enters]  What's the emergency?

  Dr. McCoy : [loudly]  I said you're excused, Nurse!

  Dr. McCoy : [quietly]  Please, Christine. I promise you I'll give the Captain a full report.

  [Nurse Chapel exits] 

  Captain James T. Kirk : That was quite a scene.

  Dr. McCoy : I've just completed the standard physical examinations for the entire crew.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Excellent. What's the emergency?

  Dr. McCoy : The crew is fit. I found nothing unusual, with one exception.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Serious?

  Dr. McCoy : Terminal.

  Captain James T. Kirk : What is it?

  Dr. McCoy : Xenopolycythemia. It has no cure.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Who?

  Dr. McCoy : He has one year to live at the most.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Who is it?

  Dr. McCoy : The ship's Chief Medical Officer.

  Captain James T. Kirk : You?

  Dr. McCoy : I'll be most effective on the job in the time left if you'll keep this to yourself.

• Natira : [stiff and formal]  For what reason do you visit this world?

  Captain James T. Kirk : We come in friendship.

  The Oracle of the People : [loud thunderclap]  Then learn what it means to be our enemy, before you learn what it means to be our friend.

  [the landing party is immediately electrocuted into unconsciousness] 

• Mr. Spock : Incredible as it may seem, these people have no idea they're living on a spaceship.

  Captain James T. Kirk : I wonder how many generations have lived out their lives, and... been buried here, without ever knowing that their world is hollow?

• Captain James T. Kirk : [entering the transporter room with Spock to find McCoy ready to beam over with them]  Dr. McCoy, Mr. Spock and I will handle this.

  Dr. McCoy : Without me, Jim? You'd never find your way back.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [narrating]  Captain's log, stardate 5476.4. We are on a parallel course with Yonada. It is still on a collision course with Daran V. Our failure to correct its course, and the critical nature of Dr. McCoy's illness, made the extraordinary event of contact with Starfleet Command imperative.

• Captain James T. Kirk : [to Natira]  You are living inside a hollow ball.

• Mr. Spock : Captain, informing these people they're on a ship may be in violation of the Prime Directive of Starfleet Command.

  Captain James T. Kirk : No. The people of Yonada may be changed by the knowledge, but it's better than exterminating them.

  Mr. Spock : Logical, Captain.

  Captain James T. Kirk : And the three billion on Daran V.

  Mr. Spock : Also logical, Captain.

• Mr. Spock : [studying the inscriptions on a door]  The writing is definitely Fabrini, Captain. I recognize it.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Fabrini... Didn't the Fabrini sun go nova and destroy its planets?

  Mr. Spock : Yes. Toward the end, the Fabrini people lived underground as these people do, to protect themselves.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Some of them must have been put aboard this ship and sent to another planet. And these... are their descendants.

• [Spock has removed the obedience device from McCoy] 

  Natira : [about McCoy]  He is not part of our people. You've released him from his vow of obedience.

  Captain James T. Kirk : We have freed him, from the cruelty of your Oracle.