Star Trek (TV Series)

Spectre of the Gun (1968)

William Shatner: Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

Photos 

Quotes 

• Capt. Kirk : In the late nineteenth century in Arizona, two factions fought for control of the town Tombstone. The Earps - Morgan, Virgil and Wyatt - who were the town marshals, along with Doc Holliday.

  Spock : And the Clanton gang. On October 26th, they... had it out.

  Chekov : Who won?

  Capt. Kirk : The Clantons lost, Mr. Chekov.

  Chekov : And we... are... the Clantons?

• Melkotian Buoy : [voice]  Aliens. You have encroached on the space of the Melkot. You will turn back immediately. This is the only warning you will receive.

  Spock : Vulcan, Captain.

  Capt. Kirk : English.

  Chekov : It was Russian, sir. Every word.

  Uhura : No, Captain, it was Swahili.

  Capt. Kirk : Interesting. Telepathy.

  Spock : Unquestionably. Most impressive.

• Capt. Kirk : [as Sylvia kisses Chekov passionately]  Um, Mr. Chekov?

  Chekov : [slowly disengaging]  What can I do, Keptin? You know we're always supposed to maintain good relations with the natives.

• [Morgan Earp has shot a man] 

  Spock : Is this a dead man, Doctor?

  McCoy : Very dead, Mr. Spock.

  Capt. Kirk : That's one thing we can be sure of here. Death is real.

• [last lines] 

  Spock : This afternoon, you wanted... to kill. Didn't you?

  McCoy : But he didn't kill, Mr. Spock.

  Spock : But he wanted to, Doctor.

  Capt. Kirk : Is that the way it seemed to you, Mr. Spock?

  Spock : Yes, Captain.

  Capt. Kirk : Mr. Spock - you're absolutely right. That's exactly the way it was.

  Spock : Mankind - ready to kill.

  Capt. Kirk : That's the way it was in 1881.

  Spock : I wonder how Humanity managed to survive.

  Capt. Kirk : We overcame our instinct for violence.

• Capt. Kirk : Who do you think I am?

  Ed : Ike Clanton. Who do YOU think you are?

  Capt. Kirk : Well, I know this is hard to understand, but I'm Captain James T. Kirk of the spaceship Enterprise. These men are part of my crew. We're not really here. We're from the future.

  [Ed starts to laugh] 

  Capt. Kirk : We haven't been born yet!

  [Ed laughs heartily] 

  Capt. Kirk : Feel the material in my shirt. And now feel the material in your own shirt. Do you notice any difference?

  Ed : Nope.

  Capt. Kirk : [getting exasperated]  Do these clothes look like yours?

  Ed : Mmm, not exactly.

  Capt. Kirk : Have you ever seen clothes like this before?

  Ed : Sure.

  Capt. Kirk : Where?

  Ed : On the Clantons.

  [laughs] 

  Ed : You Clantons are always great with your jokes. That's why we like you.

  Capt. Kirk : I'm not joking.

  Ed : Only difference between you and the Earps is that they never joke.

  Capt. Kirk : I'm not joking! I'm not Ike Clanton!

  Ed : [laughs]  It's okay with me, Ike. Anything you say. Don't make no difference who I think you are. Your problem is: who does Wyatt Earp think you are?

• Melkotian : [voice]  You, Captain Kirk, the disobedience was on your orders. Yours is the responsibility. Yours shall be the pattern of your death.

  Capt. Kirk : We come in peace. But we'll defend ourselves if necessary.

  Melkotian : [voice]  You are outside. You are disease. The disease must be destroyed. Your plea has been heard, and sentence has been pronounced. It is done.

• [Chekov has been shot dead] 

  Spock : Gentlemen, there is one thing which requires the immediate attention of all of us. Specifically, our future.

  Capt. Kirk : But not this minute, Spock. It takes us... a little longer.

  Spock : I understand the feeling, Captain.

  McCoy : You talk about another man's feelings. What do you feel, Spock?

  Spock : My feelings are not subject for discussion, Doctor.

  McCoy : Because there are no feelings to discuss!

• [Kirk and his landing party find themselves in a strange environment] 

  Spock : Obviously, this represents the Melkotian's concept of an American frontier town, circa... 1880.

  McCoy : It's just bits and pieces. It's incomplete.

  Spock : Perhaps the Melkotians have insufficient data about this era.

  Capt. Kirk : Or perhaps this is all they require to complete the pattern of our death.

• Mr. Spock : The object is beginning to emit M-rays of a highly unstable nature, Captain.

  Capt. Kirk : Lieutenant, sound red alert. Mr. Chekov, deflector shields on full.

  Uhura : [background]  All decks, red alert.

  Chekov : Deflectors on full, sir.

  Capt. Kirk : Gun crews, lock on target.

  Mr. Spock : Energy output increasing beyond measurable levels, Captain.

• Capt. Kirk : Where's Chekov?

  Spock : Mr. Chekov is involved, Captain.

• Capt. Kirk : [as McCoy wipes Kirk's split lip with bourbon]  Ouch!

  McCoy : What's the matter?

  Capt. Kirk : What do you call that stuff? Fire?

  McCoy : [reading the label]  Taos Lightning, straight bourbon. Try some. In small amounts, it was considered medicinal.

  Capt. Kirk : Well, label it "For external use only".

• Capt. Kirk : I can't just kill 'em! I can't murder them! I can't kill them!

  Johnny Behan : Kill 'em any way ye can! There'll be no questions asked. Honest! I-I guarantee that.

• Capt. Kirk : Ten minutes. And it's all gonna end at the OK Corral.

• Melkotian : You did not kill. Is this the way of your kind?

  Capt. Kirk : It is. We prefer the ways of peaceful contact. I speak for a vast alliance of fellow creatures who believe in the same thing. We have sought you out to join us. Our mission is still one of peace...

  Melkotian : [a long pause]  Approach our planet and be welcome. A delegation will come out to meet you. Our warning threats are over.