Is There in Truth No Beauty? (episode)

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"Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
TOS, Episode 3x07
Production number: 60043-62
First aired: 18 October 1968
Remastered aired: 22 March 2008
←  63rd of 80 produced in TOS  →
←  60th of 80 released in TOS  →
←  62nd of 80 released in TOS-R  →
←  60th of 911 released in all  →

A beautiful woman escorts an alien ambassador so hideously ugly that the sight of him can drive a human insane.

Summary

Teaser

The Enterprise is assigned to transport the Medusan ambassador Kollos back to his homeworld. Brilliant navigators with unique mental abilities, the Medusans are so different physically that any Humans go insane at the mere sight of them. Vulcans, however, can view them by wearing a protective visor.

The ambassador (in a protective box) beams aboard along with Dr. Miranda Jones and Larry Marvick, one of the designers of the Enterprise's engines.

Act One

Jones is a telepath who studied on Vulcan for four years to learn (among other things) the ability to shut out the thoughts and emotions of others. She claims to be able to look upon the Medusans with no ill effects as a result of her Vulcan training.

At dinner in full dress, Dr. Jones tells Kirk, Scott (in a kilt), McCoy and Marvick that she studied on Vulcan how to temper her telepathic abilities and not go mad. Because of this training, her mission (which Spock had turned down) is to attempt to establish a mind link with the Medusans as a preliminary step toward Medusans becoming navigators on starships. Marvick's part will be to adapt the instrumentation to meet the needs of those navigators. She points out that Spock is wearing an IDIC, but he reassures her that he wears it to honor her and not to suggest that he could more easily use the Vulcan mind meld to communicate with the Medusans.

McCoy wonders aloud why someone would risk going mad by attempting this research. Spock chides McCoy for subscribing to the "outmoded notion promulgated by your ancient Greeks that what is good must also be beautiful." Kirk concedes that one of our last prejudices is to be attracted to what is beautiful, and makes a toast to Jones, "the most beautiful woman to grace a starship." Jones wonders why McCoy would look on disease and suffering for the rest of his life, and he then gives a toast "to whatever she wants the most." Before they take another drink, Jones receives the sensation that someone nearby is thinking of murder. The feeling passes but she excuses herself.

It turns out that Marvick loves Jones. He comes to her quarters and pleads with her not to go with Kollos, but she rejects him. She then realizes that it's Marvick who wants to commit murder, and she urges him to seek help, but he leaves. Marvick tries to kill Kollos with a hand phaser, but looks upon him during the attempt. He goes mad and runs out of Kollos' room in a frenzy.

Act Two

An insane Marvick heads to engineering. Scotty, thinking Marvick has taken him up on his previous bet that he wouldn't be able to handle the controls he helped design, gives Marvick the controls. As he does, Kirk makes a shipwide announcement that Marvick has attempted to murder Kollos, that he is insane and extremely dangerous. Scotty tries to wrestle Marvick away from the controls, but Marvick attacks him and his staff and speeds the Enterprise past warp factor 9.5 which propels them through the Galactic barrier and into an uncharted void far outside the Milky Way Galaxy. Kirk, McCoy and a security team with Dr. Jones rush to engineering to stop Marvick. He takes one look at Jones and suddenly dies of sheer terror.

Act Three

The Enterprise is now stranded in an uncharted void with no known points of reference by which to return to normal space. Spock says that in going beyond warp 9.5, the Enterprise entered a space-time continuum and left the galaxy. Kirk wonders whether Kollos with his superior navigational abilities can get the ship home; however, in order for the attempt to take place Spock must mind meld with Kollos so that Kollos can provide the navigational skill while Spock physically pilots the ship.

Jones objects to this plan, insisting that she is better trained to link with a Medusan, but Dr. McCoy has surmised her secret and reveals that she is blind and therefore unable to pilot a starship. Jones admits that she hides her blindness because she hates the pity of others. She has been using a sensor web worn over her clothes to feign sight. She is jealous of what she perceives as Spock's superior mind meld capabilities and his ability to physically look upon Kollos. Jones argues that her sensor web gives her more detailed information than human vision. Nonetheless, Kirk insists that she communicate with Kollos to understand that it is necessary for Spock to meld with Kollos.

Kollos is brought to the bridge, and Spock initiates the mind meld. Kollos speaks through Spock, recognizing Kirk as an "old friend," McCoy and Uhura. Kollos/Spock succeeds in returning the Enterprise to normal space by taking the helm. Before returning Kollos notes "how compact these bodies are" and how "remarkable" language is, but that humans are "so alone, you live out your lives in this shell of flesh...terribly lonely." However, when the time comes to break the link, Kollos/Spock forgets the visor and looks upon Kollos in its native form. Spock arises from behind the shield stunned, and begins attacking crewmembers, until Kirk has to stun him with a phaser in which he may die as a result. Spock is taken to sick bay, where Jones must mind meld with Spock to save his life.

Act Four

Jones, with her Vulcan training, may be able to repair Spock's damaged mind, but she is reluctant to do so. Kirk enters sick bay, but Jones cannot recognize him, as she has removed her sensor web. Jones argues that she cannot help Spock, because his "mind has gone down too much". Kirk confronts her with her jealousy of Spock's ability and accuses her of not wanting Spock to recover, telling her that the "ugliness is within you." Jones refuses to acknowledge the truth of her jealousy, telling Kirk to go away. Kirk leaves and tells McCoy that if Jones lets Spock die, that it was because Jones could not stand to hear the truth. Jones decides to help Spock, and successfully melds with and heals Spock. As a result, Jones gains her desired ability to link with Kollos to the same level that Spock can.

In the transporter room, Jones meets Kirk and tells him that his words enabled her to see; Kirk gives her a rose. Jones tells Spock that she understand the great joy Spock felt upon linking with Kollos, and Spock is pleased that she understands. They wish each other peace and long life before Jones beams to the Medusan ship.

Log Entries

• Captain's log, stardate 5630.7. We have been assigned to convey the Medusans' ambassador to the Federation back to their home planet. While the thoughts of the Medusans are the most sublime in the galaxy, their physical appearance is exactly the opposite. They have evolved into a race of beings who are formless, so utterly hideous that the sight of a Medusan brings total madness to any human who sees one.

• Captain's log, stardate 5630.8. As a result of Larry Marvick's insane fears, the Enterprise lies derelict in uncharted space. We have no way to determine our position in relation to the galaxy. We are in a completely unknown void.

• Captain's log, supplementary. Our one chance to return to our own galaxy is dependent upon the navigational skills of the Medusan ambassador. With that end in view, Kollos has been brought to the bridge and placed behind a protective shield.

Memorable Quotes

"Ambassador Kollos often finds the process of transport somewhat unsettling."
"I understand. Our ship's surgeon often makes the same complaint."

- Miranda and Spock, in the ambassador's quarters

"Vulcan is not my idea of fun."

- McCoy, upon learning that Miranda studied on Vulcan for four years

"I think most of us are attracted by beauty and repelled by ugliness. One of the last of our prejudices. At the risk of sounding prejudiced, gentlemen, here's to beauty."

- Kirk, toasting Miranda

"Don't love her! Don't love her! She'll kill you if you love her! I love you, Miranda."

- Marvick's last words

"A madman got us into this and it's beginning to look as if only a madman can get us out."

- Chekov, on the galactic void

"In some ways, she is still most Human captain, particularly in the depth of her jealously."

- Spock, to Kirk on Miranda Jones

"My compliments to you. And to your dressmaker."

- Spock to Miranda, upon realizing that she is blind

"And Uhura, whose name means freedom. She walks in beauty, like the night."
"That's not Spock."
"Are you surprised to find that I've read Byron, Doctor?"
"That's Spock!"

- Spock and McCoy, after Spock mind-links with Kollos

"This thing you call language though, most remarkable. You depend on it for so very much. But is any one of you really its master?"

- Spock, speaking as Kollos after the Enterprise escapes from the void

"With my words, I'll make you hear such ugliness as Spock saw when he looked at Kollos with his naked eyes! The ugliness is within you!"

- Kirk to Miranda, as she refuses to heal Spock

"Now, Spock, this is to the death. Or to life for both of us."

- Miranda, before healing Spock

"I suppose it has thorns."
"I never met a rose that didn't."

- Miranda and Kirk, as he gives her a flower in the transporter room

"The glory of creation is in its infinite diversity."
"And the ways our differences combine to create meaning and beauty."

- Miranda and Spock, before she departs

Background Information

• The Vulcan IDIC was inserted into the script and into the episode at the behest of Gene Roddenberry, who wanted to sell the prop as an item at his Lincoln Enterprises. Nimoy, Shatner, and others were outraged at this, and Roddenberry was called to the set to negotiate with the actors. Finally, he agreed to rewrite the dinner scene. The IDIC symbol was used, but in a much less prominent way. [1]
• When Jessica Walter, the original actress proposed for the role of Miranda Jones became unavailable and a search for a replacement was fruitless, director Ralph Senensky recommended Diana Muldaur for the role, since they'd worked together the previous season in "Return to Tomorrow" and also in an episode of I, Spy. According to Senensky there was a policy against the reuse of guest stars in different roles (a claim refuted by the large number of actors who did, in fact, return to the series in multiple roles). This problem was solved by having Muldaur wear a dark black wig, creating a different appearance for the actress. After viewing the rushes, co-producer Robert H. Justman walked out of the screening room saying, "I wonder how she looks in a red wig", jokingly referring to another possible appearance by Muldaur in a potential fourth season. [2] [3]
• According to the Star Trek 30th anniversary book, Mike Minor painted the pictures of exotic planets seen in the dining room. They reappeared in Kirk's quarters in other third-season episodes.
• The arboretum (which was located on the swing set of Desilu Stage 10) was originally built for "Elaan of Troyius", but its appearance ended up as a deleted scene. Apart from this episode, it was only seen in "And the Children Shall Lead". Actually, it is generally "assumed" that this is the arboretum. On entering, Kirk says, "I may be sentimental, but this is my favorite place: Earth" – possibly indicating that this is Roddenberry's half-hearted attempt at introducing a "holography area," which he had planned for the next season (and which he promised to NBC executives in a pre-season letter). However, since Kirk gives Dr. Jones a non-holographic red rose at the end of the episode, indications are strong that the room was not a projection. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story), [4]
• This is one of only two instances in which Scotty wears a dress uniform complete with ancestral tartan. But whereas he wears white socks in this episode, in "The Savage Curtain" he wears red ones.
• Matt Jefferies designed the container that held Ambassador Kollos.

Leaving the barrier

• Shots of the Enterprise in the galactic void are recycled from "Where No Man Has Gone Before". It is never made clear exactly where the Enterprise had been thrown; speculation includes a return trip to the galactic barrier, an earlier trip to the Great Barrier seen in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, or to some other distant location in space, perhaps even outside the normal space-time continuum.
• A very rare stock shot of the Enterprise is used when the ship warps towards the barrier under Marvick's control: it is taken from the opening of "The Cage" (just before the "Guest Star Susan Oliver" credit) and shows the Enterprise at high speed blasting towards the camera. The same shot is reused later in "That Which Survives".

Leslie's last watch

• This was Eddie Paskey's last appearance in the series.
• This is the third and last episode of the original series to include a question mark in the title (the other episodes being "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "Who Mourns for Adonais?").
• When David Frankham guest-starred on the The Outer Limits episode "Do Not Open Till Doomsday", his character was also the victim of an alien hidden in a box which injured those who glimpsed it.
• The vibrant animated effects used to represent the form of the Medusan, and the momentary insert shots of the receptacle (during the dinner scene for example) were added in post-production, without director Ralph Senensky's knowledge or approval. [5]
• This is the last appearance of antigravs in the series.
• Despite Dr. McCoy's insistence that Dr. Jones cannot pilot the Enterprise due to her blindness, by the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Geordi La Forge; a blind man, was the helmsman of the Enterprise-D during the first season.
• There are several references to Shakespeare in this episode. Miranda was the name of Prospero's virginal daughter in The Tempest. Spock/Kollos and Miranda also reference the play when Kollos sees Miranda for the first time through humanoid eyes: "O brave new world, That has such creatures in't." To which Miranda answers, "'Tis new to thee." (Spock/Kollos says "...such creatures...", a common misquotation; the play's line is actually "...such people...")
• The episode title is from a poem by the 17th century English poet and clergyman George Herbert, from his poem "Jordan (I)", line 2: "Who says that fictions only and false hair/ Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty?"
• This was an unsolicited script which Robert Justman read and recommended.
• In the third season blooper reel, Diana Muldaur blows one of her last lines by saying "We've come to the end of an eventful... trip." To which Shatner ad-libs, "I don't know what you've been taking..."

Medusan vessel rendezvous with the USS Enterprise

• The remastered version of this episode replaced the Medusan homeworld effect with that of a newly-designed Medusan vessel. It strongly resembles one of the early sketches that art director Matt Jefferies drew of the USS Enterprise, as reproduced in The Making of Star Trek.
• This episode included a rare glimpse of the seldom seen left side of the bridge opposite the turbolift.

Production timeline

• Story outline by Jean Lisette Aroeste, 24 May 1968
• First draft teleplay, 18 June 1968
• Revised final draft teleplay, 26 June 1968
• First draft script, 5 July 1968
• Filmed 16 July 1968 – 24 July 1968
• Score recording, 6 September 1968
• Original airdate, 18 October 1968
• Rerun airdate, 10 June 1969
• First UK airdate 20 October 1971

Video and DVD releases

• Original US Betamax release: 1986
• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 32, catalog number VHR 2384, 1 October 1990
• US VHS release: 15 April 1994
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 3.3, 6 October 1997
• Original US DVD release (single-disc): Volume 31, 28 August 2001
• As part of the TOS Season 3 DVD collection
• As part of the TOS-R Season 3 DVD collection

Links and references

Starring

• William Shatner as Kirk

Also starring

• Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
• DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

Guest star

• Diana Muldaur as Dr. Miranda Jones

Co-starring

• David Frankham as Larry Marvick
• James Doohan as Scott
• George Takei as Sulu
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• Walter Koenig as Chekov

Uncredited co-stars

• William Blackburn as Hadley
• Frank da Vinci as Brent
• Vince Deadrick as engineer
• Lou Elias as engineer
• Roger Holloway as Roger Lemli
• Eddie Paskey as Leslie
• Jeannie Malone as Yeoman
• Bob Bralver as Yeoman

Stunt double

• Ralph Garrett as David Frankham's stunt double

References

Antarean brandy; antigrav; "Bones"; centimeter; dressmaker; Earth; Federation; IDIC; Kollos; Lord Byron; Medusans; Medusan homeworld; Medusan vessel; meter; Milky Way Galaxy; mind-link; red alert; sensor web; telepathy; visor; Vulcan; Vulcans; Vulcan salute; warp drive

External links

• Template:NCwiki
• ""Is There in Truth No Beauty?"" at MissionLogPodcast.com, a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast

Previous episode produced: "Spock's Brain"	Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3	Next episode produced: "The Empath"
Previous episode aired: "And the Children Shall Lead"		Next episode aired: "Spectre of the Gun"
Previous remastered episode aired: "That Which Survives"	TOS Remastered	Next remastered episode aired: "Elaan of Troyius"