Friday's Child
The Captain’s Log voice-over was used as an expository device
to quickly reveal plot details. Creatively, it also added to Star Trek’s
nautical “ship at sea” theme. One of the most understated
advantages of the Captain’s Log was that it saved money and production
time. That is, rather than filming an involved and expensive sequence,
the Log could simply be used to describe it. And conversely, if a filmed
sequence ran too long, it could be cut and replaced with a log entry – which
is what happened with the deleted scene shown below. This lengthy
scene was cut and replaced with a captains log entry as Kirk and company
walked through the countryside.
A spool with 38 seconds of film was found intact for one of the missing
scenes. Unfortunately, there is no audio track but subtitles have been
provided.
There is also a scene with some humorous dialog between
Kirk and Spock regarding Spock's ears.
This first scene is an unused wide shot showing Maab and his men around
a campfire examining the weapons and comunicators. Notice the two
seated tribesmen on the right. One is holding a phaser, the other
a communicator. The scene was to take place at night. I've updated
the look which you can see by clicking on Play.
EXT. CAPELLAN ENCAMPMENT - FULL SHOT - NIGHT to ESTABLISH
some Tribesmen seated on the ground around the campfire, which now
flutters bright flame. The Tribesmen sit in a square with one end
of it open. The open space is occupied by Maab. In the b.g. is Akaar's
tent, guarded. We see the Klingon, Kras, edge to move off in that
direction.
MAAB
Stay, Klingon. There is nothing to concern you there.
Kras has no choice but to move back to the fire.
KRAS
We have made our agreement, Maab. I have a right to my weapons.
Maab opens his robes, exhibits an Enterprise and a Klingon phaser
tucked into his belt. Keel and Duur exhibit Enterprise phasers also.
MAAB
We have them well cared for, Klingon. Your weapon will be returned
when our business is completed. That was our agreement.
INT. AKAAR'S TENT - CLOSE ON TENT WALL - NIGHT A knife blade is inserted
in the thin material, swiftly slashes a line down it. CAMERA PULLS
BACK to REVEAL Kirk and Spock slipping inside. They search the tent
hurriedly... suddenly Kirk discovers the belts with the communicators
still on them.
KIRK
Communicators. The phasers are gone.
Kirk and Spock start to look further... but McCoy sticks his head
and shoulders through the slit in the tent wall, calls softly, urgently:
MCCOY
Jim.
Kirk and Spock come away quickly, McCoy motions them out.
Kirk and Spock follow McCoy through the hole in the tent wall.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSHY AREA (BEHIND TENTS) - NIGHT A moment, to ESTABLISH the
dim outline of low scrub brush... perhaps in far b.g. the faint glow
of light from tents or campfire. Then the SOUND of hurrying FOOTSTEPS...
and the Enterprise men come INTO SHOT, ducking into cover with Eleen,
who stumbles heavily. McCoy tries to help her, she angrily brushes
him off.
CLOSER - ON KIRK He kneels, takes the communicator off the belt which
he is now wearing... snaps open the screen.
KIRK
Kirk to Enterprise. (waits, then) Enterprise, come in.
Spock comes in beside him now, holding his own communicator. Kirk
gives Spock a quizzical look.
ANGLE TO INCLUDE MCCOY Looking over Eleen worriedly.
MCCOY (to Eleen)
When is your child due?
ELEEN (ignores it; to Kirk)
Your vessel is gone?
KIRK
It'll return in time.
ELEEN
Maab will have you then. You are small by our measurements, you move
slowly, you have little strength...
She has a surge of pain, tries to hide it. McCoy reacts worriedly.
MCCOY
Pain? Is it the baby or the burned arm?
ELEEN (ignores him; to Kirk)
At this moment, my eyes see a hundred things yours do not. Maab's
will see a hundred things more. Your noses are weak. Maab and his
men can follow at night, using scent alone...
Another surge of pain.
MCCOY
Young lady, I'm a doctor!! I want to know what's hurting you?
ELEEN
I am a Capellan; I feel nothing.
MCCOY
Heroics won't help that baby of yours.
ELEEN
It is Akaar's child. I did not want it and I would kill it myself
if it would save me.
MCCOY (grabs her wrist)
You listen to me, Missy... you're not killing anything while I'm
here to prevent it. We intend to keep both you and your baby alive,
whether you want it or not. Hear me?
Eleen twists herself free, her face contorted with anger and loathing
for McCoy.
ELEEN
You are to be pitied. Does death frighten you so?
SPOCK (alert)
I can hear them, Jim.
KIRK
Good. One thing they can't match is your ears.
SPOCK
Exactly what do you mean by that, Captain?
KIRK
With your hearing, we can elude them. What did you think I meant?
SPOCK
The female is right, they must scent us. They move in this direction
now.
CAMERA MOVES IN CLOSE ON KIRK. He snaps the communicators in his
hand shut, his face set in firm decision. They all start to stand,
move out.
EXT. SPACE - THE ENTERPRISE flashing across the sparkling velvet
of deep space.
INT. ENTERPRISE BRIDGE - FULL SHOT - ANGLE ON MAIN VIEWING SCREEN
Only the wilderness of stars out there, nothing else.
ANOTHER ANGLE - COMMAND POSITIONS Sulu consults his instruments,
glances up at the main screen.
SULU
Approaching the freighter's last reported position, sir.
The script returns to what was televised.
Thanks to Audrey A. for the "Friday's
Child" script exerpt.
Thanks to Dave T. for the "Friday's
Child"clips
and the 38 second spool of film.
Thanks to Joseph A. of Pennsylvania for the unused
wide shot.