Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

1984 film directed by Leonard Nimoy

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Paramount Pictures, 1984) is the third feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. It is a direct sequel to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and has a similar feel, although often with a lighter, more humorous touch.

Directed by Leonard Nimoy. Written by Harve Bennett.
(Join the search.)

Dialogue edit

James T. Kirk: How much refit time before we can take her out again?
Montgomery Scott: Eight weeks, sir, but ye don't have eight weeks, so I'll do i' for ye in two.
Kirk: Mr. Scott, have you always multiplied your repair estimates by a factor of four?
Scott: Certainly, sir. How else can I keep my reputation as a miracle worker?
Kirk: Your reputation is secure, Scotty.

Uhura: Would you look at that?
James T. Kirk: My friends, the great experiment, the Excelsior, ready for trial runs.
Hikaru Sulu: She's supposed to have transwarp drive.
Montgomery Scott: [not impressed] Aye. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon.
Kirk: Come, come, Mr. Scott. Young minds, fresh ideas. Be tolerant.

Hikaru Sulu: The word, sir?
James T. Kirk: The word is no. I am therefore going anyway.
Sulu: You can count on our help, sir.
Kirk: Thank you, Mr. Sulu. I'll need it.
Pavel Chekov: Shall I alert Dr. McCoy?
Kirk: Please. He has a long journey ahead of him.

Arcturian: To your planet, welcome.
McCoy: I think that's my line, stranger.
Arcturian: Oh, forgive. I here am new. But you are known, being McCoy, from Enterprise.
McCoy: You have me at a disadvantage, sir.
Arcturian : I name not important. You seek I. Message received. Available ship stands by.
McCoy: How much, and how soon?
Arcturian : How soon is now. How much is...where.
McCoy: Somewhere in the Mutara Sector.
Arcturian: Ah, Mutara restricted! Take permits many! Money...more.
McCoy (irritated at the alien's mercenary attitude) There aren't going to be any damn permits! How can you get a permit to do a damn illegal thing?! Look: price you name - money I got!
Arcturian : Place you name, money I name, otherwise bargain no.
McCoy: Alright, dammit! It's Genesis! The name of the place we're going is Genesis!
Arcturian: Genesis?!
McCoy: Yes, Genesis! How can you be deaf, with ears like that?!
Arcturian : Genesis allowed is not! Is planet forbidden!
McCoy (grabbing the alien) Look, my backwards friend: Genesis may be "planet forbidden", but I'm damn well going t-

(He is interrupted by a big black guy)

Federation security officer : Sir, I'm sorry, but your voice is carrying. I don't think you want to be discussing this subject in public.
McCoy: I'll discuss what I like! And who in the hell are you?
Federation security officer : Could I offer you a ride home, Dr. McCoy?
McCoy: Where's the logic in offering me a ride home, you idiot? If I wanted a ride home, would I be trying to charter a space flight?! (The alien growls. McCoy realises something) How in the hell do you know who I am?
Federation security officer (holding up ID): Federation Security, sir.

(McCoy tries and fails to perform the Vulcan Neck Pinch. The officer is unimpressed)

Federation security officer: You're gonna get a nice long rest, Doctor.

James T. Kirk: [holding up a Vulcan salute to McCoy] How many fingers do I have up?
Leonard McCoy: That's not very damn funny.
Kirk: Well, your sense of humor's returned.
McCoy: The hell it has. [Kirk produces a hypospray] What's that?
Kirk: Lexorin.
McCoy: Lexorin? What for?
Kirk: You're suffering from a Vulcan mind-meld, Doctor.
McCoy: That green-blooded son of a bitch! It's his revenge for all those arguments he lost.

Captain Styles: Ah, Mr. Scott. Calling it a night?
Montgomery Scott: Uh, yes, sir.
Styles: Turning in myself. Looking forward to breaking some of the Enterprise's speed records tomorrow.
Scott: Ah, yes, sir. Good night.
Elevator voice: Level, please.
Scott: Transporter room.
Elevator voice: Thank you.
Scott: Up your shaft.

Captain Styles: [on the comm speakers] Kirk, you do this, you'll never sit in the captain's chair again.
James T. Kirk: Warp speed.

James T. Kirk: [as Excelsior's warp drive fails] Scotty, as good as your word.
Montgomery Scott: Aye, sir. The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain. Here, Doctor, souvenirs from one surgeon to another.[he hands McCoy some microchips]. I took them out of her main transwarp computer drive.
Leonard McCoy: Nice of you to tell me in advance.
Kirk: That's what you get for missing staff meetings, Doctor. Gentlemen, your work today has been outstanding. I intend to recommend you all for promotion (wry look) in whatever fleet we end up serving. Best speed to Genesis.

Saavik: It's time for total truth between us. This planet is not what you intended or hoped for, is it?
David Marcus: Not exactly.
Saavik: Why?
David: I used protomatter in the Genesis matrix.
Saavik: Protomatter, an unstable substance which every ethical scientist has denounced as dangerously unpredictable?
David: But it was the only way to solve certain problems. Only my mother knew nothing about it.
Saavik: So like your father, you changed the rules.
David: If I hadn't, it might have been years or never.
Saavik: How many have paid the price for your impatience? How many have died? How much damage have you done, and what is yet to come?

Kruge: I've come a long way for the power of Genesis, and what do I find? A weakling human, a Vulcan boy, and a woman.
Saavik: My lord, we are survivors of a doomed expedition. This planet will destroy itself in hours. The Genesis experiment is a failure.
Kruge: A failure? The most powerful destructive force ever created. You will tell me the secret of the Genesis torpedo.
Saavik: I have no knowledge.
Kruge: Then I hope pain's something you enjoy. [his communicator alerts] I ordered no interruptions!
Torg: But sir, a Federation starship is approaching!
Kruge: Bring me up!

James T. Kirk: David, what went wrong?
David Marcus: I went wrong.
Kirk: I don't understand.
David: I'm sorry, sir. Just don't surrender. Genesis doesn't work. I can't believe they'd kill us for it.
Kruge: Admiral, your young friend is mistaken, I meant what I said. And now to show that my intentions are sincere, I shall kill one of the prisoners.
Kirk: Wait a minute! Give me a chance to talk.
Kruge: [in Klingon] Kill one of them. I don't care which.

Kruge: Take every last man. Form a boarding party armed heavily.
Torg: They outnumber us.
Kruge: We are Klingons! Once you control the ship, we'll transfer our flag there and take Genesis from their own memory banks.

James T. Kirk: Mr. Sulu, what is the crew complement of a bird of prey?
Hikaru Sulu: About a dozen officers and men.
Kirk: With some of them on the planet. I swear to you, we're not finished yet. Bones, you and Sulu to the transporter room. The rest of you with me, we have a job to do. [loudly] Commander, Klingon vessel: prepare to board this ship on my next signal.
Kruge: [as his men move to form a boarding party] No tricks, Kirk. You have one minute.
Kirk: No tricks. I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Kruge: [turns to face his men; in Klingon] To the transporter room. Success!

James T. Kirk: Computer, this is Admiral James T. Kirk. Request security access. Computer, destruct sequence one, code 1, 1-A.
Montgomery Scott: Computer, Commander Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineering Officer. Destruct sequence two: code 1, 1-A, 2-B.
Pavel Chekov: Computer, this is Commander Pavel Chekov, Acting Science Officer. Destruct sequence three: code 1-B, 2-B, 3.
Computer: Destruct sequence completed and engaged. Awaiting final code for one minute countdown.
Kirk: Code zero, zero, zero, destruct zero.
Computer: Destruct sequence is activated. [its screens starting counting down from 60, as Kirk, Scotty and Chekov leave and make haste to the transporter room]

Torg: [as the boarding party reaches the bridge, which is empty; they are unaware the Enterprise is going to explode; into communicator] My lord, the ship appears to be deserted.
Kruge: How can that be? They're hiding!
Torg: Yes, sir. But the bridge is run by computer. It is the only thing speaking.
Kruge: [confused] Speaking? Let me hear.
Computer: [as Torg crosses to the computer and holds his communicator up] Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five --
Kruge: [realises that the Enterprise is going to explode; stands up and runs to the viewscreen; screaming, whilst the computer continues counting down] Get out! Get out of there! Get out!

[The Enterprise explodes, killing the boarding party]


James T. Kirk: [watching the Enterprise burn in the atmosphere; about to fall apart] My God, Bones. What have I done?
Leonard McCoy: What you had to do. What you always do: turned death into a fighting chance to live.

Kruge: Genesis. I want it!
James T. Kirk: Beam the Vulcan up and we'll talk.
Kruge: Give me what I want and I'll consider it.
Kirk: You fool! Look around you! The planet's destroying itself!
Kruge: Yes! Exhilarating, isn't it?
Kirk: If we don't help each other, we'll die here.
Kruge: Perfect. Then that's the way it shall be.

James T. Kirk: You, help us or die.
Maltz: I do not deserve to live.
Kirk: Fine. I'll kill you later.

T'Lar: Sarek, child of Skon, child of Solkar, the body of your son breathes still. What is your wish?
Sarek: I ask for fal-tor-pan, the refusion.
T'Lar: What you seek has not done since ages past, and then only in legend. Your request is not logical.
Sarek: Forgive me, T’Lar. My logic is uncertain where my son is concerned.
T'Lar: Who is the keeper of the Katra?
Leonard McCoy: I am: McCoy, Leonard H., son of David.
T'Lar: McCoy, son of David, Since thou art human, we cannot expect thee understand fully what Sarek has requested. Spock’s body lives. With your approval, we shall use all our powers to return to his body that which you possess. But McCoy, you must now be warned. The danger to thyself is as grave as the danger to Spock. You must make the choice.
McCoy: I choose the danger. [mutters to Kirk] Hell of a time to ask.

Sarek: Kirk, I thank you. What you have done is...
James T. Kirk: What I have done, I had to do.
Sarek: But at what cost? Your ship. Your son.
James T. Kirk: If I hadn't tried, the cost would have been my soul.

Spock: My father says that you have been my friend. You came back for me.
James T. Kirk: You would have done the same for me.
Spock: Why would you do this?
Kirk: Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.
Spock: I have been and ever shall be your friend.
Kirk: Yes. Yes, Spock.
Spock: The ship, out of danger?
Kirk: You saved the ship. You saved us all. Don't you remember?
Spock: Jim. Your name is Jim.
Kirk: Yes!

Miscellany edit

  • ...and the Adventure continues...
    • [Closing text.]

Main cast edit

Cast of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Actor Role
William Shatner Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy Captain Spock
DeForest Kelley Dr. Leonard McCoy
James Doohan Commander Montgomery Scott
George Takei Commander Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig Commander Pavel Chekov
Nichelle Nichols Commander Nyota Uhura
Grace Lee Whitney Commander Janice Rand
Mark Lenard Ambassador Sarek
Judith Anderson High Priestess T'Lar
Merritt Butrick Dr. David Marcus
Robin Curtis Lieutenant Saavik
Christopher Lloyd Klingon Commander Kruge
Robert Hooks Fleet Admiral Morrow
James Sikking Captain Styles
Carl Steven Spock at 9
Vadia Potenza Spock at 13
Stephen Manley Spock at 17
Joe W. Davis Spock at 25

External links edit

 
Wikipedia
 
  Creator     Gene Roddenberry  (1921–1991)  
  Television series     Star Trek  (1966–1969) · The Animated Series  (1973–1974) · The Next Generation  (1987–1994) · Deep Space Nine  (1993–1999) · Voyager  (1995–2001) · Enterprise  (2001–2005) · Discovery  (2017–) · Picard  (2020–) · Lower Decks  (2020–) · Prodigy  (2021–) · Strange New Worlds  (2022–)
  Feature films     The Original Series     The Motion Picture  (1979) · The Wrath of Khan  (1982) · The Search for Spock  (1984) · The Voyage Home  (1986) · The Final Frontier  (1989) · The Undiscovered Country  (1991)  
  The Next Generation     Generations  (1994) · First Contact  (1996) · Insurrection  (1998) · Nemesis  (2002)  
  Reboot series     Star Trek  (2009) · Into Darkness  (2013) · Beyond  (2016)  
  Video games     Borg  (1996) · Klingon Academy  (2000)  
  Proverbs     Klingon · Vulcan  
  Other     Star Trek franchise · Last words in Star Trek media · Jean-Luc Picard· Phase II