Star Trek (TV Series)

Balance of Terror (1966)

William Shatner: Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

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Quotes 

• Stiles : I was suggesting that Mr. Spock could probably translate it, sir.

  Captain James T. Kirk : I assume you're complimenting Mr. Spock on his ability to decode?

  Stiles : I'm not sure, sir.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Well, here's one thing you can be sure of, mister: leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on the bridge.

• Stiles : These are Romulans! You run away from them and you guarantee war. They'll be back - not just one ship, but with everything they've got. You know that, Mr. Science Officer. You're the expert on these people, but you've always left out that one point. Why? I'm very interested in why.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Sit down, mister.

  [Stiles does so, there is an awkward silence] 

  Mr. Spock : I agree. Attack.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Are you suggesting we fight... to prevent a fight?

  Dr. McCoy : Based on what? Memories of a war over a century ago? On theories about a people we've never even met face to face?

  Stiles : We know what they look like...

  Mr. Spock : Yes, indeed we do, Mr. Stiles. And if the Romulans are an offshoot of my Vulcan blood - and I think this likely - then attack becomes even more imperative.

  Dr. McCoy : War is never imperative, Mr. Spock.

  Mr. Spock : It is for them, Doctor. Vulcan, like Earth, had its aggressive, colonizing period - savage, even by Earth standards - and if the Romulans retain this martial philosophy, then weakness is something we dare not show.

• Captain James T. Kirk : I wish I were on a long sea voyage somewhere. Not too much deck tennis, no frantic dancing, and no responsibility.

• Captain James T. Kirk : He did exactly what I would have done. I won't underestimate him again.

• Captain James T. Kirk : Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all shipmasters have had one happy privilege, that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so, we are gathered here today with you, Angela Martine, and you, Robert Tomlinson, in the sight of your fellows, and in accordance with our laws and our many beliefs, that you may pledge your...

  [the ceremony is interrupted by a siren] 

  Sulu : [through intercom]  Alert! Alert! All decks, alert! Alert! Alert! Captain to the bridge! All decks, alert!

• Captain James T. Kirk : Captain's log, stardate 1709.2. Patrolling outposts guarding the neutral zone between planets Romulus and Remus and the rest of the galaxy; received an emergency call from Outpost 4. The USS Enterprise is moving to investigate and assist.

• Captain James T. Kirk : After a whole century, what will a Romulan ship look like, Mr. Stiles? I doubt if they'll radio and identify themselves.

  Stiles : You'll know, sir. They're painted like a giant bird of prey.

  Captain James T. Kirk : I had no idea that history was your specialty.

  Stiles : Family history. There was a Captain Stiles in space service then; two commanders; several junior officers. All lost in that war, sir.

  Captain James T. Kirk : THEIR war, Mr. Stiles. Not yours.

• Captain James T. Kirk : Go to full magnification.

  Sulu : Screen is on full mag, sir.

  Captain James T. Kirk : I don't see anything. Can't understand it.

  Mr. Spock : Invisibility is theoretically possible, Captain - selective bending of light - but the power cost is enormous. They may have solved that problem.

• Hansen : I have you on my screen now. Switching to visual.

  Captain James T. Kirk : Tie us in.

  Uhura : Tied in, sir.

  Hansen : [Hansen's command post is smashed. Flames burn here and there. Most equipment is not functioning. Hansen is burned and filthy]  Enterprise... can you see it? My command post here... we're a mile deep, on an asteroid almost solid iron. And even through our deflectors it did this! Can you see?

• Captain James T. Kirk : Lt. Uhura, inform Command Base: In my opinion, no option. On my responsibility we are proceeding into the Neutral Zone.

• Captain James T. Kirk : We're minutes away, Hansen. What's your status?

  Hansen : [through severe static]  Outposts 2, 3 and 8 are gone. Unknown weapon... completely destroyed. Even though we were alerted... had our deflector shield on maximum... hit by enormous power... First hit blew our deflector shield. If they hit us again with our deflector shield gone... do you read me, Enterprise?

• Sulu : More wreckage, sir. Scattering across our path.

  Capt. Kirk : Cease fire.

  Mr. Spock : Debris on our scanner.

  Capt. Kirk : Analysis, quickly.

  Mr. Spock : Same type as before. Except... one metal cased object...

  Capt. Kirk : Helm! Hard over! Phasers, fire! Point blank!

  Stiles : PHASERS, FIRE!

  [a nuclear weapon detonates close by. The ship shakes violently and the bridge goes dark save for a few telltales. Enterprise hangs in space, apparently disabled]