1.24 This Side of Paradise

The Enterprise is ordered to evacuate the space colony of Omicron Ceti III.

Plot Summary
Stardate: 3417.3 - 3417.7 A very familiar face A very familiar face

The Enterprise is ordered to evacuate some colonists on a space colony because the colony is exposed to Berthold rays, which are deadly to humans. Believing that the colonists are already dead, Kirk and his crewmen are shocked when they see the colonists are still very much alive. While they examine the reason why the colonists have survived, Spock meets a young botanist named Leila Kalomi, who had known Spock on Earth 6 years prior. Back then, she had romantic feelings for Spock, but Spock did not feel the same way. Leila shows Spock a native plant on the colony. The plant sprays some spores and induces Spock into a state of calmness. The other crew members find the plant as well and they are all infected by the spores. Due to the spore's influence, the crew decide to leave the ship and stay on the planet. Eventually Kirk is the only one who is not infected by the spores and is the last member on the ship. McCoy has a mint julep McCoy has a mint julep

However, this does not last long, Kirk is infected by a plant brought on board. As he goes to pack his things so that he can leave, hecomes across a medal. The medal brings forth a strong feeling from Kirk and frees him the spore's influence. He learns that strong emotion can defeat the spores. Kirk lures Spock aboard the ship and provokes him into a fight. Though Kirk is almost killed, He is able to free Spock from the spores. Together, they use subsonic sound waves to free the colonist and crewmen from the spore's effect. The colonists wake and realize that they had made no progress thanks to the spores. The crewmen return to the ship and the Enterprise gets back on course.

Production Notes
The story was originally written by Jerry Sohl and was rewritten by D.C. Fontana. In the original story, the spores were supposed to reside within a cave. The love story between Leila was also supposed to have been with Sulu. Fontana had rewritten the story so that Spock was to take the central role in the love story. Changing the role allowed Fontana to explore a different side of Spock such as his struggle between his human side and his Vulcan side.