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Star date 2817.6. The Enterprise has been diverted from it's scheduled course to investigate a new synthetic food invented by Dr Thomas Latent which would end the threat of famine on Signia Minor, a nearby Earth colony. Kirk finds upon arrival at the planet that Dr Latent diverted him to Signia Minor to trap a man called Kodos. Dr Latent believes that one of the actors in a theatrical company currently on tour on the planet is the infamous Kodos. "That voice", he hisses to Kirk while watching a play being performed by the Karidian Company, "It's back. That man on the stage. I'm certain of it. That's Kodos, the Executioner."
Captain Kirk is perturbed as he talks with Latent and his wife later. How will he explain to Star Fleet that there is no new synthetic food discovery on Signia Minor and that his friend Tom diverted the Enterprise here on a wild theory. Star Fleet has recorded Kodos as dead twenty years ago, having identified the burned body. "Kodos -- is dead.", flatly states Kirk. "Is he.", retorts Tom, "Is anyone sure. A body burned beyond recognition?" He wants to reopen the books on Kodos.
Of the nine persons who had actually seen Kodos first-hand, only three are left. Dr Latent is one, Kirk and Lt Reilly are the others.
Kirk continues to insist that Kodos is dead. Tom Latent turns to him and states, "Then it will be a ghost Martha and I receive in our home tonight. I've invited the entire company to a cocktail party." Tom wants to be sure (actually, he sounded pretty sure to me). Kirk excuses himself to return to his ship and figure out how to enter the affair into his ship's log.
Back on the Enterprise Kirk is checking the history files on Kodos the Executioner and the background of the actor Anton Karidian.
The food supply of Tarsus IV, a colony near Earth, had been attacked by an exotic fungus leaving the colony and it's population of 8,000 with virtually no food. Kodos, the governor of Tarsus IV, seized full power, declared emergency martial law and executed 50% of the population, 4,000 people. Supply ships arrived ahead of schedule but too late to save those whom the governor had summarily put to death. All that remained of Kodos was a burned body with no positive identification.
Anton Karidian is listed as the director and the star actor in the Karidian Company, a traveling group of actors sponsored by the Galactic Cultural Exchange project. He also has no records prior to 20 years ago.
Kirk has the computer call up photos of both men. Although not identical, there is a very strong resemblance, allowing for age, between them. Captain Kirk decides to delay leaving orbit for a time.
Beaming back down to the planet to attend the cocktail party, and probably to settle his own mind, Kirk meets Karidian's 19 year-old daughter and actress, Leonore. She is socially adept and explains that her father, whom Kirk had been hoping to see, does not attend parties nor make personal appearances. Kirk, ever the suave and sophisticated Star Ship Captain, asks Leonore to stroll with him.
During their walk the couple come upon Tom Latent. While on his way home from town someone has ambushed and killed him. A personal tragedy for Jim since Tom and his wife Martha were his friends.
"Oh, why was Tom killed if what he suspected wasn't true?", Martha wants to know. Jim doesn't know but tells her that he will look into the matter.
Kirk contacts another old friend, John Daily, Captain of the Astro Queen, who is ferrying the Karidian Company to their next destination. He asks a favor of Captain Daily -- to leave without taking the Company. Kirk will pick them up and carry them to the Benacia Colony; their next stop. John agrees with this and the stage (forgive the pun) is set.
Back on the bridge Mr Spock informs the Captain that they are ready to leave Signia Minor. But Kirk has him hold off, he expects a visit from a young lady.
As if on cue, the transporter room signals that Leonore Karidian has beamed aboard the ship and is requesting an audience with the Captain. He has her escorted to the bridge, where he puts on a show of being reluctant to accept the actors as passengers. He finally 'accepts' her offer of a special performance for the crew in exchange for transportation to Benacia and tells Spock to leave orbit when the company is on board.
As the Enterprise gets underway, Captain Kirk checks the computer banks at Spock's station for information he had requested earlier. He is checking personnel lists of the people who have actually seen Kodos. It is here that he learns of Lt Kevin Reilly's involvement as a witness.
Lt Reilly is presently assigned in communications on board the Enterprise. The Captain turns to Mr Spock, who is standing nearby and has him reassign Reilly to engineering.
"He came up from engineering, Captain.", replies Spock. "Well I'm sending him back", returns Kirk brusquely. "Any explanation?", asks the Vulcan, "He's a fine young officer. He's bound to consider this transfer a disciplinary action." Kirk answers shortly, "I don't wish to discuss it, Mr Spock. Please follow my orders."
As the Captain accompanies Karidian's daughter on a tour of the ship, Spock is checking the library computers. He had heard the captain asking for the listing of names earlier and now tries to deduce the matter in reverse. Giving the computer the listing, he requests any points of common reference.
A short time later, the Vulcan is in discussion with Dr McCoy. Spock has found out about Karidian and his possible alter ego as Kodos and is testing his thoughts on Bones. The First Officer relates the history of Kodos and of Tarsus IV, explaining that of the nine witnesses, only three were left -- two now that Dr Latent has been killed. What's more, the deaths seem to follow the Karidian Theatrical Company around. They always seem to be near at hand.
Lt Reilly is lounging alone at his watch station in engineering, his dinner close at hand. He is lonely and signals the recreation room to talk to somebody -- anybody. Uhura is there with a Vulcan harp. Reilly asks her if she would play a song for him.
As she sings, Reilly, bored, swivels in his chair. A dark figure approaches from behind while his back is turned, squirts a liquid into his glass of milk and disappears. Kevin now reaches for his milk and drains it as Uhura finishes her song.
She asks Kevin if he enjoyed the music, but all he can gasp out is, "Help me -- please", as he holds his throat and falls to the deck -- poisoned.
In sick bay McCoy and Spock are monitoring Reilly. "You've got to pull him through", the Vulcan remarks. McCoy answers, "I'm not sure I can." Looking at the doctor, Spock adds,"If he dies, the only one who'll be able to identify Kodos is the captain -- and he'll be the next target."
McCoy takes his medical report on Lt Reilly to Captain Kirk in his quarters. Spock accompanies. The First Officer tells Kirk that he has been checking, the same as the Captain. Spock warns that he, Jim, almost certainly will be the target of the next attempt. Captain Kirk is annoyed that his second in command is meddling in what he believes to be his private affairs, but Spock points out that the matter is no longer personal business when it affects the operation of the ship.
As they discuss the matter, Kirk explains that he needs concrete proof, a man's life is at stake. Spock is convinced that Karidian is Kodos and says so. "Logic is not enough.", explains the Captain, "I've got to feel my way. Make absolutely sure."
The doctor has left, but Spock continues to try to reason with Kirk. As the Captain is speaking, Spock suddenly hushes him. There is a keening sound in the room. "Ssshhh, Listen.", says Spock, "do you hear it? That low hum." Kirk, now quiet, listens, "Phaser." Spock adds, "On overload!"
After ordering a double red-alert, they both begin to frantically search the room. If the phaser explodes, it will take out that entire section of the Enterprise. Kirk sends Spock into the corridor where he begins to order the evacuation of all personnel from the section. Meanwhile, Kirk continues the search, the sound ever growing louder and higher in pitch. Glancing up, Jim sees the outline of a phaser 2 in the housing of the alert indicator. He fumbles with the housing door, yanks it open and rushes into the corridor with the weapon.
Near-by is a jettison chute. The Captain throws the self-destructing into it and waits. Moments later an explosion rocks the vessel. (Whew! That was a close one! Loud too.)
Kirk visits Karidian in the actor's quarters. It is time for the interview which Kirk had asked for. The Captain relates the close call they just had with the phaser when the actor expresses reluctance to speak with the Captain. Kirk demands, "Are you Kodos?" "Do you believe that I am?", asks Karidian. "I do.", answers Kirk quickly. Karidian answers, "Then I am Kodos -- if it pleases you to believe so. I'm an actor. I play many parts."
Captain Kirk's desired proof takes the form of a voice test. He hands a brief passage to Karidian to read into the computer banks. It will compare the actor's voice against that of Kodos. Any attempt at disguising his voice will make no difference, Kirk tells Karidian.
Karidian is reluctant but cooperates. He reads the message with feeling. It is the transcript of the execution order which was announced by the governor of Tarsus IV. Karidian begins by reading the scrap of paper, but is soon looking up and reciting as if from a memory long ago. The Captain continues to question him -- asking about the past of Anton Karidian which begins 20 years ago just as Kodos disappeared. Karidian answers that the past is a blank.
"Did you get everything you wanted, Captain Kirk?", the actor inquires at the end of the interview. "If I had gotten everything I wanted, you might not walk out of this room alive.", Kirk responds and turns to leave the room.
Before he can leave, the voice of Leonore stops him. There is a stain of cruelty on his shining armor the girl tells him. She is angry that Kirk has confronted her father with such an accusation and observes that he was using her, earlier when they met, as a tool to get at her father. After a brief exchange Kirk returns to his duties.
We switch scenes to sick bay where Dr McCoy is making a voice entry into the medical log. Reilly has been confined to sick bay and is pacing about, unnoticed by the doctor. The log entry describes Lt Reilly as recovered but confined because of the suspected presence of Kodos in the person of Karidian. The Lieutenant overhears this and a light dawns in his eyes. His family was killed on Tarsus IV by Kodos. He slips out of sick bay.
The crew has gathered in the recreation area to watch the play promised by Leonore. The actors are on-stage. Back stage is Lt Reilly with a phaser he has procured from the armory.
As the play gets underway, Captain Kirk is comparing the voice graphs in his quarters with Mr Spock. "I believe we have a match, Captain.", the Vulcan declares. But Kirk points out it's not an exact match. With a human life in the balance, he is unwilling to permit a machine to make the final determination. But Kirk now gets a call from Dr McCoy telling him that Reilly has left sick bay and probably overheard the medical log entry. This is followed by an alert from security regarding the phaser weapon Reilly has stolen. Kirk has security begin a search for Reilly while he heads for the recreation area.
Kirk comes upon Lt Reilly behind the curtains of the stage and urges him to put down the phaser weapon. Kevin argues that he knows this is Kodos and pleads with the Captain to let him do as he feels he must.
Captain Kirk walks towards him and orders Reilly to give him the phaser. As he approaches the younger man, Kirk gently takes the weapon and tells Reilly to return to sick bay. The Lieutenant turns and departs.
Karidian has overheard this exchange while reciting his part in the play -- but continues to perform. As Reilly leaves the curtain falls between acts and the performers walk backstage.
Backstage, Leonore approaches her father to see what troubles him. He speaks of a voice from the past which has surfaced to haunt him. Leonore begins to tell him that after tonight, there will be no more need of worry -- the last two that can harm him will be gone. She tells her father that she has saved him. (She has been killing the surviving witnesses off as the company traveled.) Kodos is in anguish. She was the one thing in his life that was untarnished by the deeds he had done so many years ago. Now she has left him nothing. Kirk is standing, unseen, listening to the exchange.
The Captain steps forward and places Karidian under arrest. A security man walks over to take Karidian/Kodos in charge. Leonore is pleading with the Captain to allow her father to finish the play. Kirk is not interested and will not permit it.
"You cannot deny him his last performance!", she cries, snatches the phaser from the security man's belt and runs on-stage amidst the frightened cries of the audience.
She threatens Kirk, telling him that she knows how to use the weapon. Her face shows the glimmer of madness. As she prepares to fire, entoning a quote from Julius Caesar directed at the Captain, Kodos steps in front of Kirk and absorbs the full charge of the phaser. He falls, lifeless, to the floor as she runs weeping to him.
Epilog: The Enterprise has dropped the company off at the Benacia colony. The girl, McCoy tells Jim, will receive the best of care (obviously psychiatric) -- she remembers nothing; not even her father's death.
"You really cared for her, didn't you.", McCoy inquires. Kirk acts as if he did not hear and continues to make ready to leave orbit.
"Your not going to answer my question, are you?", pursues the doctor "Ahead warp factor one, Mr Leslie.", orders Kirk, looking at McCoy. Bones smiles and says, "That's an answer."
