3x06 Spectre of the Gun - Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Original Series

- Episode 03x06

Episode: 03x06
Title: Spectre of the Gun
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 60043-056
First Aired: Oct. 25, 1968

Season 3 » Episode #06 - Spectre of the Gun

Star Trek: The Original Series - 03x06 Spectre of the Gun

Summary: The Enterprise comes across a space probe as they go to establish contact with the reclusive Melkotians. The probe warns the Enterprise to immediately leave Melkot space. Kirk tries to contact the Melkotians, but there is no response and they continue with their orders. When they reach Melkot, Kirk takes down a landing party and they face death penalties for not heeding the Melkotian's earlier warning. The telepathic Melkotians draw on Kirk's memories for the manner of their execution... and come up with the Showdown at the O.K. Corral.

Who appeared in this episode?

Mr. Spock

Guest Stars:

Captain James T. Kirk	played by William Shatner
Dr. McCoy	played by DeForest Kelley
Wyatt Earp	played by Ron Soble
Sylvia	played by Bonnie Beecher
Scott	played by James Doohan
Chekov	played by Walter Koenig
Uhura	played by Nichelle Nichols
Virgil Earp	played by Charles Maxwell
Morgan Earp	played by Rex Holman

	Season 3 / Episode 6: - Spectre of the Gun Capt. Kirk: How did you manage to test it? Spock: It has not been tested. McCoy: It's not necessary, Captain. It's simple. Nothing can go wrong. Capt. Kirk: Up to now, everything's gone wrong. I want it tested. And now.
	Season 3 / Episode 6: - Spectre of the Gun Scotty: [picks up glass of bourbon] It's to kill the pain. Spock: But this is painless. Scotty: [gulps] Well, you should have warned me sooner, Mr. Spock. Fire away! McCoy: It should have worked! Did you inhale the gas, Scotty? Scotty: Aye! Deeply! McCoy: Do you still feel all right? Scotty: Never felt better!

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

FACT: Doc Holliday did not practice dentistry in Tombstone.
FACT: The "Gunfight at the OK Corral" actually ensued at 3:00 p.m., not 5:00 p.m. Given the fact, however, that so much of the situation was "unreal" (e.g. Billy Claiborne having really survived the gunfight but having been killed (in the personage of Chekov) in the show), this could have been an intentional "mistake."
FACT: Virgil Earp was the town marshal of Tombstone at the time of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, not Wyatt Earp. Morgan Earp was Virgil's deputy, and Wyatt and Doc Holliday were deputized the day of the gunfight. Their original intent was to disarm the Clantons and McLaureys.

TRIVIA

A very young Ron Soble (I) (Wyatt Earp) is sitting at the Faro table in John Ford (I)'s classic Western My Darling Clementine (1946), also based on the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Kirk, Spock, Scotty and Dr. McCoy are placed in the OK Corral as the Clanton gang, facing off against Wyatt Earp and his brothers. In the 1957 film Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), DeForest Kelley played the part of Morgan Earp.
Originally intended to be filmed on a back lot set of an Old West town. However, when the series budget was heavily cut, it was decided to film it with a surrealistic style (half-completed buildings, shadows on the "sky" backdrop, etc.) on an interior set.
Bit-player Rex Holman (I) got his first break when the actor who was originally cast as Morgan Earp proved difficult to work with and was fired. Director Vincent McEveety elevated Holman from being an extra to a supporting part. Two decades later he returned to the Trek universe playing a supporting part in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
A scene that was never filmed included McCoy/McLowery (DeForest Kelley) offering to share his medical expertise with Doc Holliday (Sam Gilman) to treat his progressing tuberculosis.