3x21 The Cloud Minders - Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Original Series

- Episode 03x21

Episode: 03x21
Title: The Cloud Minders
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 60043-074
First Aired: Feb. 28, 1969

Season 3 » Episode #21 - The Cloud Minders

Star Trek: The Original Series - 03x21 The Cloud Minders

Summary: The Enterprise goes to Ardana to obtain the only known cure to a plague that threatens to decimate the vegetation on the planet Merak II. Kirk and Spock go to the cloud city of Stratos, and find out that the population is split between the Troglytes, who do the dirty work, including the mining, and the people of the city who enjoy good lives on the backs of the Troglytes. When the Troglytes rebel and threaten to stop mining, Kirk must solve the civil war to get the plague cure.

Who appeared in this episode?

Mr. Spock

Guest Stars:

Captain James T. Kirk	played by William Shatner
Dr. McCoy	played by DeForest Kelley
Plasus	played by Jeff Corey
Droxine	played by Diana Ewing
Vanna	played by Charlene Polite
Scott	played by James Doohan
Uhura	played by Nichelle Nichols
Cloud Guard #1	played by Kirk Raymond
Cloud Guard #2	played by Jimmy Fields

Season 3 / Episode 21: - The Cloud Minders

Plasus: [to Droxine] Leave here at once. Go to your music.

Season 3 / Episode 21: - The Cloud Minders

Vanna: It's hard to believe that something which is neither seen, nor felt can do so much harm.
Captain James T. Kirk: That's true. But an idea can't be seen, nor felt and that's what kept the Troglytes in the mines all these centuries: a mistaken idea.
Vanna: Would all the Troglytes wear these masks?
Captain James T. Kirk: Yes. I'll see to it that the Federation Engineers construct them.
Vanna: Suppose Plasus does not agree?
Captain James T. Kirk: Plasus is not the whole government.
Vanna: That is true. But the city Counsel will not listen to Troglytes.
Captain James T. Kirk: As soon as the Zenite is delivered to Marrick II, I'll come back, I'll request permission to mediate for the Troglytes. Vanna, you must trust me. I give you my word.
Vanna: Centuries ago, Stratos was built by leaders that gave their word... that all inhabitants would live there. The Troglytes are still waiting.
Captain James T. Kirk: The Zenite can be delivered in a few hours. You don't have long to a wait now.
Vanna: Hours can be centuries. Just as words can be lies.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

FAKE: After Kirk beams down Plasus, the High Advisor of "The Cloud Minders", into the mines and Plasus attacks Kirk, Kirk pushes him back toward the cave wall. When Plasus makes contact with the wall, it stretches inwards to absorb the impact, thus revealing it is made of rubber rather than stone.
CONT: During the shot of Plasus being forcibly beamed directly to Kirk's location in the mines, the bottom of the curtains behind him change position as he transports.
SYNC: At the beginning of "The Cloud Minders", Kirk is heard to demand "What is the meaning of this?" but his lips clearly do not move.

TRIVIA

David Gerrold conceived the original story on which this episode was based, an outline called "Castle in the Sky". He was deeply disappointed with the final script. His original concept dealt with a three-way conflict between the elite of the planet's sky city and two groups of the cave-dwelling miners - one adhering to the tenets of a pacifist, Martin Luther King-like leader, the other followers of a more militant Malcolm X-like figure. Gerrold's story ended on a deliberately ambiguous note, with the only "triumph" being that Kirk finally managed to establish a dialogue between the groups. Gerrold later characterized the final script - in which the miners' violent actions are blamed entirely on a toxic "zenite" gas in the mines - with the scathing line, "And if we can just get them troglytes to wear gas masks, then they'll be happy little darkies and they'll pick all the cotton we need."