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TREKCORE
> TOS > EPISODES
> BALANCE OF TERROR
>Quotes
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Captain Kirk: Since the days of wooden vessels, all
ship masters have had one happy privilege-- that of uniting
two people in the bonds of holy matrimony. |
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Mr. Spock:
Referring to the map on your screens, you will note beyond
our vessel a line of Earth outpost stations. Constructed on
asteroids, they monitor the Neutral Zone established by
treaty after the Earth-Romulan conflict a century ago. As
you may recall, this conflict was fought, by standards
today, with primitive atomic weapons and in primitive space
vessels which allowed no quarter, no captives, nor was there
even ship-to-ship visual communication. Therefore, no human,
Romulan, or ally has ever seen the other. Earth believes the
Romulans to be warlike, cruel, treacherous, and only the
Romulans know what they think of Earth. The treaty, set by
sub-space radio, established this Neutral Zone, entry into
which by either side would constitute an act of war. The
treaty has been unbroken since that time. |
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Captain Kirk: Mr. Stiles, are you questioning my
orders?
Lieutenant Andrew Stiles: Negative, sir. I'm pointing
out that we could have Romulan spies aboard this ship! |
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Lieutenant Andrew Stiles: Give it to Spock.
Captain Kirk: I didn't quite get that, Mr. Stiles.
Lieutenant Andrew Stiles: Nothing, sir.
Captain Kirk: Repeat it.
Lieutenant Andrew Stiles: I was suggesting that Mr.
Spock could probably translate it for you, sir.
Captain Kirk: I assume you're complimenting Mr. Spock
on his abilities to decode.
Lieutenant Andrew Stiles: I'm not sure, sir.
Captain Kirk: Well, here's one thing you better be
sure of, mister. Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's
no room for it on the bridge. |
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Romulan Commander: The Earth commander will follow,
he must. And when he attacks, we will destroy him. Our gift
to the homeland; another war. |
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Lieutenant
Andrew Stiles:
These are
Romulans! You run away from them, and you guarantee war.
They'll be back; not with just one ship, with everything
they've got. And, you know that, Mr. Science Officer. But,
you've always left out that point. Why? I'm very interested
in why!
Captain Kirk: Sit down, mister.
Mr. Spock: I agree. . .attack.
Captain 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?
Lieutenant Andrew Stiles: We know what they look
like.
Mr. Spock: Yes, indeed we do, Mr. Stiles. And if the
Romulans are an off-shoot of my Vulcan blood, and I think
this likely, then attack becomes even more imperative. |
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Captain Kirk: I hope we won't need your services,
Bones.
Dr. McCoy: Amen to that. You're taking a big gamble,
Jim. |
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Captain Kirk: I wish I were at a long sea voyage
somewhere. Not too much deck tennis, no frantic dancing and
no responsibilities. Why me? I look around that bridge and I
see the men waiting for me to make the next move, and Bones,
what if I'm wrong?
Dr. McCoy: Captain--
Captain Kirk: No, I don't expect an answer.
Dr. McCoy: But, I've got one. Something I heard them
say to a customer, Jim. "In this galaxy, there's a
mathematical probability of three million Earth-type
planets. And in all the universe, three million-million
galaxies like this. And in all of that and perhaps more,
only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one named Kirk." |
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Captain Kirk:
Captain, standing by to beam your survivors aboard our ship.
Prepare to abandon your vessel.
Romulan Commander: No. No, that is not our way. I
regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In
a different reality, I could have called you friend.
Captain Kirk: What purpose will it serve to die?
Romulan Commander: We are creatures of duty, Captain.
I have lived my life by it. Just one more duty to perform.
(self-destructs his ship) |
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Captain Kirk: It never makes any sense. We both have
to know there was a reason. |
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