Plot
Captain Kirk, along with First Office Spock and Chief Medical Officer Dr. McCoy beam down to a planet (highly enriched with rare "kironide" mineral deposits) to investigate a distress call.
Once there, they are greeted by a friendly dwarf named Alexander (Michael Dunn), who leads the landing party to meet the rest of his people, who have adopted classical Greek culture, and name themselves Platonians in honor of the Greek philosopher Plato. All of the Platonians, except for Alexander, seem to possess telekinetic powers.
The Platonians explain the reason for "luring" them to their planet centers on their leader Parmen, who requires medical help. After Dr. McCoy treats Parmen, he demands that McCoy remain on the planet permanently in case something similar happens to him or someone else in the future. Naturally, Captain Kirk deems this unacceptable, so he is punished with the Platonians' powers. They humiliate Kirk and Spock as Dr. McCoy watches, forcing them to do little songs and dances like foolish court jesters. Parmen forces Spock to laugh and, after objection from McCoy, cry. Later the Platonians then use their powers to force two other Enterprise officers to the planet for their entertainment: Communications Officer Lt. Uhura and Nurse Chapel.
Once on the planet, the officers quickly get their bodies usurped by Parmen who proceeds to make Kirk, Spock, Chapel and Uhura, forced to wear Greek garb, to perform for the gathered Platonians and a captive McCoy, including forcing Kirk and Uhura to kiss. Alexander becomes angry after watching the humiliating tricks played upon the crew by his Platonian masters. He tries, unsuccessfully, to attack Parmen with a knife.
Earlier however, Dr. McCoy had managed to isolate and identify the substance that provides the inhabitants with their special powers: the kironide mineral itself, which is abundant in the natural food and water supply of the planet. McCoy is able to prepare a serum and inject Captain Kirk and Spock with doses of it. Furthermore, since Alexander tells them that each person has a different and incompatible psionic frequency, they will not have to deal with a massed attack. As a result, Kirk uses his new found telekinetic powers to defeat Parmen, for Alexander's life.
The Platonian admits defeat and begs for mercy where he promises to mend his bullying ways. Kirk warns him that the events encountered here will be reported to Starfleet and if Parmen goes back on his word, the powers can be recreated by anyone whenever they wish in order to defeat him.
Kirk promises to send appropriate medical technicians to the planet as long as the Platonians behave themselves. Alexander, who would not internalize the empowering substance because he did not wish to "become one of them", is released from his duty as serving the planet's denizens as a slave and jester, and requests to go with the Enterprise to start a new (and presumably happier) life elsewhere in the galaxy.
Read more about this topic: Plato's Stepchildren
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