welcometothisblogbitch:

I was never a big Star Trek fan, even as a kid. I was as familiar with the basic mythology as anyone, and thought First Contact was pretty great (Borg = Space Zombies = YES), but that’s about it.

Like a lot of people, this summer’s J.J. Abrams-helmed sequel/reimagining really brought me around. And though it was fast-paced, smartly-written and ridiculously fun, part of me always wished, despite holding no real sentimental allegiance to the original series, that Shatner had somehow been a part of it.

This leaked excerpt from an early version of the script (via TrekMovie.com) is a glimpse of how incredible that would have been. If you saw the movie — and especially if you loved it like I did — you should check this out.

ALTERNATE SCENE B

SPOCK PRIME
Then I ask that you do yourself a 
favor… put away logic, and do what 
feels right. The world you’ve inherited 
lives in the shadow of incalculable 
devastation… but there’s no reason you 
must face it alone.

And from around his neck, he removes the PENDANT that 
until now, we’ve only caught glimpses of. Places it on 
the table beside his younger self. The feeling in his 
eyes is profound…

SPOCK PRIME (CONT’D)
This was a gift to me. Representing… 
a dream. One we were unable to fulfill.
(softly)
The way you can now.

And moves to the door. Stops. Offers the VULCAN SALUTE:

SPOCK PRIME (CONT’D)
As my customary farewell would appear 
oddly self serving, I will simply say… 
good luck.

Their eyes hold. Spock turns, disappearing into the 
corridor. Young Spock stares at the empty doorway a 
beat, his mind a jumble of thoughts. Looks to the 
pendant… and realizes it’s a HOLO-EMITTER. After 
considering a beat, he hits an activation button and a 
MOVING HOLOGRAPHIC MESSAGE materializes before him:

CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK. WILLIAM SHATNER. As always, 
brash, wry, confident — and SINGING:

KIRK/ SHATNER
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to 
you… 
(stops, grins)
I know I know, it’s illogical to 
celebrate something you had nothing to do 
with, but I haven’t had the chance to 
congratulate you on your appointment to 
the ambassadorship so I thought I’d seize 
the occasion… Bravo, Spock — they tell 
me your first mission may take you away 
for awhile, so I’ll be the first to wish 
you luck… and to say…
(beat, emotional)
I miss you, old friend.

… and we’re PUSHING IN on Young Spock, taking in the 
image of Kirk’s future self, the message, but above all —
the clear, unquestionable friendship these two men had…

INT. CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS

As Spock Prime walks off down the corridor, he passes 
right by a man conferring with a nurse — the man pauses, 
turns… it’s SAREK. Suddenly overcome by a feeling that 
the stranger who’s just passed him is… oddly familiar.

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)
I suppose I’d always imagined us… 
outgrowing Starfleet together. Watching 
life swing us into our Emeritus years…

INT. STARBASE ONE – HANGAR – ETERNAL NIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING — glass walls reveal THE ENTERPRISE at 
dock, UTILITY CRAFTS floating around it, repairing. 
Standing at attention in rows, THE ENTERPRISE CREW —
over four hundred of them wearing DRESS UNIFORMS — TRACK 
DOWN the faces, all proud:

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)
I look around at the new cadets now and 
can’t help thinking… has it really been 
so long? Wasn’t it only yesterday we 
stepped onto the Enterprise as boys? 
That I had to prove to the crew I 
deserved command… and their respect?

And we STOP ON YOUNG KIRK. Composed, focused, proud. A 
man. And to every fan’s delight, finally wearing his 
YELLOW SHIRT. The FEDERATION COMMANDANT stands at a 
podium:

COMMANDANT
This assembly calls Captain James 
Tiberius Kirk…

Kirk breaks from formation, pivots, marches down the 
hangar — past UHURA… SULU… CHEKOV… SCOTTY. All 
Beaming. Notably absent, is Spock. Kirk ascends the 
stairs, snaps to attention:

COMMANDANT (CONT’D)
Your inspirational valor and supreme 
dedication to your comrades are in 
keeping with the highest traditions of 
service and reflect utmost credit to 
yourself, your crew, and the Federation. 
By Starfleet Order 28455, you are hereby 
directed to report to Commanding Officer, 
USS Enterprise, for duty as his relief.

Kirk turns. Walks to… PIKE. In a wheelchair now, 
wearing an ADMIRAL’S UNIFORM. Overnight, his hair’s 
turned totally grey — but despite his trauma, his 
pride’s overwhelming. They SALUTE each other:

KIRK
I relieve you, Sir.

PIKE
… I am relieved.

He opens a BOX in his lap — glorious in repose, a MEDAL:

PIKE (CONT’D)
And as Fleet Admiral, for your… unique 
solution to the Kobayashi Maru, it’s my 
honor to award you with a commendation 
for original thinking.

Pike containing a smirk, pins the medal to Kirk’s 
chest…

PIKE (CONT’D)
(a touch choked)
Congratulations, Captain.

KIRK
Thank you, Sir.

Kirk turns to the crowd. Eyes shining. WILD APPLAUSE. 
OUR MUSIC SOARS. Bones leans in to Sulu, rolling his 
eyes:

BONES
… Same ship, different day.

As Kirk rejoins his crew for hugs and congratulations, we 
go to the BACK of the hangar… SPOCK PRIME. Watching. 
Moved beyond words. He turns and leaves them to it… as 
he goes…

KIRK/SHATNER (V.O.)
I know what you’d say — ‘It’s their turn 
now, Jim…’ And of course you’re 
right… but it got me thinking:

INT. STARFLEET HOSPITAL – EARTH – DAY

Our montage comes full circle as we END on Kirk’s 
transmission:

KIRK/SHATNER
Who’s to say we can’t go one more round? 
By the last tally, only twenty five 
percent of the galaxy’s been chartered… 
I’d call that negligent. Criminal even —
an invitation. You once said being a 
starship captain was my first, best 
destiny… if that’s true, then yours is 
to be by my side. If there’s any true 
logic to the universe… we’ll end up on 
that bridge again someday.

Stops, grins. Because this is the part he needs to say 
most…

KIRK/SHATNER
Admit it, Spock. For people like us, the 
journey itself… is home.

Young Spock’s face. Lost in feelings that flood through 
him.

“JJ Abrams has often noted that dealing with Kirk’s death was one of the hindrances of including him in the new Star Trek.”

That’s convenient for them because I have a sneaky suspicion that Shatner would have wanted a larger role than a hologram, and they weren’t interested in giving it to him.

It’s too bad though, as a life long trekkie that would have made the movie so much better, in my opinion.

Also, if you enjoyed Star Trek (2009) you might also like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. They borrowed quite a lot from it for the most recent film.

stephtronic:

1. “Vacation” means going up north on I-75.
2. You measure distance in hours.
3. You know several people who have hit a deer more
than once.
4. You often switch from “heat” to “A/C” in the same
day.
5. You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow
during a raging blizzard, without flinching.
6. You see people wearing camouflage at social events
(including weddings).
7. You install security lights on your house and
garage and leave both unlocked.
8. You carry jumper cables in your car and your
girlfriend knows how to use them.
9. You design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit
over a snowsuit.
10. Driving is better in the winter because the
potholes are filled with snow.
11. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter,
still winter and road construction.
12. You can identify a southern or eastern accent.
13. Your idea of creative landscaping i! s a sta tue of
a deer next to your blue spruce.
14. You were unaware that there is a legal drinking
age.
15. Down South to you means Ohio.
16. A brat is something you eat.
17. Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his
new pole barn.
18. You go out to fish fry every Friday.
19. Your 4th of July picnic was moved indoors due to
frost.
20. You have more miles on your snow blower than
your car.
21. You find 0 degrees “a little chilly.”
22 You drink pop and bake with soda.
23. Your doctor tells you to drink Vernors and you
know it’s not medicine.
24. You know what a Yooper is.
25. You think owning a Honda is Un-American. (People really do get shit.)
26. You know that UP is a place, not a direction
27. You know it’s possible to live in a thumb.
28. You understand that when visiting Detroit, the
best thing to wear is a Kevlar vest. (hahaha)
29. You actually understand these jokes, and you
forward them to all your Michigan friends. 
30. …even though the war against Ohio officially ended nearly 200 years ago, you still consider it an ongoing battle.

#30 is where it’s at.