- Say when. - When.
I didn't know you drank wine.
Under the circumstances I'll allow myself a small indulgence.
Make mine a large indulgence.
To our Science Officer.
It's been one year to the day since you officially joined our crew.
Here's to many more.
I appreciate the sentiment but I'm simply carrying out my assignment.
That's no small accomplishment considering the previous record
for a Vulcan serving on a human ship was two weeks.
Ten days.
I've been filling out your annual crew evaluation... just a formality.
I understand. The High Command has requested my evaluation of you.
Just a formality.
There's something in your record I've been meaning to ask you about.
While you were stationed in Sausalito you took a five-day leave.
Yes?
You went to an old mining town in Pennsylvania-- Carbon Creek?
- Seems like an odd place to take a vacation. - Vulcans don't take vacations.
- Then, if I may ask why'd you go there? - Is this part of my evaluation?
- Just curious. - It was a personal matter.
- You had a personal matter in Carbon Creek, Pennsylvania? - Trip, if she doesn't want to tell us...
Seems a little unfair. We tell her plenty of stories.
- You'd like me to tell you a story? - If it's a good one.
I went to Carbon Creek because I wanted to visit the site of First Contact between humans and Vulcans.
Then, you were about 3,000 kilometers off. That took place in Montana.
Actually, it didn't.
Every school kid knows that Zephram Cochrane met the Vulcans in Bozeman, Montana, on April 5, 2063.
I've been there. There's a statue.
In fact, the Vulcans visited Earth long before then. My second foremother was one of them.
Your who?
My mother's mother's mother.
Would you like to hear the story?
- I can't compensate. - The re-fusion pressure is still dropping.
If our orbit decays any further, we'll be detected.
They had gone to Earth to investigate the launch of its first artificial satellite called "Sputnik."
During their third week of gathering information about humanity
their impulse manifold began to malfunction.
They had no choice but to attempt an emergency landing.
Try to find an isolated area.
Send a distress call to the High Command.
- 100 kilometers. - Deploy the stabilizers.
Our landing vector is too steep.
- Are you hurt? - I don't think so.
Captain.
What are your orders?
Why did the Vulcans keep this a secret?
The incident is well-documented at the Science Directorate and the Space Council.
- On Vulcan? - Of course.
Hang on. T'Mir was your great-grandmother?
I'd be the last person to question your math but aren't you missing a few generations?
- Sputnik was 200 years ago. - Don't forget how long Vulcans live.
- Right. - Just how old are you?
- It's got to be in her record. - Trip, that's classified information.
Please. Go on.
Their subspace transceiver was damaged in the crash.
They had no way of knowing if their distress signal had even been transmitted.
They'd used up their emergency rations within a week.
After five days without food their situation was growing desperate.
Two life-forms.
Fascinating.
One of those creatures could sustain us for some time.
Are you suggesting we eat it?
- It's logical to take extreme measures to survive. - Even resorting to savagery?
That may not be necessary.
Our scans showed a settlement approximately six kilometers away.
If we are exposed, we could contaminate their culture.
And when they find our bodies after we starve, will that contaminate their culture?
Better to leave them with a mystery than with three living aliens.
We should at least investigate the possibilities.
- It's too dangerous. - I'm willing to take the risk.
Mestral. Remain here.
How do you suggest we proceed?
We'll need to disguise ourselves.
We're here to find food, nothing else.
We'll keep contact with the humans to an absolute minimum.
If we must interact with them, I will speak.
What is it?
I believe you have that garment on... backwards.
Prisoners?
They don't appear to be restrained.
More likely, laborers.
It's hard to believe these people were capable of launching an artificial satellite.
Dix hits a scorcher down the right field line. The first baseman takes a stab at it, but no.
Ellis is charging hard from right field. He scoops it up and fires it's close.
There's collision in the plate. But Wilcox hangs on to the ball,
- And Thompson is out! - Oh!
- Some type of combat, no doubt. - I believe it may be an entertainment.
- A communal gathering place. - Do they have food?
It appears so.
- Remember. - I won't speak.
- Another? - Nah, I'll settle up.
- All right. - I'm next.
- Currency. - Yes. The paper appears to have value.
Thanks, Billy.
What can I get you?
Do you have anything that doesn't require currency?
You mean free?
What brings you to Carbon Creek?
We had an accident with our vehicle outside your town.
- Are you okay? - We're fine.
- You folks married? - No.
We're... business associates.
There's a gas station up the road. I'd be happy to give you a lift.
- No, thank you. - Suit yourself.
Anybody up for a game? Quarter a ball?
- I'll play. - You better ask your mother, Jackie.
- Come on, Mom, we could use the money. - Go on upstairs and do your homework.
I'll bring you up some dinner.
I'm up for a game.
What are you doing? I told you not to speak to anyone.
- I can defeat him. - You don't even know the rules.
It's simple.
- I thought you didn't have any money. - He doesn't.
Well, sorry, pal. There's nothing in it for me.
It's time for us to go.
Wait a minute. We might be able to work something out.
If you win, I'll pay up.
If I win, your business associate has a drink with me.
- We accept your terms. - We do not.
The game is based on simple geometry. It wouldn't challenge a Vulcan child.
- No. - We need their currency.
- What if you lose? - I'll have to... socialize with him.
Would you rather die of starvation?
Tough break.
The number eight ball... in that pocket.
Cryogenics.
Do you suppose they've experimented with protein replicators?
Why didn't you ask the merchant?
You seemed willing to engage everyone else in conversation.
- I think that wine's gone to your head. - What are you implying?
Two Vulcans stroll into a bar, hustle a few games of pool and walk out with an armload of TV dinners.
It sounds like an old episode of The Twilight Zone.
If you're not interested in hearing the rest...
Hold on, hold on. We didn't say we weren't interested.
They realized they couldn't rely on gambling
so they took whatever employment they could find while they waited for the rescue vessel to arrive.
But as the weeks passed, it seemed less likely that their distress call had been received
and it became more difficult for them to avoid the humans.
The test of a nuclear device is designed for tactical use in place of artillery.
Zero hour is after five.
Nothing like an atomic test to make your day.
- Doesn't it concern you? - The bomb? It scares the hell out of me.
- I'd hate to see humanity destroy itself. - That makes two of us.
- Want to shoot some eight ball? - Jack...
I've got a geometry midterm next week. It's good practice.
Nice try, but there's better ways to prepare for a math test.
- Are you interested in mathematics? - Oh, it's what I want to study at college.
- Mechanical engineering... if I get to go. - You will.
- He got a scholarship. - Only a partial one.
It's still a scholarship and you worked hard for it.
Everybody's been pitching in to help pay for his expenses... books, room and board.
- You can shoot one rack and that's it. - Your break.
This is the third time this week I've had to fix Mrs. Garrett's sink.
Perhaps she enjoys your company.
It might be tolerable if her son didn't insist on calling me "Moe."
Why does he do that?
There is a comic actor known as a "Stooge" with that name.
The boy believes we have similar hair.
- There is a resemblance. - This is intolerable.
I'm a warp field engineer.
Then perhaps you can help me construct a subspace transceiver.
I told you, it's impossible.
If we remain here, we'll die. This world's on the brink of self-annihila
I don't believe that.
Because your fascination with this species is blinding you.
You sit for hours each day in front of this idiotic device.
I'm doing research.
Perhaps if you spent more time observing human behavior you might not have such a pessimistic view of them.
Open your eyes. They revel in violence.
They devote what little technology they have to devising ways of killing each other.
So did we centuries ago.
- They just haven't realized their potential yet. - What potential?
They have great empathy and compassion. Look how we've been made to feel welcome.
Only because they believe we're human.
If they discovered the truth do you think they'd be so compassionate?
Where are you going?
To the ship.
- Why? - This antenna is inadequate.
I believe I can use a waveform discriminator to enhance it.
It'll be safer to go after dark. You can't risk being followed.
I need to go now. I Love Lucy is on tonight.
Hi, you're right on time.
It was different than seeing it on television more... invigorating.
Well, there's another game next week if you'd like to go. Or we could do something else.
- Take in a movie? - That would be enjoyable.
- Can I ask you a question? - Yes.
What are you hiding under that cap a pointed head? You're not from Mars, are you?
- Oh, I-I-I didn't mean to make fun of you. - I'm not offended.
- May I ask you a question? - Please.
- What happened to your... mate? - You mean my husband?
- Yes. - He left a long time ago.
Jack used to get letters from him every now and then. The last we heard, he'd moved to Phoenix.
I was hoping he would help with Jack's college but I guess we're on our own.
I can understand why he wouldn't want to have anything to do with me, but...
I'm sorry. I'm usually better at keeping a lid on my emotions.
- It's-it's not always easy. - I know.
Well, um... I'm due back at the Pine Tree. Will I see you later?
Oh, I-I-I didn't mean to. I thought-I thought... Oh, God...
Please, I was simply surprised. It w... very pleasant.
- "Pleasant"? - Wasn't that an appropriate response?
Well, it's been a while since I kissed a man but, still, I was hoping it'd be a little bit more than "pleasant."
I did say very pleasant.
We've got company.
I should go.
Thank you again.
- Waveform discriminator? - I went to a baseball game in Doylestown.
More "research"?
Maggie invited me. I didn't think it would be a problem.
Then why did you lie about it?
Because I knew you wouldn't understand.
You were engaging in intimate activity.
I didn't initiate it.
You're to have no further contact with that woman.
You can't make that decision.
- I'm still in command. - Command of what?
Our mission is over. It's time to accept the fact that we may never leave this world.
I was just going to play some pool. I didn't mean to bother you.
Um... what are you doing?
- I was about to meditate. - Really?
Are you just trying to clear your mind? Or... reach a higher spiritual plane?
- I spend a lot of time at the library. - Studying meditation techniques?
Uh, different things. Uh, mostly about places I'd like to visit.
Uh, like Tibet. The-the Buddhist monks there meditate every day.
And in India, they're got these mystics called "fakirs."
Supposedly they can almost stop their hearts just by using willpower.
You'd be surprised what a disciplined mind can accomplish.
- What else do you study at this library? - Astronomy, um, literature.
Sometimes I'll just pick a book off the shelf and start reading.
- What about you? - I have an interest in astronomy, as well.
Oh, really? Did you know that, uh, minutes after dusk when the sun is just right
you can see sputnik with the naked eye. Maybe tomorrow I could show you.
- I've seen it already. - Oh.
It's amazing. Don't you think?
Well, I'll let you get back to your meditating. It was nice talking to you.
And you.
- Mestral! - Hello.
Hey! I got tickets to the ball game this weekend. It's a double-header. Tim's going, Gavin, Jack... Maggie.
- I'm afraid I can't. - What's wrong with you lately?
Maggie says you haven't even...
- Are you all right, Billy? - Yeah.
- Why do you need us here? - I'm looking for a particle weapon.
- The armory case. Help me find it. - Why?
There's been an accident in the mine. At least 20 men are trapped.
- It could take the humans days to free them. - We can't interfere.
They'll die.
You'd let them suffocate... even if we could prevent it?
- What if they see the weapon? - We'll be certain they don't.
At best, these humans only live to be 60 or 70.
Is it worth the risk just to extend their lives a few more years?
We can't contaminate their culture.
This has nothing to do with contamination.
- It has to do with compassion. - Compassion... is an emotion.
They're my friends, and I'm going to help them. Don't try to stop me.
- Yes. - Proceed 22 meters, then turn right at the junction.
Understood.
In eight meters, you'll find a narrow opening near the ground that leads to an abandoned shaft.
There's a stratum of quartz on the wall opposite the opening.
- I see it. - Set your dispersal radius to seven degrees.
Two more meters.
- How far? - Approximately 30 meters.
Help me. Over here.
After rescuing the 12 miners Mestral became something of a hero that day.
Didn't people wonder how he got them out?
I'm sure they did but no one ever discovered the truth.
Three months passed and just as they had resigned themselves to the fact
that, in all likelihood, they would never leave earth...
- T'Mir. - This is Captain Tellus of the D'Vahl.
- I am responding to your distress signal. - We thought it wasn't transmitted.
Your signal was picked u by a Tellarite freighter. It took them some time to forward it to the High Command.
We're approaching the system now. Meet us at the crash site in three days.
Understood.
I hear you're leaving?
That's correct.
Where to?
Home. Up north.
I'm going to miss you.
You're about the most interesting people I've met in this town.
I'm sure you'll meet a lot of interesting people at college.
- I'm not going. - What? Why not?
We couldn't come up with the rest of the money. The deadline for the tuition's Friday, so...
- What will you do? - Keep saving, I guess. Find a job.
Mom doesn't want me anywhere near the mine but that's where the work is around here.
Can you try again next year for the scholarship?
I'll reapply, but there's no guarantee.
I'm sure they will offer it to you again.
And if not, there's always the library. Still a lot of books I haven't read.
Good luck up north. Carbon Creek's not exactly a... vacation spot
- but... I hope you'll come visit us. - Perhaps.
He took those college boards... got the highest score of anybody in the county.
It's not fair.
So... you're the lady with the invention that's going to change the world.
Morning.
Jack?! Jack?!
Didn't you terminate your employment?
Yes... but I promised Mrs. Garrett I'd repair this suction device.
It's unfortunate that you'll be leaving these people without experiencing one thing they have to offer.
Such as... alcohol... frozen fish sticks... the constant threat of nuclear annihilation?
There's much more to them.
- You just refuse to see it. - I've seen enough.
I haven't. I plan to stay here.
If this is your attempt at humor...
They're on the verge of countless social and technological advancements.
I have the unique opportunity to study an emerging species.
That's what you've done much closer than we anticipated.
Your duty is to return to Vulcan and report your findings.
- There's still more to learn about these people. - All of them or just one?
This has nothing to do with Maggie.
She has helped me appreciate their culture but I don't intend to remain in Carbon Creek.
- Where would you go? - To one of their larger cities at first.
After that, I'm not certain.
- There's so much to see. - The High Command will never allow it.
Tell him it's not possible. T'Mir?
Perhaps I can arrange for you to be on the next survey ship.
In another 20 years running more statistical scans from high orbit?
That's not enough.
- Where is your captain? - He was killed in the crash.
- There were four Vulcans aboard your vessel. - Mestral died in the crash as well.
We cremated their remains.
Do you realize you've just rewritten our history books?
- A footnote, at best. - Footnote?
This is like finding out Neil Armstrong wasn't the first man to walk on the moon.
- Perhaps he wasn't. - Oh...
- How long did this Mestral stay on Earth? - The rest of his life, presumably.
And that would be... what, another 100, 150 years?
Possibly longer.
An alien is left on Earth in the 1950s lives through... what, 30 Presidents?
travels the world, and no one notices him?
And what happened when he finally kicked the bucket? Did the undertaker just... shrug and ignore his ears?
- You asked me to tell you a story. - And it was a good one.
- But did it really happen? - As I said, you asked me to tell you a story.
- Damn, Captain, she put one over on us. - You did go to Carbon Creek.
If you check my record, you'll note that I also visited Yellowstone Park and the Carlsbad Caverns.
I'm a scientist... that includes geology.
- Thank you for the meal. - Uh... my pleasure.
- You've certainly kept us entertained. - Good night.

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