'This Side of Paradise' Story by Robert Hamner Story by Nathan Butler and D. C. Fontana Teleplay by D. C. Fontana

When the Enterprises arrives at Omicron Ceti III, Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Commander Spock are surprised to discover that, far from being dead after three years of exposure to deadly Berthold rays, the colonists living there are alive and well, and their community is flourishing. Beaming to the surface, Spock meets Leila Kalomi, a beautiful young botanist with whom he worked six years ago on Earth, a time when Leila had tried unsuccessfully to romantically interest the Vulcan. As the two of them renew their friendship, Leila leads Spock to a secluded part of the colony, where a strange plant sprays him with its spores. Leila informs Spock that the plant induces feelings of harmony, peace and love, and a desire to remain on Omicron Ceti III in “paradise”. The spores break down the Vulcan’s emotional inhibitions, and very soon he declares his love for Leila, choosing to remain on the planet with her. The colonists then arrange for some of the plants to be beamed aboard the Enterprise, resulting in more of the crew becoming affected. As his crew gradually succumbs to the influence of the spores, only Captain Kirk remains unaffected - but for how long will he be able to hold out...?

William Shatner (Captain James Tiberius Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (First Officer Lieutenant Commander Spock), DeForest Kelley (Doctor Leonard H. ‘Bones’ McCoy), Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Nyota Uhura), George Takei (Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu), Eddie Paskey (Lieutenant Leslie), Jill Ireland (Leila Kalomi), Frank Overton (Elias Sandoval), Grant Woods (Lieutenant Commander Kelowitz), Dick Scotter (Painter), Michael Barrier (Lieutenant Vincent DeSalle)

Directed by Ralph Senensky

TX:
2nd March, 1967

Notes:
*Featuring Captain James Tiberius Kirk, First Officer Lieutenant Commander Spock, Doctor Leonard H. ‘Bones’ McCoy, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu and Lieutenant Leslie