The
USS Enterprise is called to Planet Q by Dr. Thomas Leighton, a friend of
Captain Kirk, ostensibly to investigate a possible new synthetic food source. Leighton's true motivation is to alert Kirk of his suspicion that Anton Karidian, the leader of a Shakespearean acting troupe currently on the planet performing
Macbeth, is in fact Kodos the Executioner, former governor of the Earth colony of Tarsus IV. Due to a famine caused by fungal infestation and with no relief coming from off-planet, Kodos invoked martial law and ordered the execution of half the 8,000 colonists, ostensibly to prevent more important citizens from starving to death. Relief came unexpectedly from Starfleet days later, too late to prevent the massacre. Both Leighton and Kirk were eyewitnesses to the events on Tarsus IV. Kirk insists Kodos died during relief operations, but his body was not identified. He reconsiders after researching Karidian's background. Hoping to meet Karidian at a party at Leighton's home, Kirk meets his daughter, Lenore. During a walk outside, the two find Leighton dead. Kirk arranges for the
Enterprise to ferry the acting troupe to its next destination. He transfers Lt. Kevin Riley to Engineering after learning that he, too, was a witness to the Tarsus IV massacre. These actions arouse the curiosity of First Officer
Spock, who, after an investigation of his own, learns the history of the massacre, Kirk's and Riley's connection to it, and that seven of the nine eyewitnesses who could identify Kodos have died, in each case when Karidian's troupe was nearby. Riley is poisoned, and a phaser set on overload is left in Kirk's quarters; Kirk manages to jettison it out into space before it explodes. Kirk confronts Karidian with his suspicions. Karidian does not admit to being Kodos, but argues in defense of Kodos' actions, and when asked to read a transcript of Kodos' execution order, does so with barely a glance at the paper. A computer analysis of his voice results in a near-perfect match with Kodos, but Kirk still hesitates to accuse Karidian. Riley, recovering in sickbay, overhears
Dr. McCoy's log entry and learns that Karidian is suspected of being Kodos. Riley heads for the ship's theater, where the troupe is performing
Hamlet, and goes backstage, phaser in hand, to exact revenge for the death of his family. Kirk discovers him before he can act, and persuades him to surrender the weapon. Karidian, overhearing, is disturbed, and Lenore tries to reassure him by revealing that she has been killing the witnesses to his crimes. Kirk, overhearing this conversation, moves to arrest them both. Lenore snatches a phaser from a security guard and aims at Kirk. Karidian jumps into the line of fire, is hit, and dies. Lenore goes insane and begs her father to wake up and continue his performance. Later, on the bridge, McCoy reports on her psychiatric condition; she believes her father is still alive and giving performances to cheering crowds. ==Production==