Star Trek IV The Voyage Home on DVD
Screenplay by Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer
Story by Leonard Nimoy and Harve Bennett
Directed by Leonard Nimoy
Cast: Admiral James T. Kirk-William Shatner, Mr. Spock-Leonard Nimoy, Dr. Leonard McCoy-DeForest Kelley, Montgomery Scott-James Doohan, Hikaru Sulu-George Takei, Pavel Andreivich Chekov-Walter Koenig, Nyota Uhura-Nichelle Nichols, Dr. Gillian Taylor-Catherine Hicks, Sarek-Mark Lenard, Amanda-Jane Wyatt, Admiral Cartwright-Brock Peters, Lt. Saavik-Robin Curtis, Christine Chapel-Majel Barrett, Janice Rand-Grace Lee Whitney, Federation Council President-Robert Ellenstein, Commander Rogerson-Newell Tarrant, Dr. Nichols-Alex Henteloff, Bob Briggs-Scott DeVenney
Stardate 8390
Released November 26, 1986
In 2286, Kirk and company wait in
self-imposed exile on Vulcan, monitoring Spock's progress as he remembers his
past. On Earth, the Federation Council is urged by the Klingon Ambassador to
produce Kirk for trial for his actions against the Klingons on the Genesis
Planet. Ambassador Sarek denies the request to permit Kirk's extradition from
Vulcan and defends Kirk before the Council. The council agrees, yet demands
Kirk return to Earth to face his violation of nine Starfleet regulations.
Caught between two different sides, Kirk finally decides to take the Klingon
Bird-of-Prey to Earth to face the Council's charges. Spock, still suffering
slightly from his fal-tor-pan, decides he must accompany his captain.
The
crew arrives to find Earth in turmoil, threatened by a deep space probe that
has drained all power and is vaporizing the oceans, producing a worldwide cloud
cover which begins to block the sun. Because of the enormous storms ravaging
the entire planet, Starfleet warns all approaching spacecraft to keep their
distance.
Spock
manages to identify the probe's unusual communication, which turns out to be a
transmission to long-extinct humpback whales. When the probe's signal is not
answered, it increases its output, causing more clouds and even more storms.
Kirk and crew, orbiting the doomed planet, decide that the only way to save
Earth is to time-travel back to the twentieth century, when whales still
existed, and return to the present with a pair of the mammals. With any luck,
then the probe's signal might be answered and Earth spared.
The
crew, still piloting the Bird-of-Prey, use the slingshot effect to travel back
in time. They pick up whale songs emanating from the West Coast of North
America. They land the Klingon warbird in a San Francisco park, where thanks to
its cloaking device, the ship is concealed from view. However, the time
traveling damaged the ship's valuable dilithium crystals. The small crew then
splits up, with Uhura and Chekov assigned to locate an atomic reactor for
photons to recharge the ship's power, and McCoy, Scotty and Sulu ordered to
create a tank in the cargo bay that will safely house a pair of whales.
Kirk
and Spock, after a humorous trip through twentieth century San Francisco,
locate Dr. Gillian Taylor and her mated pair of whales, George and Gracie. Due
to cut-backs at the Maritime Cetacean Institute, where the whales are on
exhibit, they are due to be released in the sea. Once there, Taylor fears the
pair will be in danger from whale hunters. When Spock performs a Vulcan
mind-meld with the whales, he learns that Gracie is pregnant. Kirk tries to
convince the doctor that he's from the future and that Starfleet will take good
care of her whales, but Taylor is, understandably, incredulous. Meanwhile,
Chekov and Uhura have located enough photons from a reactor to complete their
mission—from the U.S.S. Enterprise CVN 65 aircraft carrier, no less.
Scotty, however, can't beam both crew members back at once. Faced with a
decision, Chekov sends Uhura up with the needed photon collector. Chekov is
then captured and questioned by FBI agents. The Russian escapes, is chased by
Marines, and eventually falls and ends up hospitalized, in critical condition.
McCoy
and Scotty have concurrently arranged a trade for a large piece of Plexiglas to
build a whale tank on board the Klingon ship.
Kirk
finally is able to convince Gillian Taylor to help him, first in retrieving
Chekov, then the whales. Joined by McCoy, the three pull off a wild rescue,
springing Chekov from the hospital. With twenty-third century medical technology,
McCoy is able to quickly repair Chekov's otherwise fatal condition. Kirk says
goodbye to Gillian, assuring her that her whales will be safe and, what's more,
will be saving the entire planet in the future. At the last second of Kirk's
transport, she throws her arms around him, transporting herself to ship along
with the captain.
Using
the radio frequency provided by Gillian, the crew locate the whales, now at
sea. Just as they are about to transport George and Gracie on board the Klingon
ship, a whaler ship comes into view, threatening the two mammals. The future of
Earth at stake, the Bird-of-Prey valiantly fights off the whaler and beams up
the whales, along with tons of water, to the prepared tank in their cargo bay.
Off
the planet and en route to the Sun for the time-traveling slingshot maneuver,
Spock makes his calculations and the ship is propelled to the twenty-third
century. Arriving at Earth, the ship is rendered powerless by the probe and
crash-lands in San Francisco Bay. Kirk then releases the whales and they answer
the probe. Apparently satisfied, the probe retreats back into deep space once
more.
With
Earth safe and the storms gone, Kirk and his crew are brought before the
Federation Council to be reprimanded for stealing and destroying the U.S.S.
Enterprise in the rescue of Spock. Although Kirk disobeyed direct orders
and violated numerous Federation laws, the Council praises the Admiral and his
crew for saving Earth. And even though Kirk is "demoted" to Captain,
he is given the only job he ever wanted—the command of a starship. And the ship
he is given? A new U.S.S. Enterprise, registry NCC-1701-A.
Star Trek The Motion Picture | Star Trek II The Wrath Of Khan | Star Trek III The Search For Spock
Star Trek IV The Voyage Home | Star Trek V The Final Frontier | Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country
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