In Balance Of Terror, this odd, touching conversation occurs:
While waiting for the Romulans to reveal themselves, Jim reclines in his cabin. Yeoman Rand pops in: Jim is not happy to see her.
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She asks if she can get him something from the galley. The subtitles are not always exact.
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The Captain asks her to bring a cup of coffee to him on the bridge. NOTE: not to his cabin.
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Just as she's leaving, someone else comes in... a person whom Jim plainly is happy to see.
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It's Dr. McCoy! But this is a personal visit, not a professional one. He's just dropping in to chat with his pal.
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Rand's gone, and Bones is here. Jim instantly relaxes and opens his heart up to his friend.
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Bones humors Jim, listening patiently as Jim fantasizes out loud about where he'd rather be right now...
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... and gives voice to his anxiety about their current dangerous situation, and his self-doubt.
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His pleading expression asks Bones for reassurance. Then he suddenly seems to think he's asking too much of Bones.
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Jim starts to leave, but Bones stops Jim with a gentle hand on his shoulder. He is 100% willing to reassure Jim.
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He says he doesn't usually say things like this (jokingly calling Jim "a customer"), and then launches into a pretty little speech.
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The speech is very cleverly tailored by Bones to be appealing to Jim. He talks with Jim about stars, because he knows that Jim is a fanatical star-lover.
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By talking about stars, planets, and galaxies, Bones gains Jim's full attention and holds him utterly spellbound.
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After reminding Jim of his love of stars and the marvels of outer space, Bones makes his point: Jim, you're special.
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"So what?", you may wonder. Well, you see, Kirk and McCoy were deliberately presented as two men who love each other. That was one of the first things that we learn about them. They share a warmly affectionate and deeply trusting friendship. Kirk pretty plainly loves and trusts McCoy completely, because he easily opens his heart to him without preamble, and without fear of mockery or rejection.
McCoy understood that Jim needed some love, and he quickly and wholeheartedly gives him some love.
Kirk never asked Yeoman Rand for any love. All he asked her to do is to fetch some coffee and take it to the bridge. See the difference? To McCoy he's all come on in here, to Rand he's all GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
This is only one of many occasions where Kirk demonstrates that he prefers the company and love of men to that of women, and frankly, it looks queer. But only in a decent, manly way, of course!
All 100% legal parody material presented here copyright 2003 L. Goodwin EXCEPT: STAR TREK IMAGES AND CHARACTERS WHICH ARE THE PROPERTY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES (A VIACOM COMPANY), blah, blah, blah! This is for entertainment purposes only, and ~is so fabulous~ Paramount should thank me for it!
All site contents Copyright L. Goodwin 1990 - 2004
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