Shore Leave
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"Shore Leave" is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It was first broadcast on December 29, 1966; It is episode #17, and was written by science fiction author Theodore Sturgeon, and directed by Robert Sparr.
Quick Overview: The crew of the Enterprise visits a bizarre planet of dangerous illusions.
On stardate 3025.3, the starship USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, arrives at a planet in the Omicron Delta system. Scans reveal the planet as a great place for some rest and relaxation, and Kirk announces shore leave for all off duty personnel.
Not to long after beaming down, the landing parties discover some strange things are going on. Dr. McCoy encounters a large white rabbit who hops by in a hurry, then witnesses young Alice, who politely asks if McCoy had seen the rabbit pass by. In another area, Lt. Sulu finds an old .38 Special police pistol just lying on the ground, then encounters a katana-wielding samurai warrior. Yeoman Tonia Barrels is accosted by Don Juan, and several others report being chased by bengal tigers and strafed by vintage aircraft.
Kirk beams down to answer McCoy's insane report of witnessing a live scene from Alice in Wonderland. At first, Kirk doesn't believe the doctor's story, but then he spots large bunny tracks as proof. Kirk then stumbles upon young Finnigan, a cocky practical joker he knew back from his academy days. Finnigan dangles in a tree mocking him. Kirk then spots a former girlfriend, Ruth, who he hadn't seen in years. Dr. McCoy gets an eyeful, when Yeoman Barrels returns dressed as a beautiful princess right out of a fairy tale.
Kirk contacts the Enterprise, ordering a temporary halt to the beaming down of personnel until he can figure out what is going on. At the same time Mr. Spock reports that the planet is emanating a strange force field which seems to be drawing energy from the ship's engines. If the drain continues it could jeopardize the ship.
Spock beams down to gather sensor readings as communications with the ship are nearing impossible. In the meantime, McCoy admires Yeoman Barrels, but then a fearsome knight appears, complete with horse and jousting lance. The knight charges McCoy and impales him with the lance. Kirk shoots and kills the knight with the pistol he confiscated from Sulu. Kirk and Spock analyze the body of the knight, determining it's cellular biology is similar to the plant life around them, and appears as if it was "manufactured". A Japanese Zero fighter plane then strafes the landing party, and during the commotion, the bodies of Dr. McCoy and the knight mysteriously vanish.
Spock wonders if there may be a connection between what the landing party thinks about, and what actually appears. He asks Kirk what was on his mind just prior to his "vision". Kirk recalls thinking of his academy days, then as Spock expected, Kirk's rival Finnigan, appears again. Finnigan insults the Captain then runs off, with Kirk on his heels. The chase ends in a ravine where Finnigan sneaks up on Kirk and cold cocks him. Remembering all the torment Finnigan put him through, Kirk angrily fights back and finally knocks out the old school bully from his youth. Spock approaches and calms his Captain down. He and Kirk realize that their thoughts are conjuring up their fantasies, but the visions are starting to pose deadly for them.
Just then, out of nowhere an elderly man appears and identifies himself as the "Caretaker". Accompanying him is Dr.McCoy, who was revived by the sophisticated machinery below the planet's surface. McCoy smiles and confirms he's alright and shows off the two sexy Rigelian cabaret girls he conjured up.
The Caretaker informs Kirk that planet is a sophisticated "amusement park", but the illusions are not designed to be harmful or to last permanently. He apologizes for the misunderstandings and offers the services of the planet to the Enterprise's weary crew. Kirk accepts the offer as Ruth appears again, and authorizes the crew to beam down. Spock however, has had his fill of shore leave, and requests to be returned to the Enterprise.