Spiced Peaches...Part III
Apr. 7th, 2005 04:39 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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ship_manifestoTitle: Spiced Peaches-The Spoch/McCoy Story
Author: Tempest, with the aid of Montgomery R. Scott
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
Pairing: Spock/McCoy
Author's Notes: This is Part III of what is probably a Five Part essay. Please read Parts I and II before reading Part III.
More Spock/McCoy Run-Through of the Episodes:
Episode #58 “The
This episode puts a lot of strain on their relationship, beginning with everybody blaming Spock for the ship being crippled and the loss of Captain Kirk, with McCoy taking the lead. But McCoy quickly learns the effect it had on Spock and spends a good portion of the rest of the episode trying to apologize to him and get him to take better care of himself. It also proves that he has free run of Spock’s quarters. This is peculiar for a Vulcan, who values privacy above all things, to let a man he didn’t care for to invade it whenever he wished.
For a more emotional look at this scene, please read Book Two of Lyrastar’s story The Prayer of St. Francis which can be found here: http://www.geocities.com/lyrastarwatcher/prayerbook2.html
Episode #62 “Is There in Truth, No Beauty?”:
In [you use “during” in the very next sentence] this episode, Spock enters into a mind meld with the Medusian Ambassador Kollos, which allows them to create a dual-entity. During this time, Kollos is in control, mostly of Spock’s body, although his personality manages to shine through. He begins to look around the bridge, identifying every person he can. He turns to Captain Kirk and says “James Kirk, Captain and friend for many years.” But then he turns to McCoy, and says, “And Leonard McCoy,” followed by deep, joyous laughter, “Also of long acquaintance.” Although he does not elaborate further on the relationship, it is obvious that the memories he tapped were of great joy.
After the mind link is broken and Spock has laid eyes on the Medusian Ambassador, he is knocked unconscious and brought to sickbay. While he is in sickbay, McCoy is more than a little overprotective of him, acting as though he must single-handedly shield Spock against any further damage. This extends to him giving Kirk a warning about not rocking the boat, with more animosity than would normally exist in a conversation between the two.
Episode #63 “The Empath”:
The Empath is one of the slashiest episodes ever made in Star Trek: The Original Series, and has been used by all slashers of the Big Three in an attempt to prove their parings. I’m not above doing this, why look a gift horse in the mouth?
What makes this episode particularly slashy is a combination of the obvious hurt/comfort elements of the storyline, coupled with the no-holds-barred displays of affection on behalf of the characters.
Although there are strong examples of friendship throughout the entire episode, the very slashy bits begin with Kirk’s return from his torture and the revelation on behalf of the Vians that they will need a second subject. There’s an 87% chance that McCoy will die in the process, and although Spock won’t die, there’s a 93% chance that he’ll suffer brain damage that will result in a permanent vegetative state.
Kirk’s unable to reach a decision, so McCoy makes one for him, by injecting him with a sedative forcing him into a deep sleep. Spock commends McCoy for his actions, stating that he has simplified the situation immensely.
Spock: While the Captain sleeps, I am in command. When the Vians return, I will go with them.
McCoy can’t accept these circumstances, so he, once more, takes matters into his own hands.
Spock: (After McCoy injects him with a sedative) Your action is highly unethical. My decision stands.
What I want to know most of all is why it’s unethical when McCoy does it to him but not when McCoy does it to Kirk? My leading theory is that whereas Kirk was their friend, Captain, and a neutral party to their relationship, McCoy’s actions broke the rules of their general interaction, in that they both try to save the other, for the life of the other is more precious than his own life, but to lie, cheat, or trick damages the purity of the relationship, and to some degree, the trust. However, he certainly meant well.
This decision, of course, results in very severe torture, and the Vians leave McCoy hanging on the chains of the chamber. Spock, having modified one of their transportation devices to his own brain patterns, transports himself, Kirk, and the Empath Gem to the chamber where they release McCoy and lay him down on the platform in an attempt to make him comfortable.
Spock takes it upon himself to examine McCoy, reading off symptoms and his deteriorating status. When McCoy sits up and coughs, Spock grabs at his arm in an attempt to steady him, to give him comfort. Kirk then pulls him aside and asks if McCoy will live. With the sorrow evident in his voice, Spock informs him that he won’t.
Spock: We can make him comfortable. That is all.
The next time McCoy regains consciousness; Spock sits beside him, hovering over him. He takes both McCoy’s arm and his head into his hands to steady him, [and then he holds his head in his hands] you just said this, and brushes his hair away from his face in a caress, before running his fingers over McCoy’s temple. Although the audience isn’t quite certain what happens in that moment, McCoy’s eyes go wide for a split second.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/TempestCoyote/GoodBedsideManner.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
McCoy: You’ve...you’ve got a good bedside manner, Spock.
In the next, McCoy lapses into unconsciousness, and still Spock hovers over him. It’s only when Kirk calls him away that he leaves. And it’s Spock who comes up with the idea of having the Vians cure McCoy.
Once more, in the name of love, Spock saves McCoy’s life after McCoy had attempted, and succeeded, in saving his. This action took place before. Not everything should be in the present tense, especially when you’re describing things that have already occurred.
Episode #64 “The Tholian Web”:
Although this episode has a great deal of focus on the friendship between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, the episode does demonstrate that Spock and McCoy can survive without the presence of Captain Kirk.
Although they spend the beginning and most of the middle of the episode hip-deep in arguments and emotions, by the end of the episode, the two of them have come to terms with their differences, and have worked toward a means of running the ship without their Captain.
McCoy: (holding up his glass of Theragin derivative combined with alcohol in a toast) Drink up Spock. It’s the human thing to do.. (A pause, as he notices Spock does nothing) That’s an order. Captain. (A smile and a wink)
Spock: (Nods and takes a sip from his glass)
Not only do they make an excellent team in this story, finding a way to save the ship and their Captain, but it’s also the only episode in which Spock calls McCoy “Bones,” which he does in answer to an apology offered up by the Doctor for insulting him. And they’re perfectly functional together.
Kirk: I trust there weren’t any problems.
Spock: None worth reporting, Captain.
Kirk: Try me.
Spock: Only such incidents that are bound to occur when humans are involved.
Kirk: Which humans, Mister Spock?
McCoy: (Jumping in and rubbing his arm against Spock) He means when humans are involved with Vulcans.
Kirk: Oh. (Smiling as he watches the two of them)
The question that comes to mind is “how involved?”
Episode #65 “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky”:
Many people have difficulty seeing this episode as S/Mc because McCoy doesn’t tell Spock about his affliction with xenopolycethemia. There’s a simple explanation for this, which stems from McCoy’s past history revealed in the Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. McCoy had to watch, helplessly, as his father’s condition slowly deteriorated from a terminal illness. The memories of this event were no doubt burned into McCoy’s memory for all time, and the love he held for Spock, within his own mind, could very well have forced him into the mindset that it’d be better to lie to Spock, to avoid forcing him into that same situation. When Natira appeared, and he found an escape, he decided it would be better to simply leave, inflicting temporary pain on Spock, rather than burning the same memories into his eidetic Vulcan memory for eternity.
Furthermore, when McCoy awakens, he continues with his charade, pretending that all is well, but when he realizes that Spock has reached out to steady him, and sees the look on his face, one of sorrow and concern, but held together with Vulcan dignity, he trails off, dropping all pretenses. It becomes clear he realized Spock knew before Kirk said so. And not wanting to dwell on the subject, he rises, forcing Spock’s hand to fall free, and finds something rather innocuous to discuss instead. However, the emotions conveyed between the two of them in that small amount of time is overpowering. Nice interpretation.
When McCoy calls for help, it is Spock who removes the Instrument of Obedience from him, and it’s Spock who stays with him, watching over him with unusual attentiveness. The concern he has over McCoy’s safety is quite apparent in this scene. He only leaves him on Kirk’s order.
Finally, Spock is the one who finds the cure in the Fabrini records for xenopolycethemia, and decides to apply it to McCoy. McCoy has already decided to leave Natira, citing a desire to spread humanitarianism to the galaxy in the year that he had left, and he returns to the ship. When he learns that Spock has found the cure, he undergoes it willingly, and despite the fact that there is a competent medical staff onboard, Spock finds it necessary to oversee the entire procedure. And although Kirk offers the option of visiting Natira once they reach the Promised Home World, in canon, McCoy never does. He has obviously moved on.
Episode #78 “All Our Yesterdays”:
This episode is another complex one for their relationship, because of the presence of Zarabeth and Spock’s reaction to her. However, that’s easily explained and despite her appearance, this is one of the, if not the, slashiest episodes in existence. While watching this episode for quotes, I must have turned bright red from some of the dialogue. And on a note about the Sci-Fi Channel’s TOS Marathons: They cut out all of the slashiest bits of this episode. So if you’ve only seen it in syndication, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
It can be seen as somewhat metaphorical that the two of them cannot go back through the Atavachron without one another. Although this is explained as the result of them stepping through at the same moment, it can also be viewed as the fact that cosmically, they cannot be separated.
Once McCoy falls into the snow, from the cold, their conversation deteriorates into an attempt by both to keep the other safe. McCoy encouraging Spock to leave him in the snow, while Spock makes it clear that he’ll do no such thing.
Spock: (Pulling McCoy into his arms) In this severe cold, we cannot survive much longer.
McCoy: Leave me here, Spock.
Spock: We go together or not at all.
McCoy: Don’t be a fool. My hands and face are frostbitten. I can’t feel my feet. Alone, you have a chance. Now do what I say. Go try to find Jim.
Spock: (With determination) We go together.
After that exchange, during which Spock is holding and touching McCoy for extended screen time, Spock takes it upon himself to half-lead, half-carry McCoy into the cave Zarabeth shows him, and then, continuing to hold him, helps him onto a bed of furs, before tucking him in and sitting beside him to scan his life signs. He goes so far as to check McCoy’s readings by hand, instead of simply with the machine.
At first, it must be noted, Spock is unaffected by Zarabeth’s presence. He turns his attention from her and concentrates fully on McCoy. He continues to speak with her because she refuses to stop asking questions of him. The only reason they touch initially is because she begins to panic, assuming that she’s having a hallucination. He attempts to calm her, and when Spock realizes they’re touching, he releases her immediately and reaches down to touch McCoy.
Each time that Spock examines McCoy, Spock initiates physical contact with him, while ignoring Zarabeth’s presence. This pattern continues until Spock has become firmly rooted in the feelings and behavior of his Ancestors. Each time McCoy regains consciousness, he speaks of their obligation to find Captain Kirk. And at first, Spock seems to honor this request, making an attempt to go immediately to seek out the portal. This is the only thing he asks of Zarabeth at this point, instructions on how to get there. But she overcomplicates matters by bringing up how he can’t leave McCoy. Spock agrees with this, and this is when his primary turmoil begins.
When McCoy regains consciousness a second time, Spock is still overprotective of him, ushering him towards the bed, where he then moves to tuck him in, and sits above him.
It is at this moment that things begin to change within the Spock-McCoy relationship, due to the presence of Zarabeth. He expresses to McCoy that they’re trapped, and although McCoy accepts this at face value for the time being, the revelation leads to some further complications McCoy refuses to give up on the situation, but Spock, in his rapidly deteriorating mental condition, already had.
The third time McCoy awakens, he’s showing a distinct improvement in his status. He’s eating food Zarabeth has cooked for him.
McCoy: Zarabeth, you’re a beautiful cook. Have you ever been told that?
Zarabeth: Not recently.
McCoy: Well, you’ll learn that Spock’s quite delinquent in those matters.
Zarabeth: I didn’t notice it.
McCoy: Oh? (long pause, as he looks up at Spock with a question in his eyes)
McCoy: Well, now that I’m feeling better, you’ll notice a distinct difference in our approach.
Spock: (Deadpan) Really.
It’s impossible to get a true feel for the above dialogue without seeing it for oneself. The looks exchanged between the two of them convey so much emotion that even non-slashers of the ilk “Spock gay? No!” have commented on it.
What’s also important to note is the fact that although both are somewhat flirting with Zarabeth in the above exchange, it’s very difficult to tell if the jealousy they display is over her, or over each other. When later and earlier moments between them are taken into account, it becomes evident that they’re jealous over each other.
What I find of particular interest in this episode is the use, on the part of both Spock and McCoy, of plurals to describe one another. They have a tendency to speak on behalf of one another. This can be construed a number of ways, and I’m interpreting it to mean that they’re linked, that both are aware and that both approve.
After McCoy has attempted to goad Zarabeth into admitting she lied, Spock defends her and backs McCoy into a wall. His hand is around his throat, but McCoy’s hands are on his body, not struggling.
McCoy: Are you trying to kill me Spock? Is that what you really want? Think. What are you feeling? Rage? Jealousy? Have you ever had those feelings before?
Spock: This is impossible. Impossible. I am a Vulcan (releasing McCoy.).
McCoy: The Vulcan you know won’t exist for 5,000 years. Think? What’s happening on your planet right now.
Spock: My ancestors were barbarians. War-like barbarians.
McCoy: You’re reverting to your ancestors. 5,000 years before you were born.
Spock: I have lost myself. I do not know who I am.
After this exchange, Spock seems to have regained a bit of his control and he asks Zarabeth if they can return.
Zarabeth: I do not know. I only know that I can’t go back.
McCoy: I’ve got to try. Because my life’s back there, and I want that life.
With that statement, McCoy leaves, and he clearly offers Spock a choice. Spock can choose between him and Zarabeth. If he chooses to stay, he chooses her. But if he chooses to follow, he chooses him. Although at first, Spock is set in his decision to stay with Zarabeth, when he learns that McCoy will be unable to return without him, the decision is easily made. Despite the feelings he’d developed toward Zarabeth in that environment, McCoy’s safety and well-being must always come first. And so he returned.
At the very end of the episode, McCoy watches Spock cautiously, trying to come to terms with what occurred on Sarpeidon.
Spock: There is no further need to observe me, Doctor. As you can see, I’ve returned to the present in every sense.
McCoy: But it did happen, Spock.
Spock: Yes, it did happen. But that was 5,000 years ago. And she is dead now, dead and buried, long ago.
With that bit of wisdom, Spock conveys to McCoy that although neither of them will forget the incident, they can move on from it, and McCoy has Spock to himself once more.
And that, my fellow coyotes, is how you deal with the presence of a woman in the middle of a long-standing slash relationship.
We Meet Again (Star Trek: The Motion Picture):
This movie symbolizes a New Beginning, as well as an end of sorts. It explains that after the Five Year Mission, Spock returned to Vulcan to study Kohlinahr, the Vulcan discipline of the elimination of all emotions at the
McCoy’s presence onboard the
Spock, however, has a somewhat more ambiguous entry into the mission. His scenes open with him at Gol, preparing to be given his symbol of the achievement of true and total logic. He stares up at the Sun and just as he is about to be adorned, he holds his hand up to delay the ceremony. The High Priestess demands to have his thoughts, and upon accessing them, decides to cast him away.
Priestess: I sense the consciousness calling to you from space. Your human blood is touched by it, Spock. You have not yet attained Kohlinahr. (Turns to the other Priests) He must search elsewhere for his answer. He shall not find it here.
This is a rather nebulous statement, and although most Star Trek fans have interpreted it to mean that V’Ger was calling to him, since they were both trying to find answers to questions larger than themselves, this is not truly established. And in slash, the writers tend to interpret it to mean that Spock felt his place in the universe, with his beloved, in this instance, McCoy.
Further evidence of McCoy’s knowledge of Spock’s personal choices occurred when Spock arrived on the ship and somewhat prior. McCoy was quite aware that Spock went to Gol and exactly what it was he had been doing there. It was McCoy who was most upset about Spock’s choice to depart from Starfleet, and it was McCoy who left Starfleet right after Spock did, implying that without him, he had no reason to remain.
When Spock finally arrives on the
McCoy: (Upon seeing Spock for the first time in 18 months) So help me, I’m actually pleased to see you!
Later in the movie, during an interview, McCoy begins to peck at Spock not as a means of insulting him, but in an attempt to simply make him emote, since before that interview, he’s been completely expressionless.
McCoy: We’ve already guessed why you’re here-
Spock: (A flicker of emotion in his features)
McCoy: That flicker of emotion confirms our guess. You failed.
Spock: Your deductions do you credit Doctor...if your puerile curiosity does not.
McCoy: (Not in amusement) And now anger Mister Spock?
Spock: (Pause, nods) I still contain fragments of my human half.
The moral of that particular exchange is that old habits die hard, and McCoy, not knowing how else to get Spock to respond, picks an argument. Throughout the movie, the two of them are able to work together, and with Kirk, in order to find an answer to the V’Ger mystery. After Spock’s fiasco of an attempted meld with V’Ger, it’s clear he’s regained some sense of his emotions. And it’s this revelation that leads to his later decision to remain with the
At the end of the movie, once all has been said and done, Spock has made it clear he has no desire to return to Vulcan and in one of the greatest of all nitpicking moments, there’s a scene when Spock and McCoy are on the bridge wearing one another’s uniforms. Spock has medical orange and McCoy science green. But a few minutes later, it’s the reverse.
A very slashy explanation for this SNAFU can be found in Bait n’ Switch (http://www.geocities.com/lyrastarwatcher/bait.html) by Lyrastar
With the end of the movie, Spock and McCoy are once again arguing about poetry:
Spock: I prefer your poet Dante’s phrase – “the divine restlessness of the human spirit.”
McCoy: Spock...you’re quoting poetry?
Spock: (About to respond but cut off by Uhura)
And the audience, slashers especially, know that all is right with the universe. After this movie, Spock and McCoy are united and there are approximately fourteen years of missing slash between this movie and its first sequel.
Alternatives:
The Motion Picture is a fluctuation in the timeline. There are three ways of handling Spock’s departure to Gol in The Motion Picture in regards to an S/Mc relationship.
1) To have Spock and McCoy get together only after his return from Gol. The possibilities within this are numerous. Spock left because of sexual tension or a fear of never being able to engage in a relationship. Now that he’s back, they can take the inevitable step. Or in that long stretch of time between the first and second movie, Spock and McCoy manage to enter into a relationship.
2) To have them in a relationship prior to his departure to Gol which resulted in the predictable hurt on McCoy’s part and the strain in their relationship which is apparent in the movie. After his return from Gol, it takes a while for the two of them to work around the hurt that was presented by his departure, but they find a way to make it work.
3) To ignore it completely. There are plenty of Alternative Universes (AU) that have been established that follow canon completely but for Spock’s departure to Gol, because sometimes it’s just not that simple to work out.
There is one possibility ignored in this, and this is the S/Mc relationship existing prior to the departure from Gol which is not reestablished afterward. There is one S/Mc of which I know takes this tactic: After the Rescue (http://www.trekiverse.org/startrek/startrek/adult/tos/AfterTheRescue) by Karmen Ghia. The reason I don’t go into detail about this fourth possibility is because it’s much more depressing than the other three, and on the whole, much less fun in a coyote sort of way.
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O_O
Date: 2005-04-07 08:58 pm (UTC)Re: O_O
Date: 2005-04-07 11:21 pm (UTC)